2005 Ford Explorer XLT review from North America

While I haven't had this car very long, I had an 03 before this one, so they're basically the same thing. The major differences are: well, this one is much tighter due to less mileage (and I haven't put it through dirt roads yet) and the overall driving feel. The steering feels different- I liked the 03's feel better, and the accelerator pedel feel. This one is much tighter and just feels weird- around town it's very sensitive, but on the highway you really need to push it. This is just the opposite of the 03- it provided smooth, steady acceleration around town (this one is jerky) and while it also required a fair amount of pressure on the highway it was smoother and was easier to predict the shift points.

This one's tranny likes to shift high. The old one could be driven shifting at around 2200 rpm easily, but it's hard to get this one to shift under 3000 rpm. Putting your foot in it (which is quite easy and fun, since the car is responsive) makes it shift at about 3500 rpm's just around town. Getting on the highway has it go over 4000.

While 4000 rpm's isn't that much, this is a truck engine and redlines at 5500 rpm's, unlike car's which can go to 6500-8000+ rpm's before shifting.

All in all, since the 03 is basically the same thing as the 05 there won't be that many differences. This is probably how the explorer is- my 03 wasn't the most reliable vehicle and had been througly beat by both myself and the previous owner. This one hasn't been beat (yet) and that is why it feels so strange to me.

The advancetrac system is GREAT- this alone is reason to buy an 05 over a different year. A HUGE safety improvement.