Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is a mid-size SUV sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ford Explorer was instrumental in turning the SUV from a special-interest vehicle into one of the most popular vehicle types on the road. It is marked as Ford’s only mid-sized SUV and is slotted between the larger Ford Expedition and the smaller Ford Escape.

“We find the Explorer fully competitive in a tightly contested segment, succeeding as both an excellent machine and a high-value purchase. It’s handsome, smooth, quiet, comfortable and competent.” quotes Cars.Com. From being the unofficial suburban family car this car has lost its stand in the market as newer more fuel-efficient cars and SUVs have hit the market. However, their greater towing capacity and smooth noiseless highway ride makes this car one of the best- handling truck- based SUVs on the market.

Ford Explorer is a mid-size SUV with body-on-frame construction. The 2009 Ford enhances it security countermeasures with the Trailer Sway Control systems. It works hand in glove with the AdvanceTrac/ with Roll Stability Control, by adopting a gyroscopic roll rate sensor to determine the vehicle’s body roll angle and rate from the yaw motion of the vehicle. This then stabilizes the vehicle by applying brakes to one or more wheels or reducing the engine power. Both the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) agree stability control systems could save more than one third lives annually.

The Ford Explorer 2009 is available in 7 trims ranging from the XLS 4.0-l to the Limited 4.6-l.XLT ranges. The base engine is a 5-speed automatic with 4.0-liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and delivers 254 pound-feet of torque .Then there is the 6-speed automatic with 4.6-liter V6 that produces 239 horsepower and delivers 282 pound-feet of torque. The wheels are 18” chrome-clad aluminum. There is a choice of 2-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive depending on the trim level.

Standard safety features include the Safety Canopy System which includes dual stage front airbags, and side curtain airbags, traction control, anti-skid system, safety belt retractors and adaptive steering column amidst others. The 2009 Ford Explorer has earned five stars for the best impact protection rating the federal government’s crash seats. A new feature for 2009 includes a voice-activated navigations system with Sirius Travel Link. One can get up-to-date information and entertainment through this system.

Edmunds.com commends the “larger door openings with a lower step-in-height for ease of entry and exit.’’ On a test drive, the USA Today claims that the Explorer “tamed the wretched path without jostling the occupants.” The Mustang news.com sums up with “Ford has added just enough to the 2009 Ford Explorer to keep it up to date”

2009 Ford Explorer Specs & Safety

Specification Ford Explorer 4-door wagon
Wheelbase, in. 113.7
Overall Length, in. 193.4
Overall Width, in. 73.7
Overall Height, in. 72.8
Curb Weight, lbs. 4628
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 85.8
Standard Payload, lbs. –
Fuel Capacity, gals. 22.5
Seating Capacity 7
Front Head Room, in. 39.8
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 42.4
Rear Head Room, in. 38.7
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 36.9

Engines sohc V6 sohc V8
Size, liters/cu. in. 4.0 /245 4.6 /281
Horsepower @ rpm. 210 @ 5100 292 @ 5700
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 254 @ 3700 315 @ 4000
Availability Standard Standard

EPA City / highway mpg
5-speed automatic NA/NA –/–
6-speed automatic –/– NA/NA

Model Prices
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
2WD XLT V6 4-door wagon $26,995 $25,116 $815
2WD XLT V8 4-door wagon $28,305 $26,307 $815
4WD XLT V6 4-door wagon $29,315 $27,226 $815
4WD XLT V8 4-door wagon $30,625 $28,419 $815
AWD XLT V6 4-door wagon $29,315 $27,226 $815
AWD XLT V8 4-door wagon $30,625 $28,419 $815
2WD Eddie Bauer V6 4-door wagon $30,140 $27,977 $815
2WD Eddie Bauer V8 4-door wagon $31,450 $29,170 $815
4WD Eddie Bauer V6 4-door wagon $32,460 $30,089 $815
4WD Eddie Bauer V8 4-door wagon $33,770 $31,281 $815
AWD Eddie Bauer V6 4-door wagon $32,460 $30,089 $815
AWD Eddie Bauer V8 4-door wagon $33,770 $31,281 $815
2WD Limited V6 4-door wagon $34,075 $31,558 $815
2WD Limited V8 4-door wagon $35,385 $32,751 $815
4WD Limited V6 4-door wagon $36,395 $33,670 $815
4WD Limited V8 4-door wagon $37,705 $34,861 $815
AWD Limited V6 4-door wagon $36,395 $33,670 $815
AWD Limited V8 4-door wagon $37,705 $34,861 $815

Below you will find the owner’s manual for the Ford Explorer ordered by year. Each owners manual is in .pdf format and available free to download to your computer!

Owners manuals for the Ford Explorer from 2000 to present: