2016 Ford Explorer Starts at $31,595, New Platinum at $53,495. MotorTrend
By: Alex Nishimoto
November 24, 2014
The refreshed 2016 Ford Explorer was just revealed last week at the L.A. auto show, and now pricing has also been revealed through a configurator on Ford's consumer site. The base Explorer with the naturally aspirated V-6 retains the same starting price of $31,595 including $895 destination.
That model is still powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 making 290 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, and comes standard with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for $2000 on most models. Among the biggest changes for 2016 is the replacement of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost from the Mustang and Lincoln MKC. With that engine equipped, the EcoBoost four-cylinder Explorer makes a healthier 270 hp and 300 lb-ft, and starts at $32,590 with front-wheel drive.
Me too. Serious off-road potential (not that I would with those 20s and road tires), adjustable suspension, that styling, the leather and wood, and the available Hemi or EcoDiesel. This is very nice too of course, but I think the platform of the Jeep is what makes it the better vehicle.
Either way Ford certainly has their answer to the Denali and Summit trims though. Far out of the territory of Highlanders and Pilots.
To my eyes this is a huge improvement over the old schnoz, which I hated. That said, I think Jeep still has the best SUV formula in the Grand Cherokee, but they don't apply it to a vehicle this size.....yet.
Here's the reason why they added the Platinum trim level above the Sport.
According to Matt Zuehlk, the Explorer brand manager, 90% of buyers of the existing Explorer Sport model order the most expensive options packages available. “It’s a strong signal customers are ready for Platinum,” he said.
A 2015 Explorer Sport costs $43,100 (+$200 for the 2016 model), adding the $4,300 option package and $1,595 dual-panel moonroof option can easily raise the price to $48,649.
I think it's not much of an issue that they made a new top of the line trim that has nearly every Explorer option in it plus more (exclusive to the Platinum).
For those who don't plan on spending $50K+ on an Explorer, Ford still has the lower priced but already loaded Limited ($41,300)...
I love the updated front end. I always wanted to like the last one, and did, overall, but never was happy with the front end design. I find this new nose very attractive.
The price is really not bad at all. It's neither cheap nor overpriced. An Acadia Denali AWD is about 5K less and the GC Summit 4WD Hemi is about 55K, so it's right where it needs to be. The Acadia doesn't offer a comparable engine to these two, although GM has one available.....
MSRP on my 2013 Explorer Sport was over $48K, and it lacked one of the expensive tech options (never wanted adaptive cruise as it is useless in the mountains, but sure wish I would have gotten the massaging seats after having the MKZ Hybrid).
Fully loaded '13 Sports were over $50K.
I don't see what the big fuss is.
Suburbans can cost over $70K. It makes the Explorer look cheap.
But the Expedition Platinum is only $57,950. IMHO Ford was a little too ambitious with the Explorer Platinum's pricing. $49,995 would have been very fair, and it wouldn't have caused so much sticker shock due to the number starting with a "4" and not a "5".
Makes me wonder about Lincoln. Supposing Lincoln gets a comparable vehicle, how would it be different and how would they base price it? I get that Ford has only two nameplates so they should have a lot of leeway with Ford trims and pricing...but it just seems the high-end Explorer is encroaching on Lincoln territory.
If they didn't dump Mercury, then it would be hard. Ford doesn't have the problem GM does, by design.
An AWD MKX today (loaded) goes over $50K, you can load-up a MKC to at least $48K (the one I had for "Date Night" was $47.5K) a 4WD Navigator starts at $65K, there is more than enough room between the MKX and Navigator, for an Explorer equivalent (Mid to upper 50's) many people don't even look at or consider the Navigator, because they don't want anything that big.
The issue is the highest base price 2014 Explorer was =/-$42,000....now the highest base price jumps to $53,000....that is a large increase any way you slice it new trim or not.....they might sell everyone of them....
I say good on ya, Ford... if it doesn't sell, no biggie, they can cut the model, but if it's a hit, they're pocketing a nice chunk of change. They already have been pushing most of their models upmarket with Titanium trims, so I see this as Ford seeing just how far they can go.
That said, is there a clear plan for Titanium and Platinum models? Will both exist for all models? I like trims and packages like this, but only when they're coherent and systematic, and not hodge-podge. I think that EVERY GMC should have a Denali model, EVERY Lincoln a Black Label, EVERY Cadillac (at least the cars) a V option...
people will buy it,ford has been doing this since the 70's. they sold LTD's that rivaled town cars,they sold t-birds that rivaled mark 4's. thats one thing i like about FORD they dont shy away from loading their cars or trucks up to luxo status. remember the granada?
I want to believe Ford knows what it’s doing, but I dug "into the numbers" anyway................
Denali makes up 21% of Acadia Sales. :clap:
Limited/Sport makes up 35% of Explorer sales; 7.5% Sport, 27.5% Limited.
I see no reason why 7% - 14% of Explorer buyers, that buy Limited's today, would be adverse to something more. (we also need to consider the percentage of leases, which minimizes the payment increase)
Which would look something like this:
(low-end)
Base 20%
XLT 45%
Limited 20%
Sport 7.5%
Platinum 7.5%
or this:
(high-end)
Base 20%
XLT 45%
Limited 14%
Sport 7%
Platinum 14%
EB people are selling and moving into other makes or at least the 5.0L truck. The latest is that horrible sound on start up (like the fan is hitting something)because the timing chain is loose. At least you will be able to find it in the lot by using the remote start. For some, replacing parts only lasts a week before the noise returns. But do your own research "ecoboost cold start noise", "ecoboost timing chain".
Rusty, I repeat, only a small percentage of people are having issues with their EB engines. This is much the same as any other engine out there. I believe that Ford put the percentage at less than 1%, and they do acknowledge that there are issues.
Please feel free to peruse the 270 page thread on the GM truck boards, on the vibration issue with the 2014/15 Silverado/Sierra. I would venture to guess that the issues probably happen to less than 5% of trucks, but since GM is denying the issue at this point, we do not know.
Does this mean all GM trucks suck?....................... NO. Not even close.
Does this mean that all EB engines suck?...................NO. Not even close.
Stop being such a fanbois. There is nothing wrong with having a favorite manufacturer, as most of us do. This does not mean you have to go into every thread of their closest competitor and bash their product. I think all of the big 2.5 trucks are great. Pick your flavor. Do I have my favorite?? Of course I do. That does mean the others suck.
I'm happy that you love your Sierra. I love my Explorer Sport. All is right in the world (meaning that we are happy with the money we spent).
I visit some ford truck boards and some of the people might have issue with that statement as they have discussed their ownership. I'm glad your happy, some of those people are not.
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