2022 Ford Explorer
- Sold in the USA: 2017-Present
- 6th Generation: 2020-Present
2022 Ford Explorer Price in the USA:
| Ford Explorer BASE | Starts at: 35,510 $ |
| Ford Explorer XLT | Starts at: 38,570 $ |
| Ford Explorer ST-LINE | Starts at: 45,760 $ |
| Ford Explorer TIMBERLINE | Starts at: 48,320 $ |
| Ford Explorer LIMITED | Starts at: 47,070 $ |
| Ford Explorer ST | Starts at: 49,260 $ |
| Ford Explorer KING RANCH | Starts at: 53,630 $ |
| Ford Explorer PLATINUM | Starts at: 52,375 $ |
The Ford Explorer has been ruling SUVs since 1991, and it was introduced as a replacement for 2-door Bronco II. It was a mid-size SUV from 1991 to 2010 and has been presented as a mid-size crossover SUV from 2011 till today. It is in its 6th generation currently and offers a variety of powertrains. The sixth-generation Ford Explorer was launched in 2019 at the North American Auto show and went on sale in 2020. It is built on the CD6 platform and offers rear-wheel drive. Ford Explorer hybrid version is also available in the United States, along with gasoline powertrains and a plug-in hybrid model is available in Europe. It was written as the best-selling SUV of all time in the United States by CNBC in 2020. The 2022 Ford Explorer is the model that offers many changes and updates. The 2022 Ford Explorer provides comfort and improved passenger space in the cabin. It offers exceptional ride quality to make your journey memorable with connected technology and will give you the comfort you want. The 2022 Ford Explorer offers a new trim (ST-Line trim), which has a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine and delivers high performance. The ST trim in the 2022 Ford Explorer provides twenty-inch wheels, black badging, and black-coloured exterior accents that look astonishing. The cabin has faux-suede leather upholstery with red stitching details, an ST-Line logo, a sport steering wheel design, and more space. The ST trim offers a rear-wheel-drive configuration. The high-end King Ranch and Platinum trims generate 400 hp power and offer a pair of captain chairs in the 2nd row. The Timberline trim, introduced in 2021, also provides a 2nd-row bench seat in the 2022 Ford Explorer. It comes with 3-rows seats and a seating capacity of seven passengers. We will discuss the details of the specs and features of the 2022 Ford Explorer United States model further in this article.
Trims & Variants:
The 2022 Ford Explorer offers the following trim levels:
Base: it offers LED headlights, a power liftgate, three-zone automatic climate control, a driver’s seat with power adjustment, an eight-inch touch screen, a six-speaker sound system, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitor, and frontal collision mitigation.
XLT: it offers roof rails, heated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat, 2md row captain chairs, USB ports in the 2nd row, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Limited: it offers ambient interior lights, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated 2nd-row seats, 2nd-row sunshades, and a heated steering wheel.
ST-Line: it offers twenty-inch wheels, black interior trim, a navigation system, a wireless charging device, a 12-speaker audio system, a black grille, and simulated leather upholstery.
Timberline: it offers all-wheel-drive as standard, all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates, front tow hooks, simulated leather upholstery, and a standard trailer tow package.
ST: it offers sport suspension, paddle shifters, sports front seats, and a digital instrument panel.
King Ranch: it offers wooden interior trim, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, 14 speakers, unique leather upholstery, rear automatic brakes, and a digital gauge cluster display.
Platinum: it offers adaptive headlights, twenty-one-inch wheels, extended leather upholstery, and an automated parking system.
Engine, Power & Transmission:
Most trims of the 2022 Ford Explorer, like Base, XLT, and Limited variants, come with a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine, generating 300 hp power and 310 lb-ft of torque. The high-end trims like King Ranch and Platinum have a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, developing 400 hp power and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Limited and Platinum trims also offer a hybrid powertrain. The Limited hybrid model combines’ an electric battery with a V6 engine to generate 318 hp power.
 All trims offer rear-wheel-drive as a standard and an optional all-wheel-drive configuration. It offers ten-speed automatic transmission.
Performance & Drive:
The 2022 Ford Explorer delivers excellent performance, and one of the best things about its performance is balanced handling maneuvers. The Ford Explorer is lightest to drive and gives a strong acceleration, making the drive comfortable when the road is twisty. It provides a lot of road grip that gives drivers confidence in driving and extra comfort to the passengers. The four-cylinder engine delivers enough power to run the rear wheels efficiently, and the V6 engine is more powerful to make the ride more thrilling and fun. The 10-speed automatic transmission kicks down precisely, but it’s too indecisive in city traffic when you have to shift gears quickly. The fuel economy of the 2022 Ford Explorer is comparable to its competitors, and the 2.3-liter engine models give 24 miles per gallon combined mileage with rear-wheel-drive and 23 miles per gallon combined mileage with all-wheel-drive. The V6 engine gives 24 miles per gallon combined mileage. The hybrid models give up to 27 miles per gallon mileage in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highways with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, reducing 3 to 4 miles per gallon ratings in the city and on highways. The Ford Explorer offers a towing capacity of 5600 pounds, and the advanced traction with Roll Stability Control offers brakes selectively and adjusts the engine power, so the trailer control is maintained. The all-wheel drive makes off-road driving easier by optimizing the powertrain and brakes, so the vehicle delivers an efficient amount of traction for the required driving condition. It offers seven driving modes that are chosen according to the road condition. The selectable modes are normal mode, trail, deep snow mode, slippery mode, sport mode, tow mode, and Eco mode. The Hill-Descent control helps driving on steep roads by controlling brakes and speed. The automatic high-beam headlights sense poor lighting and switch on the headlamps accordingly to make your pathways brighter.
Exterior Design & Features:
The 2022 Ford Explorer has an eye-catching design. It comes with a muscular-looking grille and adaptive headlamps on the sides. The exterior design varies according to the trim levels like the ST trim comes with ST badging over the entire body that blends utility with performance and the black grille makes it more captivating. The high-end trims come with twenty-one-inch sporty wheels and all-season tires to make the car look sportier and more aggressive. The hands-free power liftgate opens the trunk conveniently by just kicking under the trunk space.
Interior Design & Features:
The inside of the Ford Explorer is comfortable and spacious, which makes it stand out among competitors. The cabin is not very luxurious like its rivals, but it looks simple yet elegant. The seats are covered with leather, and the driver’s seat comes with power adjustment. The front seats have heating and ventilation technology in the high-end trims. It offers three rows of seats and a seating capacity of seven passengers. The cargo space can carry up to thirty-one suit bags when 2nd and 3rd-row seats get folded. There is an 8-inch infotainment screen on all trims, and the high-end variants get a 10-inch touchscreen display compatible with Android Auto and Apple Car play interface. The Ford Explorer offers 12-speaker audio system as a standard in all variants other than the base trim.
Safety & Features:
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Ford Explorer the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests, and its headlights received the second-highest rating of Acceptable for forward visibility.
Some safety features of the 2022 Ford Explorer are as follows:
- Forward Collison warning alarm.
- Lane-keeping assist.
- Rear-cross traffic alert.
- Blind-spot monitor.
- Automatic high beam headlamps.
- Rearview camera.
- Intelligent adaptive cruise control.
- Automatic emergency braking.
- Reverse brake assist.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
The 2022 Ford Explorer offers a spacious cabin and generous cargo area. It delivers an impressive ride quality, maintaining the comfort of the passengers. It provides quick acceleration and excellent handling maneuvers.
Cons:
The 3rd row is a bit tight and only suitable for kids in Ford Explorer. The cabin is simple and does not give a premium feels compared to most of its competitors. It is a bit expensive compared to its rivals.