2005 Ford Explorer Specs

[a2Pilot]

From media.fordvehicles.com

It's interesting to see what the competition is releasing this year for new features. I've bolded some points of interest.
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OVERVIEW

Standard AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™
20 unique arrays provide the broadest offering in the segment
XLT appearance package adds content, color and excitement in the middle of the lineup
MP3 capability and Sirius Satellite radio capability now standard on all audio systems (late availability)
The award-winning Ford Explorer is America's best-selling sport utility vehicle, 14 years and counting. For 2005, Explorer introduces segment-leading safety technology across all series.

Standard on all models, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control provides active stability enhancement using sensors to determine the vehicle's roll speed and roll angle. The system is unique because it also monitors the potential for rollover.

If the system detects that one or more wheels are about to leave the ground, it triggers the AdvanceTrac stability system to reduce engine power and/or apply braking to the necessary wheels to help settle the vehicle, allowing the driver to maintain control.

Explorer also offers an optional Safety Canopy™ side-curtain air bag system with rollover protection, while the Personal Safety System™ and anti-lock brakes are standard equipment.

The 2005 Explorer is available in XLS, XLS Sport, XLT, XLT Sport, Eddie Bauer and Limited trims. It is built in St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky.

Design and Equipment
Key design elements include simple, rounded forms and sections, uncluttered body panels and a bold, new grille featuring the familiar egg-crate insert of all Ford SUVs.

High-quality, durable materials and finishes are used in all aspects of the exterior and interior design.

Explorer leads its class in third-row headroom and legroom. In seven-passenger models, the second-row seat is split 40/20/40, offering access ease to the third row, as well as the ability to customize the cargo area for long or odd-sized cargo.

A new XLT appearance package provides unique seating surfaces and matching door trim inserts, based on exterior color selection. The color combinations include Midnight Black seating fabric with red inserts or Parchment seating fabric. The package also includes 17-inch silver painted cast- aluminum wheels with matching step rails and roof rails.

Powertrain
The Explorer is powered by a choice of either of two engines: A 4.6-liter V-8 or a 4.0 liter V-6.

The 4.6-liter V-8 uses aluminum block and heads and is an overhead-cam design. It delivers 239 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque and will go 100,000 miles before its first scheduled tune-up.

Towing capability comes built-in. The standard receiver hitch offers Class II towing capability. A towing package provides Class III/IV towing capability of up to 7,140 pounds when properly equipped.

ControlTrac™ four-wheel drive is available.

Safety
New for 2005 is standard industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control. This new feature lessens the chance of rollover events and helps Explorer maintain its safety hertage.

Explorer was named a "Best Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in its offset frontal crash test evaluation.

Steel beams in the doors help prevent intrusion during side impacts. Together, the front crush zones and the beams absorb the energy of certain impacts to help protect the driver and the passenger.

Four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes are standard. Explorer can be equipped with the Safety Canopy™ curtain air bag system and power adjustable pedals. Tire-pressure monitoring system is standard on all models except XLS.

Major Equipment and Options
XLS: 4.0L V-6 engine, five-speed automatic transmission, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch steel wheels, AvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control tilt-steering wheel, speed control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, split-folding rear seat, power mirrors, windows and door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, map lights and cargo-management system.

XLS Sport adds: Tire-pressure monitoring system, 16-inch cast aluminum wheels, black wheel-lip moldings, black step bars, deluxe center floor console and floor mats.

XLT adds: Monochromatic exterior with body-color bumpers and moldings, fog lamps, approach lamps on the power side mirrors, chrome grille, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front bucket seats w/lumbar adjustment, six-way power driver seat, overhead console, outside-temperature indicator, compass and a center cluster accent in warm steel finish.

XLT Sport adds: 17-inch bright machined aluminum wheels, platinum gloss step bars, platinum gloss cladding and wheel-lip moldings, body-color door handles, automatic headlamps, self-dimming interior mirror and keyless entry keypad.

Eddie Bauer adds: Unique 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, Pueblo Gold two-tone exterior accents, satin nickel grille, heated side mirrors, two-tone leather upholstery, perforated and heated front seats with eight-way power for driver and six-way power for front passenger, driver-seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, steering wheel radio and climate controls, power-adjustable pedals w/memory, Audiophile 290-watt AM/FM stereo w/in-dash six-disc CD changer, unique pecan wood grain interior accents and message center.

Limited adds: 17-inch chromed wheels, monochromatic exterior with running boards, chromed grille and roof rails, monochromatic luxury leather-trimmed seating and unique Mandarin teak interior wood-grain accents.

Major options include second-row bucket seats and console on Eddie Bauer and Limited, third-row cloth seating surfaces, Class III/IV towing package, Safety Canopy™ system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, Reverse Sensing System, rear-seat climate control, power moonroof, roof rail crossbars, universal garage door opener and power-adjustable pedals.

[apexi350z]

The 4.6-liter V-8 uses aluminum block and heads and is an overhead-cam design. It delivers 239 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque

[Oahu_Dave]

Memory seats are a big bonus, I cant stand not having those. Tire pressure monitor is nice as well. Just found one of my tires was about 8lbs lower than the others. Just never looked on the passenger side much. Standard hitch is nice, I bet they also have the crossbars on the roof rack. So lame of Honda... Keyless entry is something I like as well.

I really like the sound of it aside from the engine, too bad the power is so lame and I'm sure the mileage sucks. Also sucks that it is a Ford...

[Jiaronnis]

Originally posted by Oahu_Dave
Also sucks that it is a Ford...

Yes, indeed.

[Bill Balmer]

Agreed. I miss several of those features on the Pilot. There's just no excuse for not including some things.

BUT, it reminds me of a conversation I had with my step-father back in the '80s. He was telling me how a friend of his had a new BMW and was going on and on about all of the great features. My step-father told him that his '81 Caddy (hunk of junk) had all of those things and more - why would he want to change?

The point that my step-father just didn't understand is that, bells and whistles aside, the BMW was a far superior automobile.

You can't judge a car by its features alone. Unfortunately many people still do. That and blind brand loyalty are sometimes the only reason that companies like Ford sell any cars at all.

[a2Pilot]

Great features are not worth anything if they are broken............

[Titans Fan]

Originally posted by a2Pilot
Great features are not worth anything if they are broken............

But they are nice to play with while you're waiting for the tow truck.

[johnabrown]

Now, I'm not knocking ANYTHING, least of all my Pilot. However, in my experience, I had fewer ownership problems in the first 7 months of ownership of my Ford Explorer than I have had with my Pilot.

It's too easy to knock other makes and forget that you get "wrong-uns" from any manufacturer.

I'm still hoping that my long-term ownership experience is better with my Pilot. If the indications are to the contrary, then I guess there will be no long-term ownership on my part!.

[Titans Fan]

Originally posted by johnabrown
... It's too easy to knock other makes and forget that you get "wrong-uns" from any manufacturer....

True, EVERY maker has the occasional "wrong-un"; and every manufacturer gets one right from time to time. My personal experiences with multiple Fords, GMs, and Hondas has turned me off from Ford and GM and toward Honda.

Here's hoping your Honda experiences are positive & long-term.

[a2Pilot]

I had an Explorer back in 1995, and nothing ever really went wrong with it. The Explorer was just a boring vehicle to drive. Underpowered V6 with a four wheel drive system that just wasn't very good for off-roading. I got stuck a few times. Even with a low range. I leased it for two years, then turned it in.

I find myself grinning on a regular basis while driving my Pilot. I've had it over two years, and while it may be missing some desireable features, it's still fun to drive after all this time. It's a good overall package that could use a few more little details added.