Let me start this post with the following disclaimer: I only ever write about products if I like them and feel it is something worthwhile sharing with you. Today is no exception. For our vacation last week, Ford lent us the brand spankin’ new 2011 Explorer. They recently revamped the car and this is the first model with the new design. Since I did in fact love this car, I want to write about it!
Both Nate and I fell in love the first time driving it. Granted, we drive a 2001 Ford Taurus, which, by the way, has only 60,000 miles and has been a very reliable car that we expect to last much longer. I’m not complaining. But, it doesn’t even have a tape deck. I have to manually lock and unlock my doors. I know, life is hard. So, I suppose any car is going to seem like heaven compared to ours, but really, the Explorer was great!
Can you tell the car was well-loved the week we had it? Hello dirt!
Nate and I are both minivan-resistant. My friends keep telling me we need to just get over it. But so far, we can’t. In the next couple years we’re going to want a car that seats more people, so I’m constantly on the look out for a good alternative. I’m pretty much convinced I do NOT want a crossover. That third row is just too hard to get to and rarely offers enough space for an adult to sit. The GMC Acadia is a nice option, with captain’s chairs in the center and a bench in the back that seats three, although I think it’s a little squishy for adults back there.
The Explorer also offers the captain’s chairs option for the center row. I really love this idea. It makes it so much easier to get to the third row if you’re using it. If you get the Explorer with the center captain’s chairs, however, you can only seat 6, not 7, but it’s still a nice minivan alternative.
I think my most favorite feature was the cruise control. You set your speed AND how much distance you want between you and the car in front of you. Then the car pretty much drives itself. If traffic slows down, the car slows down. If you change lanes and it’s faster or there is no car in front of you, the car speeds back up to your set speed. It makes cruise control totally doable in situations where there are more cars. It was really cool.
What else? The way back had buttons on the side that automatically put the two back seats up and down for you. This was awesome. However, be careful not to accidentally bump those buttons when you do NOT want the seats moving around. There was an incident with Nate’s surfboard that he’s still not happy about. Poor surfboard.
The very handy, sometimes-dangerous-to-surfboards buttons in the back.
Other favorite features? There’s a standard plug in the center, the infotainment system is great and easy to use, the rear camera screen is nice and big. Also, the car can parallel park itself. Which we never tried. We were too chicken.
Ford claims the new Explorer gets the best gas mileage in its class, which is probably true, but it’s still an SUV, so, you know, it still uses a fair amount of gasoline.
I’m sure I’ll remember something once I hit publish, but those were the highlights. The car drove beautifully and had a nice smooth ride. I love the captain’s chairs in the center. I think if you have more than 3 kids, the minivan might still be the way to go, but otherwise, this is a great alternative.
Needless to say, I was more than bummed when they remembered to pick the car up on Monday. How dare they? 😉
Feel free to share your favorite minivan alternatives…or go ahead and try to convince me that I need to bite the bullet one day and just give in to the minivan. Until then, I’ll just pretend my Taurus is an Explorer. The logo’s the same. Close enough, right?
Let’s just say that cargo space in a relatively large SUV pales in comparison to a minivan! (Dodge Durango vs Honda Odyssey)
that’s the thing, right? if you set to full capacity on these types of SUVs, you lose all the cargo space…which you don’t on a minivan.
oh, why are minivans so tempting? 😉
I am also on the boat to NEVER drive a mini-van. Although my friend with 4 kids swears by hers. I drive a 2010 Subaru Outback, which also recently went through entire remodel prior to 2010. We LOVE LOVE LOVE the car. I suppose it sorta fits into the crossover category. Altough I still refer to it as a station wagon. We currently have only 1 kid, so that isn’t an issue, but have several times went 3 across the back with carseats without a problem at all. That leaves the entire back cargo area open. If you are having adults in the back, there is plenty of leg room. My husband (nearly 6 ft.) and the car salesmen (over 6 ft.) sat one behind the other when we test drove and they both had plenty of leg room. This means sitting behind me (5’4″) you have more room than you know what to do with. The car handles great and one of it’s best features is never having to chain up with you pass through some snow! If you haven’t checked out the new model Subaru’s, I highly recommend you take an hour and go test drive one.
My parents just sent me a photo yesterday of them with their new minivan and bags over their heads. They just couldn’t pass up the great deal they found and the versatility of using it to haul people or stuff so interchangeably. I’ve got to admit I’m jealous of their new ride.
you do need to get over it. mini-vans are awesome. do i want mine forever? no. but for right now, my sliding doors and storage are so worth it. and i’m not even planning to fill it up with children.
I still love my 2001 Suburban that we bought new and now has over 230,000 miles on it. When Zach gets his “full” license in August he will get mine and I will drive my husband’s suburban. (He is going to get something smaller with better gas mileage but still four wheel drive–can’t live without that.) It makes the most sense but I LOVE MY CAR! She and I have been through a lot together. Sometimes after a move I sit in my car for a while just to feel “at home”…and with some moves that goes on longer than others…
you should get over it and get the minivan. I’m still hot driving mine and I am not ashamed! My husband keeps asking me when I want an Escalade or Suburban and I’m like…never! At least while the kids are still small. It’s great. So easy for the kids to get in and out and drives like a car and gets great gas mileage. We have 3 tv screens in ours that can play two different movies at the same time (or video games). With four kids it’s the best. I am making minivans cool again 🙂
Very through review! I was not sure about minivans until we started borrowing my father-in-laws for every furniture purchase and move! They are handy even without kids 🙂
Minivans are the bomb!! Your life will change for the better; convenience, space, comfort…fabulous. Anything that makes your life less stressful (yes, I’m claiming it will–especially as your girls get older and bigger) is worth every penny. It is VERY cool to drive a minivan. They’re gorgeous inside, drive like a dream and you get the space up front that many cross-overs and SUV’s just don’t have. I don’t want to feel like I’m in a cockpit…I want room to spread out have space. Can’t beat the sliding doors…
I love my Sienna and I wouldn’t trade it for ANYthing! I also had a Grand Caravan (model just before the latest) and I liked it very much, as well. My Sienna just had more luxury features so it wins!
Jump in the pool, Jane; join the fun!! 🙂
I have been anti minivan my whole life. My mom had many minivans while growing up and I hated them… However, I just bought one! I LOVE IT! This is the only minivan I would consider driving. Its the Toyota Sienna aka “swagger wagon.” You tube has some pretty great commercials. I have had my van since January and wouldn’t trade it for an SUV. BTW, I have 5 boys!
I think with 5 boys you must be in HEAVEN. glad you gave in, for your sake! and it’s making me think one day we just might end up giving in ourselves… 😉
I 27 and pregnant with my first child. So my husband and I decided that it was time for my 11 year old accord coupe to retire. I do keep my cars for a long time and don’t want to have to buy another car in the future. I believe I may have been brainwashed into thinking that minivans aren’t cool and that you should only drive one if you have 3+ kids. While I will only have 1 kid (for now), I do have 2 bird dogs and am a triathlete that travels with her bike frequently. So now I would like to pose this question “Am I too cool for a minivan, or am I just cool enough to pull one off?”
all my friends with mini-vans would vociferously tell you that you are just cool enough to pull it off! 😉 I”m like you…I’m still not sure what I think! but we might just have to bite the bullet and paint some flames on the sides of our minivans or something. 😉
btw…I think buying it when you only have one kid and a bike automatically bumps you to the cool enough to pull it off side of the argument.