2020 Ford Explorer vs. the Chevy
Traverse,
Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento and
Toyota Highlander
Will a ground-up redesign help the Explorer
maintain its lead in the three-row SUV space?
The Ford Explorer gets a complete overhaul for the 2020 model year, with big improvements in terms of tech, safety and styling. This all-new Explorer looks to not only maintain the crossover's popularity, but expand its appeal even further.That's important, since the three-row crossover segment is one of the most competitive in the automotive space. When the new Explorer goes on sale this summer, it'll face fierce competition from the likes of the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento and Toyota Highlander, among others.Let's take a look at how the 2020 Explorer is positioned against these well-known rivals
Engine, transmission and towing
At
launch, the 2020 Explorer will come standard with a 2.3-liter, turbocharged
EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission. It's not
the most powerful standard engine in the segment -- the Traverse's V6 beats it
by a mere 10 horsepower -- but the Explorer offers substantial power compared
to its rivals. The standard four-cylinder engines in the Highlander and Sorento
look downright anemic by comparison.
For
those wanting more oomph, the Explorer's optional 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged
V6 leads the class in horsepower and torque. The V6 boasts a 5,600-pound tow
rating, which is slightly better than most other entrants in this segment. Only
the Dodge Durango and Nissan Pathfinder do better with
towing, the former able to tow as much as 8,700 pounds thanks to its optional
V8 engine.
Styling
The
front fascia is the area that's undergone the most transformation, but it's
arguably the blandest-looking bit of the whole package. The new crossover's
flanks are more sculpted than the current Explorer's, which is a nice touch,
but the rear looks pretty much identical to the 2019 model.
When
it comes to the competition, there's not a rotten-looking apple in this bunch,
but they have their quirks. Winning the award for most minivan-looking of the
group is the Highlander, but the Sorento is a close runner-up. The Traverse is
blocky-looking, especially in its base trim riddled with black plastic and
small wheels. The Honda Pilot, on the other hand, looks the most windswept and
unique.
Of
course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it's perfectly fine if your
design interpretations are the inverse of what's written above.
Tech and safety
The
2020 Ford Explorer represents a major upgrade in compulsory tech compared with
the current Explorer. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Waze navigation
integrated into an 8-inch touchscreen now come standard. The 2019 model only
comes with a 4.2-inch screen and no phone mirroring unless you're willing to
shell out extra dough. The 2020 Explorer also comes standard with four USB
ports (two of which are USB-C), as well as 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to 10
devices.
More
in line with the current Explorer, the Toyota Highlander is pretty stingy with
its standard tech, offering just a 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Honda Pilot is a
shade more stingy, offering just a 5-inch LCD screen. The Chevrolet Traverse is
much more accommodating with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a 7-inch
touchscreen, plus 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to seven devices.
In concert with stepping up its
standard tech game, the 2020 Explorer now offers a belly-full of standard
safety systems, which is in stark contrast to the 2019 Explorer which offers no
standard driver-assistance systems. The new Explorer comes with
pedestrian-detecting collision-mitigation braking, blind spot monitoring with
cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams and a rearview
camera that can wash itself if things get murky out on the trail.
Those
standard safety features make the base Explorer much more competitive with the
well-equipped Highlander and Pilot, which both come with compulsory
collision-mitigation braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and
automatic high-beams. The Traverse mirrors the current Explorer by offering no
standard driver-assistance systems. The same goes for the Sorento.
Cargo space
With
87.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows of seats folded,
the Explorer offers respectable cargo room, beating most of its competitors
except for the Chevy, which is huge inside. In fact, its 98.2 cubic-foot
max falls between the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Ford Expedition, both of
which are one vehicle class larger.
The
Pilot and Highlander, with their middle-of-the-road pricing, also offer
middle-of-the-road storage volume, while the value-positioned Sorento is
certifiably cargo-cramped. In fact, the Honda CR-V, one size class down,
offers more maximum volume than the Sorento.
Headroom and legroom
If
you have a big head -- hopefully not in the personality sense -- and you're a
passenger in the 2020 Explorer, you're in luck, as the new Ford offers
best-in-class second- and third-row headroom. In every other measurement
delineated below, the new Explorer remains competitive. If you gave into
temptation a little too much this past holiday season, the Explorer has your
back(side), too, by offering best-in-class first- and second-row hip room.
Being
the space king that it is, it's no surprise the Chevy boasts some top
measurements on this chart, namely with front headroom and third-row legroom.
Surprisingly, the Sorento can claim a a victory here, as well. It tops the
chart with its second-row legroom.
The
Honda Pilot ties the Explorer with best-in-class third-row headroom, while the
Highlander is the benchmark for front legroom, but offers significantly less
third-row legroom than the others.
Pricing
Ford
says the 2020 Explorer's base price will end up being $400 more than the 2019
model's $32,365 figure. Including an estimated destination charge of $995, that
amounts to at least $33,760, which will place the Explorer at the more
expensive end of the segment. That's nothing new for the Ford, but
understandable considering the Explorer's level of standard horsepower, tech
and safety features.
2020
pricing for most models in the auto industry is expected to be an average of
several hundred dollars more than their 2019 counterparts, so keep that in mind
when referring to the pricing of the Explorer's 2019-model-year competitors
below.
Ford
is yet to release prices for its higher-trim Explorers, but the top-spec
Platinum trim level for 2019 starts at $54,165, so the 2020 model shouldn't be
much more than that.
On the opposite end of the
spectrum, the Kia Sorento's low base price is due largely to its unimpressive
base engine and a lack of standard driver-assistance features. Like the
Sorento, the Highlander comes with a low-cost base engine, as well, but a healthy
suite of standard driver-assistance systems put it mid-pack among starting
prices.
The
Honda Pilot LX also offers a stout list of standard driver aids but bundles
that with a V6 engine. The Pilot offers less standard tech, though, which
explains why it commands only $70 more than the Toyota. The Chevrolet
Traverse takes a different approach to landing mid-pack. It offers a standard
V6 but a dearth of standard driver-assistance features.
On the upper
end, you'll notice most of these crossovers come in at under $50,000 in their top trims.
Attribute that to the fact that none offer the level of horsepower that the
Explorer Platinum has on tap.
According to
this tale of the tape, the new Explorer should have little difficulty defending
its sales crown. What remains to be seen is what it will be like to drive, so
keep your internet dials locked here for a forthcoming first-drive impression
as soon as we can get our mitts on a sixth-gen Explorer.
CNET
CNET
