A well-made SUV. Plenty of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin; the steering wheel has quality leather; the trim pieces look good and fit together well. The only flaw we noticed was an occasional dash rattle that we couldn't pinpoint.-edmunds
2017 Explorer Seating and Comfort
The 2017 Ford Explorer's interior accommodates six or seven passengers, depending on if you choose the second-row Captain's chair or standard bench. The first and second rows have sufficient headroom and legroom for adults but like any other typical SUV, Explorer's third-row feels cramped. However, Ford has done a great job in styling the Explorer's cabin to modern standards, with many quality materials, especially in the Platinum trim.
For 2017, Ford has done away with the touch-sensitive controls on the Explorer's center stack. A well-made SUV, it has plenty of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. The steering wheel has quality leather while the only flaw we noticed was an occasional dash rattle. Also, rear visibility is a problem because of the thick pillars. The doors are long and open wide, making it for a big entryway. Second-row captain's chairs make for easy third-row access.
Model
|
2017 Ford Explorer
|
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
|
2017 Toyota Highlander
|
2017 GMC Acadia
|
Passenger capacity
|
7
|
8
|
8
|
6
|
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
|
41.4/61.5/42.9
|
40.4/61.5/41.3
|
40.7/59.3/44.2
|
40.3/NA/41.0
|
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
|
40.6/61.0/39.5
|
39.4/61.0/36.8
|
39.9/59.6/38.4
|
NA/58.7/39.7
|
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
|
37.8/50.8/32.0
|
37.8/57.6/33.20
|
35.9/55.0/27.7
|
NA
|
Interior Features
Once you get inside the Ford Explorer, you\u2019d find the following interior features -
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
- Transmission, Cruise and Audio Controls on Steering Wheel
- Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors
- Interior Air Filtration
- Heated Mirrors
- 8-Way Power-Adjustable Bucket Front Seats
- Height Adjustable Front Seats
- Driver Seat with Power Adjustable Lumbar Support
- Multi-Level Heating Front and Rear (Optional) Seats
- Premium Cloth and Leather Seats
- Folding Centre Armrest in Rear
- Optional Second-Row Console
2017 Explorer Infotainment System
For 2017, the Explorer XLT will also offer the newer SYNC 3 infotainment system, while the Limited, Sport, and Platinum models offer it as a standard feature. The 2017 Explorer comes standard with a 4.2-inch infotainment screen, a rearview camera, a CD player, a USB port, and Bluetooth.
Moving on to higher trims gets you an 8-inch touch screen, a navigation system, satellite radio, and rear-seat DVD screens. The new Sync 3 infotainment system is much easier to use than the Explorer’s previous MyFord Touch system, and it responds quickly to inputs. It comes with Apple car play and Android Auto compatibility. With the Sony Audio system, you get either a 6-Speaker or 12-Speaker stereo audio system.
The Infotainment system includes some of the following features -
- MyFord Touch Infotainment System
- AM/FM Stereo HD Radio
- Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
- Auxiliary Audio Input and USB with External Media Control
- Satellite Radio Service
- USB Connection
- 12 Total Sony Premium Brand Stereo Speakers
- 390 Watts Stereo Surround Audio Output
- CD Player
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Navigation System
- Onboard Hands-Free Communication System
- Wireless Cell Phone Hookup
2017 Explorer Cargo capacity
The Ford Explorer proves a superior amount of cargo space behind the third row, rated at 21 cubic feet. With these seats folded the cargo expands to 43.9 cubic feet. The overall cargo space of 81.7 cubic feet with second-and third-row seats folded on the small end of the segment.
Model
|
2017 Ford Explorer
|
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
|
2017 Toyota Highlander
|
2017 GMC Acadia
|
Cargo Volume to seats 1
|
80.7 ft.3
|
116.3 ft.3
|
83.7 ft.3
|
79.0 ft.3
|
Cargo Volume to seats 2
|
43.8 ft.3
|
70.3 ft.3
|
42.3 ft.3
|
41.7 ft.3
|
Cargo Volume to seats 3
|
21.0 ft.3
|
24.4 ft.3
|
13.8 ft.3
|
12.8 ft.3
|
Small-items storage options in the Explorer include anti-tip cupholders, long door pockets, a huge center console bin. In comparison to other SUVs in the midsize SUV segment, the Explorer's cargo capacity behind the third row is above average but with the seats folded the competitors offer better space.