Will a Rear-Wheel Ford Explorer Eat into the Competition?

Remembering its Roots

It's been nine years since a Ford Explorer was powered by its rear wheels. It is also nine years since Explorer used a body-on-frame platform.  When Explorer was redesigned for 2011, Ford altered its DNA to align with industry shifts to unibody platforms.  For 2020, the Explorer is returning to its rear-wheel-drive roots.  Will the big Ford make a big splash in today's crowded SUV market?  Take a look at what's in store for the new Ford Explorer!

Photos courtesy of Ford and Autoblog.

Front to Rear

Ford enthusiasts and SUV buyers should be excited about the Explorer returning to a rear-drive setup.  While its a partial return to the past, the Explorer will remain on a unibody construction going into 2020.  Optimistically, this will combine the fun of a rear-drive SUV with the benefit of a unibody platform's smoother ride.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

A Flavor for Everyone

There will be several trim levels and engines to choose from for the 2020 Ford Explorer.  These levels include Base, XLT, Limited, Hybrid, ST, and Platinum.  Engine options are a 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4, 3.3-liter hybrid, and 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6.  A 10-speed automatic is standard across all trim levels.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

The Numbers

Power figures are up across all engines for 2020.  Ford rates the base 2.3-liter EcoBoost at 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque; the 3.3-liter hybrid engine is rated at a 318 hp. Ford claims the hybrid will have a range of more than 500 miles between fill-ups.  For the upper trims, the Explorer Platinum trim with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost is expected to reach 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque.  If that isn't enough, the ST model bumps power for the 3.0-liter EcoBoost up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Visual Evolution

Explorer's new rear-drive platform allowed designers to improve capability, comfort, and design.  The sloped-roof silhouette protects rear-seat headroom while improving access to the third row for passengers.  A shorter front overhang gives the SUV an overall more stylish appearance.  The all-new Explorer does maintain many of its traditional qualities including blacked-out A-pillars and D-pillars and body-color C-pillars.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Tech, Tech ,Tech

Standard features on all trims include a rearview camera, hill start assist, and post-impact braking. Ford Co-Pilot360 is also included, which is Ford's new suite of driver-assist tech including auto headlamps/auto high beams, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking.  Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist+ will be optional on XLT, and standard for Limited and above trims, which includes adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, voice-activated touch screen navigation, Active Park Assist 2.0, reverse brake assist, 360-degree camera viewing and rain-sensing wipers.  The available 10.1-inch, portrait mounted touch screen can be seen above.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Terrain Management System

With a new rear-drive platform comes new capabilities.  Ford's new Terrain Management System for Explorer will offer up to seven selectable drive modes via a center console-mounted dial.  Modes will include normal, trail, deep snow and sand, slippery, sport, tow/haul, and a new eco mode.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Room for all

Explorer is expected to have 123 cubic liters of storage space throughout the cabin.  The available power-folding third-row seats and new E-Z entry second-row seats will have interior cargo space reaching 87.8 cubic feet.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Hybrid

With Ford beginning to offer electrified models of almost every vehicle in its lineup, the Explorer Hybrid will be the first of its SUVs to add a hybrid system to its power plant options.  Traditionally, hybrid batteries cut into cargo space, but Ford claims the specially designed liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery built into the chassis below the second-row seats will preserve both cargo and passenger space.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

ST

Ford is not skipping a market with the 2020 Explorer; rounding off the lineup is the performance-oriented Explorer ST.  Ford states the ST top speed target for track drivers stands at 143 mph.  Available upgrades include an ST Street Pack and an ST Track Pack.  Both upgrades offer 21-inch aluminum wheels with differing levels of performance brakes, larger vented rotors, red-painted brake calipers with stainless steel pistons, and larger brake pads.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

Final Thought

As Ford's second-best-selling SUV last year, the Explorer should have no problem maintaining, if not exceeding sales figures with the upgrades it's receiving for 2020.  The broad model lineup offers an Explorer for almost every potential customer.  The 2020 Ford Explorer has the looks, power, space, and features every SUV buyer wants.  With a price tag starting at around $34,000, it will be interesting to see how buyers react to a new rear-drive based SUV on the market.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2020 Ford Explorer right here in Ford-Trucks.com.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.