The Ford Explorer is a mid-size SUV that the Ford Motor Company introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year. By the time the 1995 Explorer arrived, the vehicle was a huge success and had become the best-selling SUV in the United States. Its production run marked significant changes made to make the vehicle more refined that its earlier entries.
Main Features
The engine of the 1995 Ford Explorer was a 4-liter 160-horsepower V-6 with 220 foot-pounds of torque. Paired with a five-speed manual transmission--the higher-end trims got a four-speed automatic--the SUV had a range of 15 to 18 miles per gallon (mpg) for city driving and 19 to 23 mpg for highway driving. While the 1995 Explorer was typically a four-door vehicle, there were sports-oriented versions that only got two doors. The '95 Explorer came with either a two/rear-wheel (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).
Second Generation Debut
With the 1995 Ford Explorer kicking off the SUV's second generation of production, the top-of-the-line Limited trim made its debut alongside the XL, XLT, Sport, Expedition and Eddie Bauer versions. Ford also revised the front suspension to give the vehicle more of a car-like driving experience, presaging the crossover SUV popularity of the 2000s.
Praise
Automotive journalists at the time noted that competitors--most notably the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy--were slicing into Explorer sales with features like dual air bags that the vehicle did not have. Ford answered the challenge by not only introducing the dual air bags, but improving the vehicle in generally every aspect: handling, interior design, performance, safety and styling. Car critics praised the 1995 Ford Explorer for being more refined than its predecessors.
Criticism
Car critics generally decried the 1995 Ford Explorer's lack of a more powerful V-8 engine like the ones that competitors such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Land Rover Discovery had. This would be addressed with the arrival of the 1996 Explorer's higher-end trims. Also, some critics felt that it fared comparatively poorly in road-handling and off-road ability. Editors at the automotive information site Edmunds.com noted that later entries in the second generation of production were far more refined than the '96 Explorer.
Price Range
Due to the several trim combinations available, the manufacturer's suggested retail price range of the 1995 Ford Explorer was incredibly wide. It ranged from $18,985 for the XL 2-Door 2WD to $33,935 for the Limited 4WD. As of 2010, Kelley Blue Book estimates the price value range of the vehicle at around $2,500 to $3,700.
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