Design:
It may have its share of updates, but the basic Ford Explorer is still there in the 2006 iteration. The overall profile is familiar, though the new taillights and fresh, bright front end add a contemporary flair. Groundbreaking it is not, but this ‘ute continues on as an attractive ride. Inside is much the same, with a vertically-stacked instrument cluster, and nice two-tone seats (on our Eddie Bauer tester). However, that faux wood is about as real as that dream with Gisele, and that crafty idea of putting curved chrome door handles on the armrest is a bit of anti-intuitiveness that should've been scrapped prior to production. Same goes for the door pull handle that is placed unusually low, a turn signal stalk situated unusually high, and more steering wheel buttons than even your PlayStation-addicted youngster could keep track of.

As if that wasn't enough, the heated seat buttons, located at the bottom of the instrument panel, make it hard to distinguish if they're on or not, and offer only one setting.

– Thom Blackett

Design:
I have to admit that I feel the exterior design of the Ford Explorer has a very handsome look to it. It conveys a sense of style and class and is different enough to catch my eye on a crowded street. It still has the typical SUV look but the use of chrome trim and contrasting paint colors on the body and trim really set off the look of the Explorer.

Inside the Explorer, designers really dropped the ball. The interior looks nice and the dash is reasonably well laid out, but when it comes to how well the interior works as a whole, it is a flop. Let's start off with headrests on the second row that block the rear side view on both sides and the third row headrests that all but block rearward vision. To see properly whether using mirrors or glancing over ones shoulder, all headrests must be manually lowered. So every trip will require a crawling in and out of the rear area to lower headrests after someone has used the back seats. Next comes the folding second row. Tipping up the rear seat is easy enough but doesn't allow for a whole lot of room to enter the third row. Want to lay the second row flat? First pull a handle and fold the seat back to the down position. Then lift another handle and push forward and down to lock the seat flat. This can't be easy for smaller individuals or those too short to have the leverage required to lock it down.

Cheap hard plastic abounds with a leather grain stamped into it that looks and feels horrible. The door panels look nice, but the pull to close the door is too far forward and makes reaching the handle difficult when the door is wide open and creates a difficult pull when closing the door. The gauges are also difficult to read due to the lack of contrast and how deeply recessed in the dash they are. Third row occupants can't adjust the angle of the seat backs from their seated position even though the buttons are within reach, someone has to exit the vehicle and open the tailgate to adjust them since the switch deactivates when the tailgate is closed. The competition is too tough and well made for Ford to try slipping slip sub-standard materials and workmanship past its potential customers.

– Ron Perry