On the Road in the Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4X4
A few years ago, Explorer was at the center of a controversy about SUVs' safety. Narrow wheelbases and high centers of gravity led to an unusually high incidence of rollover, especially during emergency maneuvers at speed. Ford really took the Explorer rollover crisis seriously, and the current Explorer is nothing like the tipsy previous generation. Roll Stability Control is standard on the Explorer, but I would still opt for the $560 optional Safety Canopy. The Explorer feels firmly planted on the road at most speeds. You can still feel some body roll during cornering--wise drivers will not test the safety mechanisms on a whim. If you have to load your Explorer with a lot of gear, be especially conscious of keeping the load low--you may be safer towing a small trailer than you would loading up the roof rack.My passengers liked the middle seat--and they hated the third row. They whined and complained for the whole ride. Too little leg room, and the floor is too high. Wah, wah, wah. At least the optional ($1,295) powerfold seat made the changeover from five passenger cargo-hauler to seven passenger people-mover a breeze.
The essential option on the Explorer is the reverse sensing system ($255)--you can't park without it.
