Explorer restyled and more powerful

Don’t blame the Explorer, which has a bold look for 2006, a more powerful V8 and a redesigned, quieter cabin and upgraded suspension for a more comfortable ride.

Rather, give credit to aggressive marketing of Chevy’s TrailBlazer and factor in the challenge of selling traditional, truck-based SUVs when consumer tastes are turning to crossover SUVs. Crossovers are known for a more car-like ride and, in some cases, fuel-sipping character.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $27,175 for a base, two-wheel-drive, 2006 Explorer with V6. Note the Explorer has a sibling SUV, the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $29,795.

Introduced as a 1991 model, the Explorer became popular with active families — young and old — because of its cargo- and people-carrying interior and pleasant, mainstream looks. Its off-road capability and towing capacity have made it an attractive vehicle for family camping and fishing trips.

In its last major re-engineering, for the 2002 model year, the Explorer added third-row seating for the first time, more interior room and first-ever independent rear suspension for an improved ride.

The 2006 Explorer builds on these changes.

Safety is upgraded with new front airbag venting that helps adjust airbag force, and the steering column has been retuned to absorb more crash force. Side-mounted airbags are standard for the first time, but curtain airbags are a $560 option.

The hood — Ford calls it a "powerdome” — is surprisingly tall for a mid-size SUV. It comes up to chest level on someone 5-foot-4 like me.

Inside, the Explorer has a new dashboard, door trim and even a first-ever center console-mounted gearshifter. The large, upright shifter stalk seems overdone and sort of gaudy, though. It’s like the one in the Lincoln Mark LT pickup truck.

Front and second-row seats in the test Eddie Bauer model were comfortable and supportive, but the two, third-row seats remain a bit of a squeeze, especially for legs.

Third-row seats fold completely flat, with 83.7 cubic feet of cargo space, compared with 107 in the TrailBlazer and 67.4 cubic feet in the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.

The new Explorer offers a quiet ride, with road noise and sounds from passing vehicles kept to a minimum for an SUV. Wind noise intruded at highway speeds but was muted.

I noticed ample plastic on the dashboard and, especially, door trim.

Indeed, I had difficulty finding and then using the Explorer’s new inside door handles amid all the plastic pieces on the front doors. They’re shiny silver-colored, curved pieces integrated into a ledge that holds the window buttons. The problem is they look and feel decorative, not ergonomic, and their location, above a plastic grab handle, is confusing. I kept wanting to reach below, to the traditionally shaped handle, to open the door.

I also wished for a larger navigation system screen in the Explorer dashboard, like that available in some other vehicles.

I had to step up to get inside the Eddie Bauer 4X4 tester. Once positioned in the seats, I quickly appreciated the good views out because I could see over and down on traffic, even if I couldn’t quite tell where the powerdome ended.

The tester had the new 4.6-liter, single overhead cam V8 that produces 292 horsepower, an appreciable increase of 53 horses from last year’s V8. Torque is increased, too, from 280 to 300 foot-pounds at 3,950 rpm.

This V8 boosts the Explorer’s maximum tow rating to 7,300 pounds, which is higher than the TrailBlazer and the Grand Cherokee.

The Explorer’s best fuel economy of 15 miles a gallon in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway comes in a 4X2 model with V6.

This compares with 16/22 mpg for a two-wheel-drive Trailblazer with six-cylinder engine and 17/22 mpg for a two-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee with V6.

The Explorer’s V8 comes with a six-speed automatic that shifts smoothly and quietly. I could hear the V8’s strong sounds upon acceleration, but there was no raucousness, only a steady power response.

In fact, I got above the speed limit before I knew it in city traffic. I also passed other vehicles on the highway with relative ease and never lacked power, but I did have to keep a sharp eye on the speedometer.

Despite its look as a sizable SUV, the Explorer handles itself comfortably on-road and off.

Impacts from bumps are nicely managed to keep passengers from feeling the brunt of them, though there can be a bit of truckish bounciness over potholes and other road surfaces.

In off-road terrain, the four-wheel-drive Explorer moved capably through slick mud without hesitation. It also wound through tight spots, such as between trees in a forest, without fuss.

But a "clunk” sound that emanated from a test Explorer during sharp off-road tight turns was distracting.

Last month, 2006 Explorers were among nearly 20,000 Ford trucks and SUVs recalled because inadequate lubrication in the windshield wiper motor could cause the motor and wipers to stop working.

Previous safety actions included a widely publicized tire replacement campaign in 2000 and 2001 that involved 13 million tires on Explorers. In addition, nearly 1 million Explorers from the 2003 model year were recalled because liftgate hinges or struts could malfunction, resulting in liftgate glass falling out.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not reported crash test results for the 2006 Explorer.<