Used 2011 Ford Explorer Limited for sale 

The Ford Explorer is offered in three trims with an option for the drivetrain setup; a front-wheel drive and a 4-wheel drive. The 2011 Explorer comes loaded with many features even in its base trim to attract buyers with lower budgets, and going up the trims, adds on more functions and premium elements to the cabin that elevates the overall experience of the car. The price of the SUV falls between $29,185 for the base trim and goes up to $40,360 for the top of the line Limited trim.

We Recommend

The middle XLT trim with the 4WD setup makes for the most exciting and value-for-money offering as it not only gets a considerable amount of additional fitment than the base trim but also keeps the price in relative check. Features like dual panel moonroof, premium upholstery, voice-activated navigation system, and more come standard with the trim.

The Ford Explorer is only available with a single engine option, which includes a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power is sent to the front wheels as standard and one can also opt for the 4WD drivetrain that adds a bit to the practicality of the car.

The engine output is rated at 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque, which helps it propel to 60 mph from standstill in an impressive 7.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile run is covered in a respectable 15.8 seconds. 

Although the Dodge Durango has a similar engine output as that of the Ford Explorer, it is still the slowest SUV in this comparison. The GMC Acadia has a superior torque figure and yet is over half a second slower to 60 mph, while also being the priciest amongst the cars present here. The Honda Pilot is the least powerful engine in this comparison, but is still a bit quicker than the Durango and is also the cheapest of the lot.

The SUV segment isn’t really known for their frugality with their naturally aspirated engines but the Explorer manages to perform decently in this aspect too. The EPA rates the 2011 Ford Explorer for 17 mpg around the town and 25 mpg while on the highway, whereas the overall combined fuel economy is rated at 20 mpg. The 18.6-gallon fuel tank is on the smaller side though and it adversely affects the driving range, which is limited to just over 350 miles of combined city and highway driving. The fuel economy and range figures will obviously go down with 4WD in the setup.

The Ford Explorer is the most fuel-efficient SUV in this comparison but the smaller fuel tank translates to the shortest driving range as well. All the other three SUVs have almost identical fuel economy figures, with the only difference being in the fuel tank sizes. The Dodge Durango employs the largest fuel tank, which helps it achieve over 450 miles of combined city and highway driving.

With the new Ford Explorer, Ford has moved into a new era of modernization and upmarket interiors. It now makes use of soft-touch materials and precise switches and knobs which are replaced by a touch panel on higher trims, and the cabin has now also become more spacious than ever.

There is plenty of space throughout the cabin and even the third row is pretty useful with decent legroom to fit in an average-sized adult comfortably for shorter journeys. The 21 cu-ft of cargo space behind the third row of seats is quite impressive too, which opens up to around 80 cu-ft when both the rear seats are folded. 

There is no doubt that the GMC Acadia has abundant cabin space for both its passengers and their cargo, which is unparalleled in this comparison. The Durango and the Pilot offer similar cabin space, which is marginally lower than the Explorer, but the Explorer lacks a bit in terms of cargo capacity as the other two offer a bit more in that section. Major interior features include-

• 10-way power driver seat w/power lumbar & recline and driver seat memory
• 6-way power passenger seat and 4-way driver & front passenger head restraints
• Leather-trimmed heated front bucket seats
• 60/40 split-folding 2nd-row seat and 50/50 split-folding 3rd-row seat
• Leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Power adjustable pedals w/memory
• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control
• Ambient lighting

How is the 2011 Ford Explorer SUV’s infotainment system?

The MyFord Touch system although is a welcome addition but is far from being perfect in its first generation as the buttons are small with a black background which makes it difficult to identify at first glance while driving.

The 8-inch SYNC infotainment system is pretty slick to use though for most parts and comes loaded with all sorts of latest modern-day features that we have come to expect from a car at this price point. Few key infotainment features available with the SUV are-

• 8.0-inch SYNC touchscreen infotainment system
• 4.2-inch MyFord Touch driver configurable LCD instrument cluster display
• 12-speaker Premium audio sound system
• HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio w/6-month subscription
• Turn-by-turn navigation w/real-time traffic
• Bluetooth capability
• Voice Recognition

The 2011 Ford Explorer is a handsome looking SUV that looks urban but can also take a rougher terrain whenever needed. The body-colored front grille is something that you might either like or dislike, but we personally feel it gives a different vibe and character to the SUV and is better than going for the standard black or a chrome finish to it.

The roof rack rails, lip spoiler at the back, and lower body cladding, all add to the tough appearance of the SUV.

The GMC Acadia is naturally the longest of the lot, considering the acres of interior space it provides, but it does lack a bit in the ground clearance department. The Dodge Durango on the other hand is about an inch shorter than the GMC but offers a longer wheelbase and also has the highest clearance here. The Honda Pilot though is the most compact car here and is therefore also the lightest one. Major exterior highlights of the Explorer are-

• Bi-functional projector beam headlamps w/Auto on/off
• Power folding heated power mirrors w/integrated blind spot mirrors and driver's memory
• Chrome door handles
• Black wheel lip molding and Black lower bodyside cladding w/chrome accent
• Body-color grille and spoiler
• Silver roof rack side rails
• 20-inch painted aluminum wheels

The Ford Explorer for the 2011 model year has been completely redesigned and employs loads of technology in the safety aspect as well, which aids the driver in almost all situations to keep the car and its occupants safe in all situations. There are 8 dual-stage airbags all around the cabin alongside various other features that have helped it bag the ‘Top Safety Pick’ award in the crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The NHTSA though hasn’t crash-tested the car yet but the available list of features should calm down all of the anxiety one might have in this regard. Few standout safety features are- 

• Traction control and AdvanceTrac w/Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Hill-start assist and Hill descent control
• Terrain management system
• Reverse sensing system w/Rearview camera
• SOS Post Crash Alert System
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Belt-Minder feature

The all-new Ford Explorer has shed its older skin and has come out all guns blazing as Ford has thrown in everything it has to offer in a car that has always had a special place in the hearts of Americans. It has now become a well-rounded and modern SUV that performs equally well, if not better, than its rivals. The low asking price makes it for a very exciting prospect if you are considering a 7-seat SUV for your family.