The Ford Explorer and Ford Flex share the platform. The Ford Flex was once an SUV that prided itself on being comfortable and quiet, and the Explorer inherited its advantages, including the practically usable third-row seats, as well as the abundance of trunk capacity. It also has a stable driving experience and decent fuel economy, but unfortunately, as an "off-road vehicle", its quality and reliability have always been difficult to trust.
 
Ford has recalibrated the current Explorer, with the newly added "Curve Control" system intervening before the stability control system is in action when steering. However, with the two combined, the Ford Explorer became too cautious. When turning, the explorer seems to need to think twice before giving feedback, and although it is accurate, it is often avoided when it encounters a sudden obstacle. Ford's traditional front MacPherson rear multi-link suspension performs well on the Explorer, rarely allowing extra movement in the bodywork. It's also quiet, except for the engine that sends noise into the cabin at low rpm, and it doesn't interfere with passenger conversations at other times. The 7.34 acceleration time of 100 km/h is not ideal for a 3.5T engine, and the combination of sport-adjustable suspension and 20-inch tires increases grip, but it still does not turn the explorer into a truly adventurous-friendly car, and once you walk on a country road, even if you haven't really encountered the off-road challenge, the bumpy ride experience is already very uncomfortable for passengers.
 
The Ford Explorer's driving position is spacious, but the pedals are too close to the driver. Overly high window sills limit the function of the seat armrests, and all three rows of seats can easily seat adults, but the seat cushions are too short to be a common complaint among passengers. The Explorer's display is high-resolution but the font size is too small, and the controls are as complex as ever. Although Ford added voice control to it, it was often disobedient.
 
It's been too long since Ford has had a beautiful reliability record. In a follow-up survey conducted by Consumer Reports in the United States, the quality reliability of the Ford Explorer was generally below average. The Explorer can drive smoothly for up to five years, after which the suspension, air conditioning, and braking failures will increase dramatically, and the engine will occasionally appear to the point where it is impossible to ignore.
 
In 2011.2012.2013, the Ford Explorer was awarded the highest safety level in its class: TSP. In 2013~2017, the Ford Explorer's results in frontal small-angle crash tests have been "average". The rest of the basic items (frontal moderate overlap collision, side impact, top impact) were all excellent, and later after the co-pilot small area crash test was added, it received the worst Poor evaluation, did not receive the top safety certification, and the safety lagged behind the same class of models.
Ford Explorer test report