Image via Flickr by rvandermaar
The Ford Explorers for 2019 and 2020 seem to have a great deal in common at first, but there are many pronounced differences between them. Take a look below as we compare and contrast these two popular models of Ford sports utility vehicles.
Trim Level Differences
The trims differ slightly between the 2019 and 2020 lineups for the Ford Explorer. The 2019 trim levels include the XLT, Limited, Sport, and Platinum. The 2020 trim levels include the XLT, ST, Limited, and Platinum. The Sport trim comes equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine, combining direct-injection and turbocharging technologies. It generates 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The ST is fitted with a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3-liter V-6 generating 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.
Fuel Efficiency Variations by Trim Level
The standard engine on the 2019 Explorer grants 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway. That year’s EcoBoost engine gets 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. The 2019 Sport trim’s engine gives the driver access to better acceleration, sport-tuned suspension, and highly responsive steering, leveling out at 16 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. The Platinum trim also gets 16 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.
The rear-wheel-drive 2020 Explorer with the base trim’s 2.3-liter engine gets 21 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway. The Limited trim’s 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. The XLT’s 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine grants 21 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. The ST trim’s 3.0-liter 6-cylinder turbo engine gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, as does the Platinum trim’s engine.
Exterior Comparison
While at first the 2019 and 2020 Ford Explorers look similar on the outside, differences in design can be picked out with a closer look. The grille on the 2020 is comparable in pattern to the 2019, but it is taller by a third and broader at the center, extending below the headlights where it didn’t before. The lines along the side of the vehicle are more numerous and pronounced than in 2019, and the bumper is somewhat lower in front on the 2020 version. The 2020 has a slightly more curved look overall compared to the more angular 2019, giving it a sleeker style, and the lower lights are set in an inward-facing “D” rather than a lowercase “r” shape.
Interior Variations
The Explorer for 2019 comes with cloth upholstery with leather available on the upper trim levels. It comes with an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and an available twin-panel moon roof. The 2020 version has the same seating options, but the seats are larger for improved comfort. A new rotary gear shift is an option on the 2020 version. The third-row seating in the 2020 is effortless to access since a new one-touch feature opens up the area for your third-row passengers.
There is a lot to discover and love where the 2019 and 2020 Ford Explorers are concerned. Head to Pat Milliken Ford in Redford to take a look at them and the rest of their impressive inventory.
Connect with us
