"New and Improved." It's a slogan thrown around so often that it barely even registers with the average consumer.
So it's no surprise that when Ford introduced the 2001 Explorer Sport with its newly restyled sheetmetal and "improved" driving dynamics, hardly anybody really noticed. Of course, being certified auto geeks, we were immediately interested in this "new and improved" version, curious as to whether Ford had somehow managed to wrangle some additional performance out of this aging platform.
Our previous road test of a '99 Explorer Sport left us with a less than stellar impression of the best selling two-door. Its bouncy suspension and numb brakes hardly inspired confidence, and because our test vehicle only came with two-wheel drive, we deemed it about as useful as your average compact sedan when it came to foul weather capability.
After reading the 2001 Explorer Sport's press kit, we were prepared to see a whole other side of the two-door sport-ute. According to Ford, the suspension has been altered to "provide a smoother ride and tighter handling" in addition to a roomier cabin. A lead vehicle designer is quoted as saying, "Anyone who gets behind the wheel of the (Explorer) Sport will immediately notice these improvements." Is it possible that Ford turned this lackluster performer into an SUV deserving the name "Sport"?
Well, not quite. After a week in our Mandarin Orange tester, we couldn't help but think to ourselves, This is the "new and improved version"? The old model must have been worse than we thought!
Let's start with the suspension. Despite the fact that the 2001 model incorporates new two-stage leaf springs in the rear designed to provide a more tightly controlled ride, it still has all the handling prowess of a '74 LTD. Hit a bump and the front end bobs up and down as if it had no shocks at all. Take a turn at anything more than walking speed and the whole body lists like a stricken cruise ship. Sure, most shoppers in this category aren't looking for an ultra-stiff canyon-carver, but the Sport's constant rocking and swaying practically leaves you seasick after a quick jaunt to the grocery store.
The slow steering does little to help mask the wobbly suspension below, with serious amounts of input required for anything more than a lane change. Our tester was equipped with optional all-terrain tires that certainly didn't help matters much, but even these meats weren't knobby enough to excuse the lethargic handling.
As we said in our last review, if there is one saving grace in the performance department, it comes in the form the 4.0-liter V6 under the hood. Rated at 203 horsepower (7 horsepower less than our 1999 test model), this powerplant provides strong acceleration that makes it almost fun to drive. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, with a five-speed overdrive automatic an $1,195 option. The closely spaced gears in our automatic-equipped tester kept the engine right in the heart of its powerband delivering ample acceleration for both highway passing maneuvers and off-the-line spurts.
Other than the less-than-helpful suspension "improvements," the biggest change for the 2001 Sport is on the outside. Nearly every exterior body panel (the rear liftgate excluded) has been reshaped for a sportier look. The most noticeably altered design cues are the vertically slatted grille and exaggerated wheel arches. These changes certainly give the Sport a clean, more refined look, but only those familiar with previous models will likely notice the difference.
Inside, Explorer Sport receives more features for 2001. A premium AM/FM stereo/cassette/single CD player, center floor console, carpeted floormats and a Class II trailer hitch are all now standard fare. The gauge cluster gets a titanium-colored finish that adds a certain degree of stylishness, but the like-colored door handles and dash surrounds don't wear the shiny coloring quite so well.
We were blessed with both the convenience group and cloth comfort group from the options list that provided not only a power adjustable driver seat, but also handy items like keyless entry and an expanded center console that provides rear seat occupants with radio controls and headphone jacks. The power seat provided decent comfort, but the idea that we would have to ante up an extra $935 bucks to get it was a less than comforting thought.
The rear seats aren't exactly road-trip worthy when it comes to passenger comfort, but with the rear seats folded flat, the Explorer Sport does provides 71.4 cubic feet of interior cargo room, one area where it still reigns supreme over its upstart little brother, the Escape. Another significant advantage over its mini-ute sibling is the Explorer's 5,160-pound tow rating, a full 1,660 pounds more than the Escape.
Then again, the Escape has a far superior suspension, an equally powerful V6 and the convenience of four doors in a compact package that costs roughly the same price. And if its styling doesn't float your boat, there's a multitude of other mini-utes on the market that provide the quick, nimble handling of a two-door while retaining the handiness of a four-door in an equally maneuverable package.
Sure, not everybody likes the idea of driving a mini-ute, but we can't imagine anyone wanting a cramped, poor-handling excuse for a midsize SUV, either. Ford fully redesigned the four-door Explorer for 2002 with all-new underpinnings that dramatically improve its handling and performance. We can only hope that the Explorer Sport receives the same kind of attention sometime in the near future. Luckily for Ford, the Explorer Sport has somewhat limited competition in the two-door sport-ute market, namely the Isuzu Rodeo Sport and the ill-fated Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy twins. Compared to that motley crew, the Explorer doesn't look so bad, but with so many nimble and roomy mini-utes on the market, it would be a shame not to consider them first before this aging relic.
