I agree that the new Explorer is not a converted Taurus per se. But, it seems to be much closer to the Taurus in concept/engineering than Explorers of the past have been, which were clearly truck-derived with ladder-frames. They were basically redone, passenger-enclosed Ford Ranger pickups.....as the Expeditions/Navigators were redone F-150s.


Problem is, today, unlike the past, it is not so much gas prices that determine SUV sales as the question of people having the money for them and buying something they can afford.

 

Which leads me to think that you can't call it an SUV. A CUV, sure. The 4Runner is still an SUV. That being said, perhaps it is wrong to give less attention to the SUV. People bought them because they were available. Now CUVs give you a high ride, ample space, and kewl factor in a more comfortable, more efficient package. The new Explorer makes me believe they made a new vehicle and tacked a good name on it to get it to sell...as I own Ford stock I hope that this works.

 

If you consider an "SUV" to be a traditional, Jeep-type, hard-core off-roader with a truck-frame and 4WD Low-range transfer case, then, yes, the 4Runner is a traditional SUV. But the new Forester (appears) to be competition for the Highlander/Pilot/CX-9/Endeavor, which are all mid-sized, car-based SUVs. I'd consider all of these, including the new Explorer, a little too large to be tagged CUVs. When you think of CUVs, that includes vehicles more like the RAV4, CR-V, Forester, Outlander, Escape, etc.....

 

I added what you left out

 

A few things to pick: Dinky tachometer gets lost in the field and reminds me of the tach-less dashes of 1980's economy cars. I'm really hating this latest Ford trend. A large or at least normal-sized tach has always been a way to showcase a vehicle's power capabilites, or at least give the impression there's power under the hood (whether it has it or not). Only "auto down" on the driver's window? That's terrible for a 2011 vehicle. Rear lights have some funky curves on the side of the body. A little too busy back there with no theme or flow from window down to fender. Lastly, body sides look like they were swide-swiped by another vehicle. Taurus suffers from the same "taken a bite out of the body" look. Car looks jipped or anorexic in that regard.
Other than that, looks like a fresh design that will last through the years. Good job Ford.

 

the jeep grand cherokee is actually a really nice vehicle to drive, and the newly announced 2011 (4 page cover on usa today yesterday or today), looks AWESOME!

 

I don't know if the 2011 is any good, but my parents recently got rid of theirs current gen GC. It was a 5.7 hemi limited, and it was the most miserable, hateful, pitiful, vomit inducing example of motoring garbage I've even had the misfortune to drive. I'm not sure what you find nice about it?

 

I know...I've driven GCs. There's a big difference between a GC and a Wrangler, though. The Wrangler, though, became the very symbol of the hard-core traditional off-roading SUV I was referring to. Other slightly more civilized examples include the Nissan XTerra, Toyota 4Runner/FJ Cruiser, Suzuki Vitara, and, on the high/comfort end, Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX, the Land Rovers, and the Mercedes G-Wagen.

 

Except you are wrong. Toyota as of late has quality issues. What I posted shows Toyota was one of the better brands last year. Toyota and Honda have always fared pretty well, Nissan, Mitsu, Suzuki etc have not.

Sorry, but Nissan has always stunk with quality and always been below average. It is what it is. Just b/c something is Japanese doesn't mean its great quality and just b/c something is American means its crap.

Ford quality is better than Nissan. Period. Shocking huh. As of right now Ford quality is probably on par with Toyota since they have slipped.

 

Hmm so with the Demise of Mercury and this new "kinetic" meets "bold" theme that Ford has introduced, I think it's safe to say that the Ford Kuga we speculated at a few months ago, will likely replace the escape. Whether it retains the Kuga or Escape moniker remains to be seen.

 

I'd agree the quality is rather competitive with Toyota's, but in all other regards ie performance, design, safety innovations (airbags in seat belts), I think Ford is a few "car lengths" ahead

 

I knew someone who had to wait 8 months to get a clutch for her new, 2002 Altima. 1. Why is the clutch out on a new car? 2. Why does it take that long to get a part?

 

I can't say I'm enamored with the quality on all Ford products, but when I was reviewing the Fiesta hatchback yesterday, I took another static look at a Fusion Hybrid in the showroom. It seemed even more solid and better-done than the Fusion Hybrid I reviewed some time ago (though still within the same generation). That car is superb.....I think I would buy it before any other current Ford product, though I like the Escape's versatility.

 

I think that Ford is waking up to the fact that today a tach is largely an affectation, particularly in an SUV with an automatic transmission. They've relegated it to secondary status on the instrument panel and rightly so. If you are not going to be in charge of your shift points, why bother at all? Of course, to buyers of vehicles with a CVT, the tach is completely useless.

To maximize interior space in a tall vehicle it's extremely difficult to achieve that "big on the inside, small on the outside" balance without a set of slab sides. Some manufacturers get a lot closer than others. Ford has done a fairly good job, but the latest generation of Chrysler vans should be enshrined along with the first gen Scion XB in the industrial design hall of shame for looking less like a car than the crate that it came in.

 

Ford is making products I would actually want. It's been a long time since that happened. I think they are designing their American vehicles closer to the level of their European products. But The Modeo is still sweet and I wish we had something like that here.

As to Toyota, yeah, they make some solid vehicles but I don't want anything on their lot except for the Venza (this doesn't count for Lexus who has several vehicles I find desirable). The Toyota line is still drabsville for me.