Just yesterday, Ford Explorer went public, and the official guide price was 309.8-399.8 million yuan.
Compared with Volkswagen, Toyota and even Buick, the attention of Ford brand is not high in the past two years, but new explorers have received a lot of attention. Because in the range of 300,000-400,000 yuan, there are not many 6-seat /7-seat medium and large SUVs available in China at present, and the Explorer car has characteristics that competing models at the same price do not have.
What kind of car is Ford Explorer? What kind of person is it suitable for? Who is its opponent? In today's article, we will talk about it.
What kind of car is Ford Explorer?
When it comes to Ford Explorer, many people are familiar with it, because it has been 30 years since the first generation was born. Since 20 13, this car was officially introduced to China as an imported car.
But I want to ask you what kind of car this is, is it a hard-core off-road vehicle or a city SUV? Is it a predecessor architecture or a rear-drive architecture? These questions may not be answered by many people.
This is not surprising. Unlike Mavericks and Sharp, Ford Explorer has always been a relatively small model in China. Because of imported cars and large-displacement engines, the price has always been high. For the 20 18 models currently on sale, the starting price is as high as 4 12800 and the top price is 59 1800.
Although the price is high and the volume is large, the current explorers are based on the front wheel structure, but this is not the tradition of explorers. Starting from 199 1, Ford Explorer has launched six generations of vehicles, of which the latest one belongs to the sixth generation, and the current fifth generation is the only one based on the front-wheel drive structure. The first to the fourth generation, and now the sixth generation, are orthodox vertical rear-wheel drive structures.
Needless to say, the advantages and disadvantages of front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive architecture. We all know that most luxury cars, especially those with more than 300,000 yuan, are based on the rear-wheel drive architecture. However, in the range of 300,000-400,000 where new explorers are located, it is the only 6-seat /7-seat medium and large SUV based on rear-drive architecture in China.
In addition, the new explorer's powertrain is also very special. The whole system comes standard with 2.3T turbocharged engine+10AT automatic transmission, while other models with the same price, whether five-seat or six-seat/seven-seat SUVs, mostly start with 2.0t displacement. ..
Knowing the basic characteristics of the new explorer, let's take a look at its main selling points and highlights.
List of selling points of brand-new explorers
1、? Global suppression of size
The new Explorer is not the only medium and large SUV in the range of 300,000-400,000, but compared with the two mainstream models at this price-Volkswagen Touran and Buick Angkewei, the Explorer is the largest. Considering Sharp and Highlander with similar prices, its size advantage as a 7-seat SUV is even more obvious:
As shown in the above table, the size and wheelbase of the new explorer completely suppress Volkswagen Tulang, and it is the only one of several models with a wheelbase of more than 3 meters and a car width of more than 2 meters. With this size, the seating space of the third row of seats for new explorers will basically be guaranteed.
However, it should be noted that although the size of the new explorer is the largest among several models, it does not mean that its space is better than Touran. Because the new explorer is the only one of several cars based on longitudinal rear drive, the rear drive architecture has advantages in power transmission and control, but it is inferior in spatial performance.
So, what is the performance of the new explorer's internal space? Next, we will bring a comparative experience of real cars, so you can pay attention to it.
2、? Standard 2.3T engine, the best power in its class.
New Explorers' competitors at this price are basically 2.0T engines, among which Volkswagen Toulon is divided into two versions: 2.0T high-low power version and 2.5T six-cylinder engine, while Ford's own Sharp has ST performance version equipped with 2.7T engine, but the prices of Toulon's 2.5T and Sharp's 2.7T are as high as 300,000, with little sales.
Compared with the main engine, the new explorer has absolute advantages:
In terms of power parameters, the new explorer's 2.3T engine basically crushed the main models of opponents of the same level. In terms of 0- 100km/h acceleration performance, the scores of the two-wheel drive version and the four-wheel drive version of New Explorer are 7.6 seconds and 7.8 seconds respectively, which are obviously ahead of Touran's 2.0T, Angkor and Highlander.
If the power of the 2.0T version of other models is enough, the power of new explorers is strong.
In addition, the new Explorer is equipped with a 10AT gearbox, and its gear number is the highest among domestic passenger cars at present. Of course, the more gears, the better. It depends on adjustment and collocation.
3、? The engine longitudinal rear drive platform is the only one in its class.
When Cadillac launched CT5 and CT4, they all advertised "no rear drive, no luxury", but in the price range radiated by new explorers, it was the only 6-seat /7-seat SUV with longitudinal rear drive.
The new explorer is the 6-seat /7-seat SUV with the lowest threshold among joint venture brands. Looking up, it is a Lincoln flyer on the same platform as the new explorer, with a starting price of 628,800.
In addition, Ford has rebuilt the front and rear axles of the new Explorer to 50: 50. The front suspension and rear suspension are also made of aluminum alloy, which has a very good sports foundation and is also the most sporty model in power performance and suspension structure among competitors at the same price.
