Review: 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The interior of the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition is definitely something to behold. There's a rich range of materials at play here. There's finely stitched leather, brushed titanium accents and real wood as well as the inevitable plastic. 

For 2016, the familiar Ford Explorer gets a substantial facelift while also receiving a generous upgrade in safety, assisted driving features, as well as a long list of creature comforts worthy of a Platinum Edition badge.

The 2016 Ford Explorer adheres to the size, space and power befitting a full-size SUV. It comfortably seats seven and can haul a ton of cargo. The CAD $ 60,000, Platinum Edition is the top-of-the line model and it is unlike any Ford Explorer I've ever been in or driven.

For one thing, the 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque is quiet and refined while still delivering the punch in acceleration in measured doses when needed. 

Exterior

With a front that's faintly reminiscent of recent Range Rovers, the 2016 Explorer Platinum still carries many characteristics of recent Ford SUV and truck line styling. This is a broad and muscular vehicle and it sits there with a rhino-like composure. I like the look integrated exhaust pipes at the rear. The neat continuity of lines between the tailights, the hint of a spoiler in the rear door as well as the subtle Platinum badging that lets people know that this Explorer is a cut above the rest.

Ford has outfitted their Platinum Edition with 20-inch Bright Machined Face with Tarnished Dark Painted wheels that look really good and suit the urban/adventurer vibe that this SUV generates. Looking around the exterior, you can almost see the array of sensors that are there to provide realtime feedback when you're getting too close to various objects, a necessity in a beast of a SUV of this size. All-in-all, the Explorer's exterior is tasteful, strong and rather timeless, it's a design that will maintain its good looks through time. 

Interior

The interior of the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition is definitely something to behold. There's a rich range of materials at play here. There's finely stitched leather, brushed titanium accents and real wood as well as the inevitable plastic. It does feel and smell quite luxurious and has a character that I expect will develop a nice patina through time.

Space is well appointed and this is very much a driver's vehicle. The steering wheel can be moved and tilted using power buttons, getting a great angle on the seats is similarly possible with responsive buttons. A heated steering wheel, heated (and cooled) front seats and heated rear seats are true luxuries worth spending extra for specially considering our Canadian Winters.

 

Most everything can be easily managed via the touchscreen display which, aside from being the main control point for Ford's Sync infotainment and navigation system is also where you can fine tune controls for everything from seat settings to satellite radio settings.

The 500W Sony audio system with Live Acoustics and Clear Phase tech is the showpiece of the Explorer Platinum Edition's dashboard, recreates the sound dynamics of famous concert halls. Clear Phase tech makes it so passengers hear audio the way it was intended to be heard. There's a 12-speaker system delivering audio across the entire vehicle and this can be adjusted through the touchscreen.

To test the audio, I switched between the onboard SirusXM satellite radio to CDs like Pearl Jam's Ten and a Greatest Hits of Pink Floyd. The Sony System is powerful, yet nuanced enough to expand the soundstage. Sony seems to have focused on every aspect of the Explorer's interior and materials because the sound is truly moving.

I noticed a more cinematic or theatrical sound to Pink Floyd's recordings while helping me discover new sounds and layers to some of their beloved songs. As for Pearl Jam, there was some noise which could have been because of the quality of the CD or perhaps I needed to fine tune the sound more. Either way it wasn't great.

Other perks are two rear mounted top-loading DVD players with included wireless headphones. While driving around my three-year-old son, he was delighted to be able to watch and listen to his favourite shows while I was able to play music to my liking. This is an awesome feature for long drives and eliminates the need to keep changing music or videos to suit each rider's desires. 

Performance and driving experience

The Ford Explorer Platinum Edition strikes a good balance between being big and comfortable while still keeping you connected to the world around you. 

The danger with an SUV or any vehicle of this size is that drivers can easily feel isolated from the world around them, it gives them a false sense of security and superiority. Not so with the Explorer. While I wasn't a big fan of the front visibility given the way the a-pillars are designed. Visibility is key for a vehicle of this size and I felt it could have been better. 

This, however, is easily forgiven by the rear and side impact sensors that surround the Explorer and generate a graphic that lets you know if any part of this monster is close to hitting something. Driving the car in and out of my crowded apartment garage just set these thing off all the time. It keeps you on your toes.

Other driver tech includes active park assist, lane keeping, and rain sensing wipers along with LED headlights and all worked as expected during my limited time with the vehicle.

The 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition has all the luxury and power to deliver a great experience in this weight class. The hardy  and tough profile of Explorers past is clearly there and the power is accessible when needed but the Platinum Edition is about a more civilized way to get around, stay connected and move the important people in our lives and their things.

Ford's attempt to upmarket the Explorer will appeal to fans of large SUVs who want something a bit more special and undertstand the benefits of having high-luxury, cargo space and creature comforts that can make even the most routine trips seem like riding first-class.