I have owned the Ford Explorer for 3 years now. I live out in the desert of Western Colorado. The road to my home is dirt or dirt and gravel. There are very rough areas where there are ruts or dips and holes. It is a tough go in bad weather when the mud turns to slick goo. The wonderful thing about this explorer is that it goes into 4 wheel drive automatically when the conditions turn bad. It is better than my jeep which you have to stop, put it in neutral and then put it in 4 wheel drive. This makes it easier when you get in a slick muddy spot and you do not have to turn the 4 wheel drive on. You do not lose momentum in troubled spots either. I take trips on many weekends to visit friends in neighboring towns and over the road it drives smooth and more like a like a car than an SUV. Gas mileage is mid range. Not great but pretty good compared to other SUV vehicles. It is great on paved roads in the snow and ice. Makes it easy to go to work in the winter in bad weather. This vehicle has a tendency to have transmission problems. Mine takes a beating but I have had no problems at all and feel fortunate. I would consider purchasing this vehicle or referring it to a friend.

I have a 1994 Ford explorer that I hate. When I bought it, it was already 15 yrs. old. At the time of purchase, I felt that it drove outstandingly well and that the interior was amazing, given it's age. Could have cared less about the 4x4 aspect of it, as I am not into those activities, proved to be useful in my 8th year of owning it when it snowed. The car had the space I needed to take my entire family on outings without the feeling of being cramped. Plus, it held all the geared required and the two dogs. I love that it came with a tow hitch already on it. When I hauled my 4x8 trailer filled with various yard debris, it didn't with out complaint. I hate the fact that it is a Ford. My past experience with this brand is not stable. Every Ford I have ever owned was a crappy car. I bought this car knowing that eventually I was going to have some sort of issue, not including normal wear tear of the vehicle. I was so right on so many levels. The gentleman told me, after I paid him, that this had been his elderly father's car, and he only drove six miles a day, two-three times a week. With in the first month, we had some sort of electronic issue that the mechanic fixed quick enough. Then after a smidge over a year, just about everything went bad at once. Starter, alternator, and water pump. A few months later, it was an enormous water leak from the heads. Ended up having to rebuild the top part of the motor before two years of ownership had passed. Every year since 2015, we have had to have major repairs done it. It has a check engine light on, been on for three years, and a certified mechanic can't find what is sending the code. We have changed stuff that the codes sent with no help. I hate it!