How can you do this, Ford!! More 2nd row legroom in Edge than Explorer?? Really??

[redgtxdi]

2012 Ford Edge:

1st row legroom: 40.7
2nd row legroom: 39.6

2012 Ford Explorer:

1st row legroom: 40.6
2nd row legroom: 39.8 (bullsh!t)

Bottom line -- I drove both with the Ecoboost tonite & (unlike the media) prefer that engine in the Explorer. A little too jerky in the Edge. HOWEVER----------- I noticed right away that the Explorer has less....MUCH LESS.....leg room in the 2nd row than the Edge does.

I even set the driver's seat to be about 1/2" further forward than I'd prefer in the Explorer than I had in the Edge, which I set 100% comfortably and my knees were cramped in the Explorer & free as a bird in the Edge.

I am thorougly disappointed. (And, no, the 2nd row doesn't move back at all in either vehicle so no compensation possible)

 

[LTC8K6]

The Explorer has 3 rows...

The Edge will leave the Explorer smartly when both are equipped with the EB 2.0L.

Not to mention the nearly $1K extra cost of the EB 2.0L - Makes little sense since the 3.5L V6 performs far better and gets great fuel economy.

My guess is that the 3.5L will get better economy in the real world, due to having to flog the 4 cylinder more.

 

[redgtxdi]

Surprisingly it works a little different in practice than in theory. If I'd have left it to the autoblog I'd have never considered the Explorer in EB trim, but having driven both, I am pleasantly surprised. The Edge is nice (though not another $10K nicer than a comparably equipped Kia Sorento) but the Explorer actually works VERY well with the EB. And in normal driving, the Explorer actually utilizes the EB better. The Edge wants to break the tires easily & transition in & out of turbo power rather uncomfortably........and with its unsettling wheelbase the Explorer transitions that turbo much more smoothly will plenty satisfying pull. (You ain't gonna get rear ended for being slow)

However.....while the front seat of the Explorer feels like a vast ocean, the back seat is like the Chevy Cobalt I'm currently renting. It's quite sad. It's like 2 different vehicles from front row to back row. Heck, even the Equinox gives a little slide in the back seat. Couldn't Ford at least do that?? No?? Really?? And where do they get that same measurement for the rear leg room as the Edge when it's most certainly not?

Anyway, I am just a little frustrated. I fell in love in the front seat & fell out of love when I hopped in the back. (FWIW, I have tall kids which is why I'm even considering SUV/CO so it's 2nd row room is very necessary)

 

[Demo24]

If you look at the interior shot, the second row sits right in front of the wheel well so there is no where for the 2nd row to slide back. Differences might arise in how thick the seats are between the two.

 

[superccs]

I can't figure out why they have the Edge and the Explorer...they seem to be 2 similarly sized slices of the same pie.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Isn't the Explorer unibody and FWD-based now?

 

[RagingBITCH]

I can't figure out why they have the Edge and the Explorer...they seem to be 2 similarly sized slices of the same pie.

Edge is a "crossover", technically. (Platform Fusion is built on) My sig-o has one and despite being a 2010, it's a ton of fun to drive and definitely less SUV'ish than the Explorer. (Easy to drive, handles well, parks almost as easy as my Accord) I haven't had any time behind the wheel of a '12 Explorer, so I can't speak for that, but it's far and away unlike any of the SUV's I've driven before.

 

[redgtxdi]

Ya, the edge is definitely a short wheelbase vehicle. You can feel that as soon as you hop in. The explorer accomplishes 2 things......

#1.) 3rd row

#2.) Larger more SUV than crossover-type vehicle.

The Explorer is softer on the road (which I like as I get older) and handles undulations like they're not there. You definitely *feel* more of the road in the Edge. Not bad, just not worth $10K more than a Sorento that'll do the same thing for me.

I'm gonna go check out the Toyota Highlander today (ONE WITHOUT THE 3RD ROW) and see if that's more like the explorer that could've been.

 

[LTC8K6]

Isn't the Explorer unibody and FWD-based now?

Yes, it's a Flex...

I couldn't find any review that liked the 2.0L Explorer's driveability.

Keep in mind that you test drive it by yourself. Just imagine it loaded up and trying to climb hills...that engine is just going to be overwhelmed.

 

[redgtxdi]

At 240hp and 270lb-ft of torque, I don't think it will. You really need to drive one. It's utterly amazing how quickly that thing moves. Yes, the Edge moves more quickly but to give an idea of what we're talking about.........my 1998 F-150 Scab with the 4.6L V-8 makes 220hp and 265lb-ft of torque circa 4,000rpm. My truck certainly gets it on quicker, but the 2.0L EB is no joke! And as for SIDI motors, this one is quite refined.

And, yes, I love the FLEX.......however while that one has the V-6 EB motor (16 city / 23 hwy), the regular Duratec motor actually does a tad better (17 / 24) but neither of those are attractive to me at $4/gallon. In fact, I wonder why people buy anything today that gets less than 20mpg city if it's not a full-size pickup!!

(Then again, my sister just picked up a CPO 2010 MB GL450 that gets like 13mpg so what do I know)

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1108_ford_explorer_ecoboost_test/

The EB Explorer is really hammered in this Motor Trend review.

More expensive, way slower, cramped inside, and really not much better economy.

9.2 seconds to 60...imagine the number with 4 people and a load of luggage...it's unacceptable to me. I guess it's okay if you aren't carrying much, or maybe just driving the kids to school. But then you don't need an Explorer...

The 3.5L V6 makes much more sense, imo.

 

[ShawnD1]

9.2 seconds to 60...imagine the number with 4 people and a load of luggage...it's unacceptable to me. I guess it's okay if you aren't carrying much, or maybe just driving the kids to school. But then you don't need an Explorer...

The 3.5L V6 makes much more sense, imo.

So it has the same problems as a corolla. Actually, why is this such a bad thing? Every time I try to corolla my way onto the freeway, there's always some douche in front of me trying to merge going half the speed limit. All the power in the world can't fix that problem