First Glance
Explorer underwent a makeover for 2006 that emphasized F-Series DNA and maturity, and the Ironman Package throws all that out the window for a bold, in-your-face look that's about as rough-and-ready as an Explorer has ever looked. The big front grilled is blacked-out, and a gray plastic "Ironman" logo-imprinted lower front fascia has been added to the bumper below the opening. The paint -- wow, that's Orange! Orange Frost Clearcoat, to be exact. A trim kit has been added above the four wheel wells. It's a rugged-looking plastic fender flare that looks like it has been bolted to the Explorer with exposed Allen bolts -- shorthand for "masculine" in design language. Black body cladding runs along the rocker panels, creating a two-tone look for the Explorer. A black roof rack with black cross rails is mounted overhead, and 18" painted aluminum wheels wear the rubber. The back bumper wears a similar gray plastic Ironman logo piece as the front fascia.Somehow this whole package works really well. Explorer's not a bad-looking SUV in the first place, if a little conservatively styled for my taste. Loading up with all that body-cladding and Halloween color scheme could easily have gone wrong, but it results in an Explorer that stands out from the crowd. I'm glad that Ford didn't go too heavily on the "Ironman" logos -- if anything, they're a little too subtle and hard to read -- because I would feel silly waddling out of a vehicle meant for a triathlete. As it is, Explorer has struck that careful balance between overwrought and cool.
Continued below...
In the Driver's Seat
After 112 miles on a bicycle, a comfortable driver's seat is a must. Explorer delivers, with power-adjustable heated leather (part of the Ironman package) that's supportive and broad. Power adjustable pedals are a nice option at $150, especially since the steering wheel is adjustable for tilt but not reach.
An Ironman needs a lot of storage. Explorer can accommodate 83.7 cubic feet of cargo with second and third rows folded, and 43.9 with the third row folded. Watch out -- you can only cram in 13.6 cubic feet of gear behind the third row, hardly room for a day's supply of Gatorade and PowerBars for a serious athlete.
On the Road
Slow and steady wins the race, right? Well, Explorer isn't exactly slow. Under the hood is a 4.6 liter single-overhead cam V8 with three valves per cylinder and variable camshaft timing that cranks out a respectable 292 hp and 303 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed transmission, plenty of power to push around the 4777 lb vehicle. The transmission is good for sprints and long hauls, with excellent power distribution all along the way.Ford spent a lot of time and money on Explorer's handling after the rollover debacles of the 1990s, and this Ironman handles very athletically as a result. Four-wheel independent suspension, front and rear sway bars are standard to keep body roll to a minimum. Traction control with roll stability control, front side airbags, side impact door beams, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution are standard. A truly impressive 36.8' turning radius makes parking lot maneuvers and U-turns a breeze.
As big as it is, Explorer is really too small to have a useful third-row seat. It has one, but it is best used by the young and short of stature. Full-sized humans will not enjoy even a short ride back there, and the amenities are few -- they don't even get the leather seating surfaces that the first two rows are treated to. It's a one-tone vinyl world back there in the third row. Oh, the humiliation.
Journey's End
There are plenty of other SUVs in the race. Chevy's Trailblazer and Jeep's Grand Cherokee are the American challengers, and both have long history and solid engineering on their sides. Toyota's 4Runner is one of my personal favorites (my daily driver is a 1994 4Runner named "Moose"), and Nissan's Pathfinder is a very assertive, stylish choice. If it's looks you're into, check out the HUMMER H3, which will get as much attention as you could want, though with its five-cylinder engine, you'll have trouble running away from the field.
If you want to be a triathlete, or just look like one, the Explorer Ironman is a very attractive choice. Maybe I should dust off my running shoes, grease up my bicycle and stretch out my Speedo and start training for an Ironman competition of my own. Or is that stretch out my running shoes, dust off my bicycle and grease up my Speedo? Maybe I'll just drive...
