The Ford Explorer is a future hall-of-fame vehicle. The Explorer helped to define the SUV segment and for years sold in numbers that no modern SUV or crossover could duplicate. For 2011, Ford has reinvented the Explorer. Like all but the largest SUVs, the Explorer is now a unibody vehicle with a FWD-biased drive system. The new Explorer is longer and wider than before with a more spacious interior for seven passengers. By comparison, the Honda Pilot is slightly smaller, but the Chevrolet Traverse is slightly larger. Under the hood, most models equip a 290-bhp 3.5l V6 that has more power than competitive V6s and nearly matches the output of the prior generation's V8. The Explorer will eventually be available with an unusual 2.0l turbocharged four-cylinder promising increased fuel economy. Ford offers the Explorer in three trim levels ranging from about $30,000 to well over $40,000, ensuring that there is a model for every taste and budget.

What Changed:

The Explorer is all-new for 2011. Although the styling and proportions have changed, the big news is less evident. The new Explorer switches to a unibody chassis like the Honda Pilot, and the General Motors Enclave/Acadia/Traverse trio. The switch also means that 2WD models are now front-wheel-drive rather than the rear-wheel-drive models of the past. A V6 engine is standard. A V8 is no longer offered.