5 Reasons the Ford Explorer is the Best Choice for Seniors
Renowned for its practicality, the Ford Explorer offers a well-balanced ride and smooth handling. This car also has one of the best cabins in class when it comes to material quality and ergonomics. Its seats are also incredibly supportive, with good legroom, knee room, shoulder room, and head room for all passengers within the vehicle. These, and several other similarly impressive attributes, make the Ford Explorer a favorite for senior citizens across the country.
Intuitive infotainment system
The Ford Explorer has an easy-to-use infotainment system with clear graphics to make navigation easier for seniors. Standard infotainment features include an 8-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot, voice recognition, USB ports, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
Buyers can also opt for a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a stereo system with 12 or 14 speakers by Bang & Olufsen, wireless device charging, two USB ports in the second row, HD radio, navigation, a 6.5-inch digital instrument cluster display, and a rear-seat entertainment system. Additionally, for added convenience, buyers can choose to add proximity keyless entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote start, a universal garage door opener, a moonroof, multicolor ambient interior lighting, and a household-style power outlet.
Ample cargo space
Compared to other midsize SUVs, the Ford Explorer has one of the most spacious cargo compartments.
Decent mileage
The Ford Explorer offers commendable mileage for a midsize SUV. With the base engine and standard front-wheel drive, it provides a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. When paired with the all-wheel drive, this drops to 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Reliability
J.D. Power conducts a reliability study for vehicles. Based on their scoring pattern, a predicted reliability score of 90-100 is Best, 80-90 is Great, and so on. The Ford Explorer has a predicted reliability score of 83 on this scale.
Safety and driver assistance
Safety is one of the most important factors when purchasing a car for seniors. It is commonly understood that teenagers and senior drivers are most vulnerable to road accidents. In the case of seniors, the automotive industry is making changes to compensate for the declining skills and abilities that often contribute to accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Ford Explorer a five-star rating in the side crash test and a four-star rating in the rollover test. The nearly identical 2022 version of the Ford Explorer also received the highest rating of Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Ford Explorer also has a slew of driver assistance features. Standard features include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitoring, MyKey, rearview camera, and rear parking sensors. To make their driving experience safer, customers can also choose from features such as a surround-view parking camera system, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, evasive steering assist, park assist, reverse automatic emergency braking, and adaptive headlights.
How much does the Ford Explorer cost?
The 2023 Ford Explorer is available in seven different trims. Prices for these begin at:
– Ford Explorer Base – $36,760 MSRP
– Ford Explorer XLTÂ – $38,570 MSRP
– Ford Explorer ST-Line – $46,005 MSRP
– Ford Explorer Limited – $47,070 MSRP
– Ford Explorer Timberline – $48,980 MSRP
– Ford Explorer STÂ – $50,005 MSRP
– Ford Explorer King Ranch – $54,075 MSRP
The car also has a variant with a hybrid powertrain. The Ford Explorer Hybrid prices begin at $53,820 MSRP and include luxurious features such as tri-diamond leather seats and a 10.1-inch vertical infotainment screen.
Deals and offers that can help seniors save money on the Ford Explorer
While there are no special incentives or offers available for seniors, eligible customers can save money on the Ford Explorer under the following schemes:
First Responder Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward
Based on eligibility requirements, first responders may receive a cash reward of up to $500 when purchasing the Ford Explorer.
Military Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward
Like the above-stated deal, eligible customers involved with the military forces may also receive a cash reward of up to $500.
Special APR
Ford Credit provides several limited-term financing options:
– For 36 months, with an APR of 0%, at $27.78 per month, per $1000 financed.
– For 48 months, with an APR of 0%, at $20.83 per month, per $1000 financed.
– For 60 months, with an APR of 0.9%, at $17.05 per month, per $1000 financed.
– For 72 months, with an APR of 1.9%, at $14.70 per month, per $1000 financed.
– For 84 months, with an APR of 2.9%, at $13.17 per month, per $1000 financed.
These offers are open to eligible buyers only, so be sure to check the same at a local Ford dealership.
The Ford Explorer was first launched in 1990 as a midsize SUV. It captivated the market and drew tons of interest. Currently in its sixth generation, the car has stood the test of time as it continues to maintain a commanding presence on the road.