By Ghaith Madadha

AMMAN - Credited as being at the forefront of Americans’ change of tastes away from station wagons and mini-vans towards SUVs as family vehicles, the Ford Explorer can also by extension be considered to have influenced the global love affair with big SUVs. Though the Explorer nameplate’s popularity took a dip during the early 2000s owing to a rollover safety scare of which it was to be exonerated, it has since remained a steadily popular vehicle, providing good comfort, space, ruggedness and equipment at a?fair price for consumers.

However, as automotive trends shift away from heavy truck-based SUVs, a more efficient uni-body model will soon replace the current Explorer by 2011.

Like its already deleted Chevrolet Trailblazer competitor or its Dodge Nitro rival, which is to be scrapped in its current format by 2011 by the Chrysler group’s new Fiat owners, the Ford Explorer will also be re-born as a more dynamic, road-biased and efficient crossover featuring more economical engines including turbo-charged EcoBoost units and front-wheel-drive derived all-wheel-drive architecture. In its final year, the current old-school Explorer conversely look more appealing than ever for buyers lo?king for extensive off-road ability, un-complicatedly effective engineering and spaciousness. As a last production year model the Explorer V6 version featured here was recently offered on a promotional offer, and buyers should expect keen and competitive pricing.

Though large and heavy by European standards and having been enlarged for the current 2006-2010 fourth generation, the Ford Explorer does look somewhat compact when viewed next to other American Ford offerings such as the large Expedition SUV and various mammoth F-Series pickups. Belying its size and weight, the Explorer surprisingly proved to be a utilitarian, manoeuvrable and relatively agile in-town vehicle, where its engine operated in its comfort zone and was responsive, while its visibility and tigh? turning circle made it easy to drive in traffic and to park. While SUVs are often derided as urban transport for their bulk, size and consumption, the Explorer however offered a counterpoint with its easy operation, good visibility and useful space.

In terms of look current iteration Ford Explorer successfully walks a fine line between bold presence and generic discretion, with its inherited box-like shape softened and smoothed off around the edges. A bold chrome grille dipping into the bumper and rectangular headlights with a small semi-circular lower kink look elegantly simple, while running boards, roof rails, big tyres, subtle rear lights and a tall stance give the Explorer and archetypal SUV character without the fuss, flamboyance or gauche over-?he-top flamboyance employed by many rivals including supposedly “classy” European models. Restrained and classically appealing, the Ford Explorer doesn’t attract unwanted attention nor does it repulse, it just seems to slip by with a modest and sufficient measure of handsome aggression.

Inside, the Ford Explorer looks just as handsomely unpresumptuous as outside, with a smart four-spoke steering wheel and bold and clear white-background dials. The chrome ringed instruments are complemented by two chrome-ringed air vents and a door release latch fashioned into a semicircular wraparound at the top of the door armrest. With light beige cloth seats as tested, the Explorer felt airy and upbeat, while its’ dashboard and fixtures look smart, they could use some better grades of plastic in strate?ic points such as the dashboard and console. Space is generous for front and middle row passengers, while an optional third row offers extra versatility between added passengers and load volume.

Powered by a more modern 4-litre SOHC version of Ford’s long-serving and German-made narrow V6, the current Ford Explorer V6 will be one of the last to use this particular engine, as it is being phased out in favour of more modern, powerful and efficient power plants. With a wide bore and big displacement, the Explorer’s big V6 provides a good slug of low- and mid-range torque peaking at 254lb/ft at 3700rpm for good flexibility. Power output is a modest and early 210hp at 5100rpm, which at moderate town an? B-road speed is easily accessible as the engine revs smoothly and swiftly.

Responsive, powerful and quick at modest speed, the Explorer’s hefty 2320kg and un-aerodynamic shape mean that the 4-litre V6 needs to be thrashed hard on highways and fast uphills, where after 140km/h acceleration rates decline noticeably. While Explorer’s fuel consumption isn’t particularly frugal, neither is it extremely high, but a low 87 octane rating means one needn’t fill up expensive high octane petrol. With five automatic gears with well-distributed ratios the Explorer’s progression is smooth and ?ne can easily manipulate the throttle to feather gear up or kick-down to a shorter gear. Big front ventilated and rear disc brakes provide suitably ample retardation when needed, but the brake pedal can do with more initial bite.

Driven ostensibly as a rear-drive vehicle, the Explorer’s handling is intuitive, while when rear slippage occurs power is diverted to the front wheels for added traction and less rear wheel-spin. Engaging four-wheel-drive slows the Explorer down slightly but brings much more traction and security through fast corners.

In any case, the electronic stability controls don’t entirely switch off, but just loosen up for more freedom, but still intervene in emergencies. In town and on the highway, the Explorer rides very comfortably and pliantly, but does have a tendency to lean into corners. With a 3.7 turn lock-to-lock, the Explorer enjoys a tight turning circle and less susceptibility to a driver’s fidgety hands, but unfortunately means one endlessly turns the wheel round and round through tight twisting corners.

Built on a tough ladder-frame chassis and with good approach, departure and break-over angles and a high 210mm minimum ride height, the Ford Explorer is a true off-roader for both more technical sections of un-paved wilderness, as well as for sandy dunes and fast dusty trails. With its broad torque band and low revving maximum power channelled through four wheels, the Explorer can achieve the right momentum to easily overcome very loose surfaces and high gradients of sand dunes.