The 2020 Ford Explorer is kind of pricey

"LJ909" (lj909) 03/18/2019 at 11:11 • Filed to: ford explorer, Crossovers

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The build and price for the 2020 Explorer is finally !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! if you want to play around with it. But suffice to say, its not cheap. Might have something to do with recouping the costs for that new RWD platform. But here is the pricing breakdown.

There are 4 trim levels to choose from: base XLT, Limited, performance ST,and top of the line Platinum.

Explorer XLT

As I mentioned before, its not cheap. The base XLT starts at $36,675. It comes nicely equipped with standout standard features such as:

18" Five-Spoke Sparkle Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels

8" LCD Touchscreen

4-way Power Passenger Seats

Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start

There are 10 exterior color choices for the XLT:

Agate Black

Blue

Magnetic (which is just gray)

Star White ($595)

Atlas Blue

Rich Copper ($595)

Silver Spruce

Iconic Silver

Rapid Red ($395)

Oxford White

I choose Black of course. Its a nice spread of colors and ensures that there’s something for everyone. Not just basic silver or white.

The standard engine is a 2.3 Ecoboost I4 with start/stop (which for me personally would be a deal breaker). It should also be noted that this engine is standard on the XLT and Limited. RWD is standard of course. If you want 4wd,its a $2,000 option. I didn’t add it because not needed.

I’ve always found Ford’s option packages weird in their contents and naming. The standard option package is called 200A and is pretty much everything the XLT comes standard with. The only other option package at this trim level is 202A. For a steep $5,140 it adds things like second row consoles, LED headlights, chrome wheels, Co-Pilot 360 etc. Its honestly a lot more than just this but its too much to list here. Weirdly, if you don’t select 202A, an equipment group discount for $1,000 comes available that automatically selects it and takes a grand off the package price.

There are a few other options as well. There’s a Class III trailer hitch for $710.

A Comfort Package for $715 that includes:

• First and Second Row Heated Seats

• Heated Steering Wheel

• Windshield Wiper De-Icer

The Co-Pilot 360 assist looks like it be had alone if you don’t select package 202A for $795 as its listed alone outside of the 202A package. But selecting the Co-Pilot package automatically selects the 202A package. There’s also a $90 smokers package.
 

This isnt the XLT trim

There are 6 exterior options. There’s a 20' wheel for $1,295. But again weirdly, selecting it you will find that this is part of package 202A. Why list them individually when you cant select them individually? Must be a Ford thing. LED fog lamps are listed but have to be selected with 202A as well, along with remote start....pretty much all the individual options require 202A.

All in, a base XLT with the options selected will set you back just over $45 grand. $45,615 to be exact. Add 4wd and you’re even close to $50 grand.

Limited

The next trim level is Limited. It starts at $48,130 and comes standard with:

Leather Seating Surfaces

Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+

360-Degree Camera

B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen with 12 Speakers (impressive)

This trim also sees the availability of Ford’s Terrain Management System if you choose 4wd. Its described as: All-new Terrain Management System with Intelligent 4WD can help tackle any adventure with up to seven selectable drive modes through a single easy-to-use dial in the center console. This includes normal, trail, deep snow/sand, slippery, sport, tow/haul and new eco mode that each come with special 3D animated graphics in the new available 12.3-inch digital cluster. Should come in hand with those camping trips.

There are the same exterior color options for this trim, so there’s nothing different there. The main differences with the Limited trim come when you get to the engine choices. The Limited trim comes with the option of selecting the 3.3 Liter Hybrid V6 for $4,150. I chose this option since it would be interesting to have an Explorer Hybrid. You can also chose 4WD with the Hybrid engine for $2,195. This trim also sees the option of leather seating in Black as well as a rear entertainment system for $1,995.

With the same options as the XLT selected as well as the hybrid system, awd and rear entertainment system, an Explorer Limited is an eye watering $59,260. And still just getting started.

The next trim is the one we’ve all been waiting for, the ST. Starting at $54,740, it comes standard with:

3.0L EcoBoost® V6 Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology with 400 horses and 415 lb/ft of torque and a top speed of 143 mph

Reverse Brake Assist

Sport Tuned Suspension

Intelligent 4 Wheel Drive

The ST surprisingly doesn’t have any trim specific colors, you can choose all the colors for the other 2 trims. I choose the blue which on the ST looks like BMW M Blue. Weirdly, Ford’s performance Blue that the Edge ST comes in isn’t available. AWD is standard with the ST trim as well.

