First impression is that this is one interesting color for a car. A very strong orange color that got everyone to wrinkle their nose and ask, “What’s with the color on that car?” It can’t be ignored. This color was weird, and I regardless of my personal thoughts on the aesthetic, I don’t think it made a good color for a car. I certainly would be a little embarrassed to have paid $40,000 for such a color, and constantly be explaining myself and my choices. Big elephant in the room, and I had to address it.
The vehicle itself was the IronMan package, created in honor of the unbelievably intense IronMan Triathlon which they sponsor. It came with special floor mats, special bodyside cladding, special big bumpers, wheels, etc. With all of the ‘extras’, this car went from $28,800 to $39,325. That’s 33% of the original price just in add-ons. I’m not sure if I’ve seen a car go from affordable to over-priced that fast. In itself, it was a nice ride. Pretty smooth, decent power, good handling, and above average visibility for a mid-sized truck. However, there were also some small, nagging issues. The turn signal indicator (the audible click-click-click) was so loud that I turned it off at long stop lights. It was painfully louder than it needed to be. And I found the seats to be somewhat uncomfortable, very stiff and unforgiving during long drives.
The interior was split between a very nice control panel with an excellent navigation unit, to a funny looking shifter and an awkward door handle. Rather than a pull out handle that I’m used to, this Explorer had a round, cupped handle that you pulled up on by grabbing with your entire hand. It would make it near impossible for anyone to exit with anything in their hands (coffee cup, the keys themselves, straps to a bag or purse), and forced you to push with your elbows rather than your hand to open the door. I think this was a design decision that shouldn’t be repeated.
There was a roomy back seat, followed by a 3rd row. Since this was the IronMan package, I would have rather seen a rugged cargo area rather than a carpeted and cramped area that gave most of it’s priority to a small 3rd row. I think for this model, they could have went without the electronic folding rear seats and just gave room for the IronMan’s gear. As in all SUVs of this nature, I was pleased with the ability to open the window of the rear trunk lid without opening the entire door. And when the door was opened, it was convenient to shut by simply pushing the “close” button, and watching the rear lid close itself as you walked away with your groceries in hand.
I feel it was luxuries like this that were somewhat at odds with the ‘tough’ nature of a triathlete-inspired package, but in the end, the driving experience was actually quite satisfying. I think that the extra cost incurred by the many ‘luxuries’ would be better spent on other things, since the base price for this Explorer could provide an excellent truck for the money. If they could instead focus on smoothing out the oddities in the system (door handle, shifter knob, and loud signal), they’d have a great vehicle that would truly draw the attention of a hardcore athlete who needs room for his bike, his running shoes, and his swim cap… Let alone his fan club in the 2nd and 3rd row…
3.5 stars.