So it's no surprise that when Ford introduced the 2001 Explorer Sport with its newly restyled sheetmetal and "improved" driving dynamics, hardly anybody really noticed. Of course, being certified auto geeks, we were immediately interested in this "new and improved" version, curious as to whether Ford had somehow managed to wrangle some additional performance out of this aging platform.
Our previous road test of a '99 Explorer Sport left us with a less than stellar impression of the best selling two-door. Its bouncy suspension and numb brakes hardly inspired confidence, and because our test vehicle only came with two-wheel drive, we deemed it about as useful as your average compact sedan when it came to foul weather capability.
After reading the 2001 Explorer Sport's press kit, we were prepared to see a whole other side of the two-door sport-ute. According to Ford, the suspension has been altered to "provide a smoother ride and tighter handling" in addition to a roomier cabin. A lead vehicle designer is quoted as saying, "Anyone who gets behind the wheel of the (Explorer) Sport will immediately notice these improvements." Is it possible that Ford turned this lackluster performer into an SUV deserving the name "Sport"?
Well, not quite. After a week in our Mandarin Orange tester, we couldn't help but think to ourselves, This is the "new and improved version"? The old model must have been worse than we thought!
Let's start with the suspension. Despite the fact that the 2001 model incorporates new two-stage leaf springs in the rear designed to provide a more tightly controlled ride, it still has all the handling prowess of a '74 LTD. Hit a bump and the front end bobs up and down as if it had no shocks at all. Take a turn at anything more than walking speed and the whole body lists like a stricken cruise ship. Sure, most shoppers in this category aren't looking for an ultra-stiff canyon-carver, but the Sport's constant rocking and swaying practically leaves you seasick after a quick jaunt to the grocery store.
The slow steering does little to help mask the wobbly suspension below, with serious amounts of input required for anything more than a lane change. Our tester was equipped with optional all-terrain tires that certainly didn't help matters much, but even these meats weren't knobby enough to excuse the lethargic handling.
As we said in our last review, if there is one saving grace in the performance department, it comes in the form the 4.0-liter V6 under the hood. Rated at 203 horsepower (7 horsepower less than our 1999 test model), this powerplant provides strong acceleration that makes it almost fun to drive. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, with a five-speed overdrive automatic an $1,195 option. The closely spaced gears in our automatic-equipped tester kept the engine right in the heart of its powerband delivering ample acceleration for both highway passing maneuvers and off-the-line spurts.
Other than the less-than-helpful suspension "improvements," the biggest change for the 2001 Sport is on the outside. Nearly every exterior body panel (the rear liftgate excluded) has been reshaped for a sportier look. The most noticeably altered design cues are the vertically slatted grille and exaggerated wheel arches. These changes certainly give the Sport a clean, more refined look, but only those familiar with previous models will likely notice the difference.
Inside, Explorer Sport receives more features for 2001. A premium AM/FM stereo/cassette/single CD player, center floor console, carpeted floormats and a Class II trailer hitch are all now standard fare. The gauge cluster gets a titanium-colored finish that adds a certain degree of stylishness, but the like-colored door handles and dash surrounds don't wear the shiny coloring quite so well.
We were blessed with both the convenience group and cloth comfort group from the options list that provided not only a power adjustable driver seat, but also handy items like keyless entry and an expanded center console that provides rear seat occupants with radio controls and headphone jacks. The power seat provided decent comfort, but the idea that we would have to ante up an extra $935 bucks to get it was a less than comforting thought.
The rear seats aren't exactly road-trip worthy when it comes to passenger comfort, but with the rear seats folded flat, the Explorer Sport does provides 71.4 cubic feet of interior cargo room, one area where it still reigns supreme over its upstart little brother, the Escape. Another significant advantage over its mini-ute sibling is the Explorer's 5,160-pound tow rating, a full 1,660 pounds more than the Escape.
Then again, the Escape has a far superior suspension, an equally powerful V6 and the convenience of four doors in a compact package that costs roughly the same price. And if its styling doesn't float your boat, there's a multitude of other mini-utes on the market that provide the quick, nimble handling of a two-door while retaining the handiness of a four-door in an equally maneuverable package.
Sure, not everybody likes the idea of driving a mini-ute, but we can't imagine anyone wanting a cramped, poor-handling excuse for a midsize SUV, either. Ford fully redesigned the four-door Explorer for 2002 with all-new underpinnings that dramatically improve its handling and performance. We can only hope that the Explorer Sport receives the same kind of attention sometime in the near future. Luckily for Ford, the Explorer Sport has somewhat limited competition in the two-door sport-ute market, namely the Isuzu Rodeo Sport and the ill-fated Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy twins. Compared to that motley crew, the Explorer doesn't look so bad, but with so many nimble and roomy mini-utes on the market, it would be a shame not to consider them first before this aging relic.
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