The 2021 Ford Explorer Brings Specialization to Exploration

Adventuring covers a wide category of activities in the automotive world, with people using vehicles to experience the great outdoors in many different ways. You might not think of adventuring as being a very complex pastime, but that is far from the case: off-roading, trail driving, road-tripping, and other forms of exploration all count as adventuring at the end of the day. Not surprisingly, many vehicles specialize in different types of adventuring, and this begs the question of what type of adventures the 2021 Ford Explorer will excel in this coming year? Before you visit your local Ford dealer, make sure to take a look at this article.

What Is Exploration?

Exploration is a broad category of activities that make up part of adventuring. In its purest sense, exploration sets itself apart from other adventure activities in that the focus is on finding something new rather than enjoying the adrenaline rush of the fast-paced action; it’s about taking in the scenery outside of the car, not enjoying the car itself. For example, off-roading often tends to focus more on the thrill of driving off of the road rather than enjoying the subtle beauty of nature itself. However, off-roading can also be used as a way to reach new destinations.

Regardless, the basic needs of an exploration vehicle are similar yet different from the needs of other adventuring vehicles. For example, while performance is an absolute necessity in both types of activities, terrain reliability is needed to different degrees between trail exploration and off-roading, with more priority in the latter than the former. On the other hand, exploration can often take large periods of time, so the prioritization of comfort and convenience serves a higher purpose in an exploration vehicle.

Terrain Performance

It goes without saying that terrain versatility is the most important associated feature of an exploration SUV. While the performance expectations of casual exploration aren’t too extensive, there is a little bit of variation as far as how much each SUV can handle in terms of terrain difficulty. Nonetheless, the Ford Explorer has always had great terrain performance, and this is an area of the model that has seen great improvements in the 2021 lineup.

First, the engine of the 2021 Ford Explorer is more than capable of handling difficult terrain conditions. If we’re only talking about exploration activities like trail driving and road-tripping, then the most high-powered engine on the market isn’t usually necessary. But having a turbocharged engine never hurts, and the Explorer’s base 2.3-liter turbocharged engine is still able to pack quite a punch where it’s needed to move past difficult terrain. If you do find yourself needing more power than the 300-horsepower base engine can offer, the larger 3.0-liter turbocharged engine can provide up to 400 horsepower – more than enough to fill any power needs.

However, power performance is not the most important feature in this case. Again, in exploration activities, terrain conditions are unlikely to become too difficult to handle so long as you have the minimal necessary performance. Any more is more of a bonus than a necessity. What is necessary through and through, however, is handling and tire performance.

Tire performance is not often considered when buying a vehicle, overshadowed by other performance features like engine power and fuel efficiency. That said, standard tire performance has implications for terrain handling and overall mobility, given that traction from the tire itself is a crucial part of the equation. The 2021 Ford Explorer comes standard with all-season tires on 18″ wheels, which is a great choice for a year-round explorer. All-season tires are a common choice, understandably because they offer good all-around traction for most weather conditions; these are the tires that will offer the best well-rounded experience for a more casual adventurer.

Explore Safety

Although not being used for avoiding traffic accidents, in this case, safety does play a role in the value of an exploration vehicle. The extent of this worth comes down largely to safety convenience or how automated safety features are towards their overall environment. For example, the 2021 Ford Explorer comes with automatic headlamps that change dimness based on the lighting around you. This is, of course, primarily useful on the road during the night-time road trip, but forested areas can often get rather dark depending on where you go. Increased visibility is essential for safely exploring new areas, and the more aware you are of your surroundings, the safer your experience will be in the end.

Even more critical in this case are the systems in place to help stabilize your vehicle. Many of these systems fall under the category of terrain management, which we have already talked about, but there are a few notable systems in the 2021 Ford Explorer that we have not mentioned. Chief of these is the side-wind stabilization system, which helps to counteract heavy wind conditions that can make it difficult to handle your SUV. The benefits of this system should be self-evident; exploration often involves going into environments where your vehicle can be difficult to handle, like areas with heavy wind conditions and narrow roads, so any system that helps to control your vehicle is ideal.

Ride in Comfort

At first glance, you may be inclined to disregard comfort when evaluating exploration. And while this may seem unimportant, the truth is that exploration is a recreational activity. If you’re not feeling comfortable in a recreational SUV, then will you really be able to enjoy your adventures? Of course, comfort is also going to depend on what types of activities you’re looking to participate in. If you’re on the highway most of the time, then interior features like seating are most important, while things like suspension are more important for challenging terrain.

By on-road exploration activities, we mean activities like road tripping and rural driving scenic locations. In these cases, priority should be given to the interior comfort features of your choice. The 2021 Ford Explorer has a very extensive list of possible comfort features, including a twin-panel moonroof to create the perfect open-air feeling for any adventure. Regardless of which features you choose, the 2021 Ford Explorer offers the most comprehensive and spacious interior of any SUV in its class.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to participate in exploration activities that require leaving the road to travel along paths or non-paved areas, exterior comfort will be more of a priority. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t think about interior comfort as well, you certainly should, but these areas are going to tend to be tougher, more rugged terrain than the standard road. In terms of the 2021 Ford Explorer, Ford has built into this midsize SUV stiffer suspension designed to alleviate any bumps and vibrations that the SUV may come into contact with. Not only does this make the drive smoother, but it also increases handling in these situations by giving your vehicle more control over its surroundings.

Get Ready to Explore

As can be seen, adventure is a lifestyle for many automotive enthusiasts. Exploration is another big part of this way of life, with more and more people getting out there to understand the great unknown. The needs of this type of activity are slightly different than the needs of activities like off-roading, in that mobility and convenience carry a higher priority in exploration than raw performance does. Luckily for the everyday explorer, the 2021 Ford Explorer is designed to increase the exploration capabilities of a midsize SUV by introducing more standard safety features, more efficient performance, and better suspension to alleviate bumpy paths. If you’re looking for a new exploration SUV, look no farther than the 2021 Ford Explorer at your local Ford dealer.