For almost two decades, the Ford Explorer SUV remains one of the most popular SUVs in America. After all, SUVs are the new minivans-and for good reason. The two back seats give plenty of room for families, there's plenty of cargo space, you can pull a trailer, and you can even drive this luxury vehicle off-road. It really is America's most veritable SUV. Which is why our staff at Ames Ford Lincoln located at 123 Airport Rd, Ames, IA has put together a list of 9 reasons to consider buying a used Ford Explorer. Call 515-233-1913 to set up a test drive.
9 Reasons To Buy A Used 2018 Ford Explorer
The Explorer's current generation launched for the 2011 model year. Since then, Ford has made a few tweaks to the trim levels. For 2016, Ford refreshed the Explorer, adding a top trim (the Platinum), a turbo-four engine, and features like a hands-free power liftgate and parallel and perpendicular park assist. For 2017, Ford replaced the MyFord Touch infotainment system with the superior SYNC 3 system. There are no notable changes for the 2018 model year.
1. Attractive Exterior Styling
The Ford Explorer has always been one of the better-looking SUVs in its class. The Explorer combines a rugged, square utility look with just the right amount curves to add a bit of elegance. The front end is eye-catching with the chrome accents, and the grille and headlights seamlessly blend together for a cohesive look.
2. Spacious Interior
The 2018 Ford Explorer is spacious and roomy enough to comfortably seats seven adult-sized passengers. There's plenty of headroom and legroom in the second and third-row seats for tall passengers to stretch out their legs on long road trips. Drivers will enjoy the comfort of an 8-way power adjustable seat and audio controls on the steering wheel so your eyes never have to leave the road.
3. Tons of Cargo Room
Both the rear seats can be folded flat, or configured in many variations for hauling unique shaped items. You'll find 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row-spacious enough for groceries or sports equipment-and 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space when both seats are folded flat. There's also plenty of cup holders and small storage areas in the doors, under the seats, and in the center console to keep your explorer organized for your whole family.
4. Excellent Performance
Ford offers three engine choices for the Ford Explorer. The 3.5-liter V-6 base engine delivers 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque and gets an estimated EPA of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 offers slightly better gas mileage at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway but delivers less horsepower with 280 horsepower. For the most power, you'll want to go with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 turbocharged engine delivering 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
5. An Endless Array of Features
There are a ton of options and choices for a used Ford Explorer. Standard and available options vary by model year so be sure to do your research or give us a call 515-233-1913 and we'll help you determine which used Ford Explorer is the best fit for you. All models come with a nice infotainment system, however, the size of the touchscreen varies per model year. Standard and available features include a navigation system, automatic temperature control, premium audio system, exterior parking camera front and rear, wireless phone connectivity, emergency communication system, and more.
6. Nice Safety Features and Rating
The Ford Explorer gets high safety ratings due to its reinforced, well-designed frame and many driver-assist technologies including rear parking sensors, a 180-degree front parking camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, active park assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and inflatable safety belts for the second-row outboard position. The 2018 Ford Explorer has received the highest rating of Good in four cars tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Explorer a five out five-star rating.
7. Utility and Towing Capacity
The Ford Explorer with the base engine can safely tow over 2000 pounds, while the most powerful engine can handle 5000 pounds. This is an added bonus for active families who want to the option of towing a boat to the nearest lake for waterskiing in the summer, and for towing a trailer full of snowmobiles in the winter.
8. All-Wheel Drive Capability
The Ford Explorer comes standard with front-wheel-drive, and all-wheel drive is available-a good option for Midwestern families who are prepping for the upcoming winter weather. While front-wheel-drive is perfectly capable for getting you through most heavy snowfall, the all-wheel-drive does add a layer of protection for you and your family.
9. Comfortable and Quiet Ride
The ride quality of the Ford Explorer is excellent due to its robust suspension system. This vehicle is the size of a truck but drives as smooth as a car. And thanks to good engineering, the Ford Explorer has a quiet cabin-road noises stay outside where they belong.
Conclusion
We've only listed nine reasons why a used Ford Explorer is a great option in an SUV, however, there are many more. The main reason to buy a used Ford Explorer though is you'll save thousands of dollars and will still get the latest in safety and tech. We want to make your car buying experience as good as possible, and we want you to be happy with your purchase. As a reminder, here at Ames Ford Lincoln located at 123 Airport Rd, Ames, IA, we have a 7-Day Like it or Return it and 30-Day Exchange Policy. If you're not completely satisfied with your vehicle, just bring it back within 7 days for a 100% refund, no questions asked, or within 30 days and get 100% of the purchase price towards any other vehicle on our lot. Call 515-233-1913 to set up a test drive.