Packages wise, the ST has 2 trim specific packages. The first is a $1,595 high performance package that includes:

•21" Aluminum Wheels

• High-Performance Brakes

• Red Painted Brake Calipers

I added this. The second package is called the ST Street Package. For $995, its pretty much the Performance Package without the high performance brakes. Which means that you’re paying a grand for better brakes. You can only choose one or the other.

The next package is a $995 technology package. It adds:

Multicontour Seats with Active Motion® (Front Only)

• 10.1" LCD Capacitive Portrait Touchscreen in Center Stack with Swipe and Pinch-to-Zoom Capability

• B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen with 14 Speakers 980 Watt

I added this as well. All in with all options, an Explorer ST will set you back an insane $60,120.

Platinum

The top of the Explorer heap is the $58,250 Platinum trim. It comes standard with:

Tri-Diamond Perforated Leather Seating Surfaces with Accent Stitching

Twin Panel Moonroof

Active Park Assist 2.0

12.3" Digital Cluster

The Platinum trim comes standard with a 3.0 365 horse Ecoboost V6 as well as standard AWD. RWD isn’t available. With little to the same options selected, a Platinum trim will set you back $62,930.

I had high hopes for the Explorer with the debut of a new rwd platform as well as the crazy ST trim, but at these prices, its going to be a nope from me dog. Combine that with the fact that this thing is priced into Aviator, as well as luxury marque territory, as well as Ford’s quality, and its a hard pass from me. What do you guys think of it?

TorqueToYield > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 13:07

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What was their reasoning for switching back to a RWD platform? I don’t think the family truckster demographic would care . Maybe the police  sales?

facw > TorqueToYield 03/18/2019 at 13:29

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Yeah, it’s a bit odd. It would make more sense if it were sharing the drive train with the Ranger/Everest/Bronco, but I don’t think they are.

LJ909 > TorqueToYield 03/18/2019 at 13:32

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Not only do they not care, for the most part they don’t know the difference. I’m most sure of the reasoning either. I mean I don’t hate it, but these prices...

wafflesnfalafel > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 13:36

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“I f we stop making any cars, then they will have to buy our SUVs and we can charge what we want! Muhahahahaha!”

A $25,000 Explorer in 1991 would be about $45 k now and it is a MUCH better vehicle so it really isn’t too far off I think.  Plus now you can get 8 year car loans!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 13:43

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Damn that’s aviator territory once you get into the upper trims like you said. a G but does this mean the highest trim Aviators will be touching $ 85K or more then? G uess 84 and 96 month loans are going to be normal on the new explorer. Hopefully there are big discounts else this is all s traight up C P.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 13:52

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What do I think?

If it was my money, I would get a base 2019 FWD V6 Explorer instead with an “estimated net price of $31,460"

Arrivederci > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 14:09

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Does anybody else absolutely hate the redesigned nose on these things? Looks like it got hit with a shovel.

Also, those captains chairs in the second row look miserable, or maybe I’m just thrown off by how wide the top half of the seatback is versus no bolstering at the hips and a narrow seat bottom.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > LJ909 03/18/2019 at 14:27

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I like how they have 10! Colors…but like 7 of them are some shade of black, gray, or white. So if you want an actual color, you can have blue...or pay extra for red!

I personally don’t care too much about colors, but my wife absolutely refuses to have anything resembling gray. And to her credit, these cars we’re talking about aren’t exotics or rare vehicles. If a search doesn’t result in one that isn’t gray just look again tomorrow.

As with many other things I guess companies are just trying to maximize their audience by offending as few people as possible, and in doing it are exciting as few people as possible too.

LJ909 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 03/18/2019 at 14:33

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Yes the Avaitor stops just under 90 grand. But this is still CP all day. 

LJ909 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/18/2019 at 14:35

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Probably cheaper than that with rebates. 

LJ909 > Arrivederci 03/18/2019 at 14:36

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I think the design had to do with it being rwd now. It’s more a tall wagon now than anything.

And yes those seats are akward as fuck. Like they were thinking of adding something else and abruptly stopped. 

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > wafflesnfalafel 05/03/2019 at 12:22

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Yeah a ‘91 Explorer is so much better than ‘19 Explorer, no advancements have been made in that time span of 28 years.