2011 ford explorer
The 2011 Ford Explorer may take its styling cues from the Explorer America concept, which is pictured here. See pictures of the 2010 Ford Explorer.
Consumer Guide’s Impressions of the 2011 Ford Explorer

Crossovers are hot, trucky SUVs are not, so Explorer is being reimagined as a thriftier, eco-friendlier car-based wagon. But does Ford really need a fourth midsize crossover?

What We Know About the 2011 Ford Explorer

If Ford Motor Company had a theme song these days, it might be “The Party’s Over.” After all, its two biggest cash cows of the past 20 years, the big F-Series pickup and Explorer SUV, are suffering mighty sales losses as consumers embrace more rational vehicles to cope with soaring gas prices and other economic woes. But while there will always be demand for big, burly pickups, the SUV market is shifting decisively from truck-based rigs like Explorer to thriftier, more-civilized car-based SUVs like Ford’s own Edge, not to mention a host of domestic- and import-brand competitors. Trouble is, Ford missed the mark with its first midsize crossover, the 2005 Freestyle, now reconstituted as the Taurus X. And the upcoming 2009 Ford Flex wagon is a sort-of new-age minivan that answers a question no one seems to be asking. At least the Edge is selling respectably--so far--a rare bright spot in the corporate sales picture.

With all this, there’s a sense that Ford is still grasping for a smash-hit crossover. Which likely explains the Explorer America concept unwrapped at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Many observers think this exercise previews an all-new 2011 Ford Explorer that breaks with tradition by literally crossing over into the popular realm dominated by the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. It’s amazing they didn’t do this before. Consumers are crazy for crossovers, and the Explorer name still carries a ton of goodwill from some 6.5 million sales since the debut 1990 model.

For more inside information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:

  • C­onsumer Guide New Car Reviews and Prices: Road test results, photos, specifications, and prices for hundreds of new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs from the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
  • Ford: Read Consumer Guide's full reports, including ratings, prices, specifications, and fuel economy.
  • Midsize SUVs: The 2011 Ford Explorer will compete in the midsize SUV class. Here's Consumer Guide's roundup of all the midsize SUVs on sale today.
  • 2008 Consumer Guide Best Buy and Recommended Award Winners:
    Check out which cars won our Best Buy and Recommended awards for 2008.
  • Future Cars: Step into the automotive showroom of tomorrow with reviews, analysis, pictures, prices, and preliminary specifications on scores of vehicles that will be appearing next year and beyond.