The interior of 2021 Explorer might acquire its classy look from the 2020 model with slight changes and add-on options. It comes with two options, one is Ebony leather-trimmed interior, and the other is of Sandstone. The cabin is spacious enough for a family to have a long dusty ride along with substantial luggage filled in. The interior gives a corporate look when you get into the cabin. In the XLT and above trims, the second-row bench is replaced by the captain's chair, making it one of the best second rows in the segment. Also standard on the model is the cloth upholstery and soft-touch material around.
The driver seat is 10-way adjustable for giving an excellent viewpoint to the driver, and the side passenger seat is 4-way adjustable. The overall seat quality is decent; it would be better if Ford has added heating seats for this XLT variant. The dashboard is comprehensive and spaced enough with minimal buttons on it. The ventilation ports are full and offer better airflow around the cabin. There is an 8" touch screen at the center of the dashboard; below it; there are multi-media and AC controls. However, the engine start/stop button is placed in a wired place behind the steering wheel.
Now, talking about the headroom and legroom space. There will be a decent headroom and legroom space in the front two rows of the vehicle, but the 3row has a lesser area. So, it is adjustable for children only.
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Models
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2020 Ford Explorer XLT
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2020 Hyundai Palisade SEL
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2020 Honda Pilot EX
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2020 Nissan Pathfinder SV RCE
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Seating Capacity
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7
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7
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8
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7
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Frist Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)
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41.4/61.5/42.9
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40.7/61.2/44.1
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40.1/ 62/40.9
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42.2/60.9/42.2
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Second Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)
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40.6/61/39.5
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40.1/60.8/42.4
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40.2/62/38.4
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39.4/60.4/41.7
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Third Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)
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37.8/50.8/32
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37.8/55.2/31.4
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38.9/57.6/31.9
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36.5/57.1/30.7
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Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)
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21
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18
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16.5
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16
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Looking at the interior capacities of its competitors, we can say that Explorer XLT offered a decent overall space though it was a close competition. Explorer has provided both enough headroom and legroom space with a trunk capacity of 21cu.ft which is an appreciable one. There won’t be any major changes for the 2021 model in this area also.
Let's look at the overall features of the cabin. Below are some of the attractive features that come with this Explorer XLT.
- Manual Telescopic adjustable steering column.
- Auto Climate Control and Three-Zone Climate Control.
- FordPass Connect6 with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
- 6-speakers AM/FM stereo system.
- Reverse Sensing System with a rear parking camera.
- Side-Wind Stabilization.
- Auto Start/Stop buttons along with Drive mode selection buttons.
- Onboard Hands-Free Communication System.
Infotainment System
The Base Ford Explorer and the Explorer XLT now get the dated SYNC infotainment system with a 8-inch touchscreen. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is optional. For the new SYNC 3 with an 10-inch touchscreen, you have to upgrade to the Limited trim. Sync 3 is responsive and has a crisp display and intuitive UI.
The Explorer gets pleasantly old-school physical buttons for most of the controls – a respite as others are increasingly moving all the controls to the touch screen.
The smartphone integration is quick, thanks to standard Apple Carplay, Android Auto, and even Amazon Alexa. It comes loaded with the following tech
- AM/FM Stereo HD Radio
- Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
- Auxiliary Audio Input and USB With External Media Control
- Satellite Radio Service
- USB Connection
- 6 Total Sony Premium Brand Speakers including a Subwoofer
- Smart Device Integration
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Navigation System
- Onboard Hands-Free Communication System
Cargo Capacity
The Explorer has generous cargo space with all seats up – 21 cubic feet. The closest competitor is the Honda Pilot with 17 cubic feet – not close at all. This means the Explorer is one of few midsize SUVs that can accommodate all your family along with their luggage too when you go exploring. The luggage space continues to dominate competitors as the seats are folded one by one.
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Model
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Ford Explorer
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Honda Pilot
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Nissan Pathfinder
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Hyundai Palisade
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All Seats Up(Cu.ft)
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21
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17
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14
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14
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Last Row Folded(Cu.ft)
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58
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47
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38
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41
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Second and Third Rows Folded(Cu.ft)
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99
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84
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71
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80
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The luggage space can further be stretched to 99. cubic feet on folding both the row in the rear. Which is also bigger than any rival in the competition.