4、? The whole system is equipped with rich standard configuration, and it is high when it is sold.
When I first looked at the configuration list of new explorers in car home, I felt that there was something wrong with the database at home for a moment, because almost all the mainstream functions of new explorers were equipped from the minimum configuration. Later, after several confirmations, it was discovered that this was the case.
So how rich is its standard function?
Needless to say, the total dynamic performance of 2.3T+ 10AT, the new explorer's tires adopted 255/55 from the lowest match? R20 specifications, and other models of the same class, or the diameter is shorter than that of new explorers. For example, is the tire of Touran 255/55? R 19, or the tire is narrower, for example, the tire of Angkor Wat is 235/55? R20, the overall specification is not as good as that of the new explorer.
Followed by the safety level, the new explorer comes standard with 8 airbags, and the lowest one is knee airbags, which is rare in the same level.
In terms of active safety, except for the night vision system, almost all the new explorers in the car home configuration list are full, and all of them are equipped with parallel lane assistance, lane keeping, road traffic identification, active braking and so on.
In addition, adaptive cruise, which only appears when other vehicles are equipped with high gear or even the highest gear, is also the standard for all new explorers, and it is also the most advanced adaptive cruise in the full speed range, covering the speed range of 0-180 km/h.
Compared with rivals at the same level, Angkewei has been equipped with adaptive cruise since the flagship version of 359,900 four-wheel drive, and does not support full-speed domain, while Tulang has been equipped since the flagship version of 380TSI four-wheel drive of 389,900.
In addition, the panoramic skylight that domestic consumers are very concerned about is standard in all departments;
Electric luggage, all standard;
Support four-door keyless entry function, all standard;
Leather steering wheel+shift paddles, all standard;
The main/co-pilot seat is electrically adjustable, which is standard in the whole system;
In addition, the Internet of Vehicles, LED headlights, one-button lifting four-door windows, front multi-layer sound insulation glass, automatic folding of exterior rearview mirrors, anti-glare of interior rearview mirrors, automatic zone air conditioning and car air purifier are all standard in the whole department.
If you feel that the above configuration is not satisfied, the budget will be increased to 359,800 yuan, the LCD instrument will be upgraded from 6.5 inches to 12.3 inches, the wireless charging function of the mobile phone will be added, and the heating+ventilation of the front seat and the memory of the driver's seat will be increased. At B& time, the second row of seats will also be heated, and the sound system can be upgraded from the ordinary six speakers to 10o sound. ...
For the cost performance of new explorers, Changan Ford really worked hard. Therefore, the budget is in place, and 6 /7 seats have just needed small partners. Did buy buy buy the rest?
Who is the new explorer suitable for?
From the perspective of cost performance alone, new explorers have almost no shortcomings, and it is difficult to pick out obvious problems in rear-drive architecture, power level, overall size, price, configuration, safety, NVH and so on. At present, the most common complaint about this car may be that the large vertical screen on the center console is a bit uncoordinated.
However, the most cost-effective car is often not the most popular. Otherwise, Highlander, which has adopted 6AT for many years, will not be the benchmark of 7-seat SUV until now. Moreover, the main competitors of new explorers have many discounts in the mid-market at present. Compared with the terminal price, the advantages of new explorers are not so prominent.
For example, Volkswagen Touran, the current terminal discount has reached about 50,000, and the two-wheel drive luxury version of the bare car price of 270,000 can be started, and the 380TSI four-wheel drive comfort version can be bought for less than 300,000.
In addition, although it is positioned as a medium and large SUV, new explorers may eventually be downgraded to compete with Highlander, a seven-seat SUV benchmark, like Touran.
In the first four months of this year, Highlander sold 258,565,438+0 vehicles, 2,000 more than Touran (65,438+065,438+0835 vehicles), Sharp (665,438+075 vehicles) and Angkewei (5,893 vehicles) combined. If you want to gain a foothold in the 7-seat SUV, you must first cross the hurdle of Highlander. It is hard to say whether new explorers can do this with their own level and cost-effective advantages.
However, from my point of view, if the new explorer really touched you, you might as well really consider it, because in this car, Changan Ford showed the greatest sincerity of its class.
If you have to be picky, the new explorer has just been listed, and there may be a big price reduction in the later period. The overall hedging rate is still not as good as Highlander, and the fuel consumption of 2.3T engine will be higher than that of Touran, Angkewei and Highlander.
However, Ford brand models do have advantages in power, handling and NVH that Volkswagen, Toyota and even Buick do not have. I was deeply impressed by the Ford Sharp before the test drive. At the same price, new explorers will indeed bring advantages in safety, control and comfort, which is undoubtedly very fragrant to use.
Speaking of which, what do you think of the new explorers? Welcome to vote below, or tell us in the comments section!
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.