I think this car was an good car for those starting out. The paint color is a green color that is not hard on the eyes. The vehicle sits higher off the ground than normal vehicles, which in my opinion is nice. The vehicle does, however, shake and it has nearly 150,000 miles. This happens when you are driving 65 mph on the interstate and no other time. The interior materials are nice; however, after many years of usage, the steering wheel needs to be replaced because not only have the buttons fallen off but the wheel has started "leaking" gunk when it is hot outside. This gets all over you hands and it makes driving in hot weather annoying. The back end of the vehicle is big and can easily hold many boxes, especially when the back row of seats are folded down. They fold all the way down to where the back is level and seemingly one long surface. Over the years, the locks have needed to be replaced because the electronic mechanism has worn out or died. We have carried full sheets of drywall in the back end easily!! The leather interior makes for easy cleaning when spills happen but if you live in a hot area, this can cause a lot of sweating.

My wife and I purchased our Ford Explorer new from the local dealership after test driving multiple vehicles from different makers. We were impressed with how quiet the Explorer is going down the road. I have found that it has more than enough room for long car trips that my family frequently takes. We can easily fit four large suitcases in the trunk if the third row has been folded down. We chose the limited trim for the heated and cooled seats. The cooled seats make long trips easier, and you do not get as hot sitting in the seat for a long period of time. The Sync system is good for navigation and normal use. The large screen is easy to manipulate while driving with minimal distraction. For a four-wheel drive SUV, we get around 23 MPG which for a four-wheel drive, I am completely happy with. We live in an area with frequent snow and have had the opportunity to use the four-wheel drive multiple times. It has never let us down and has never been stuck. I would without a doubt buy another one.