Ford’s had sufficient of adventure-seeking households available in the market for a crossover SUV heading to Jeep and Subaru showrooms.

At the least, that’s the impression the 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline provides. With extra floor clearance, a smattering of off-road-oriented {hardware}, an upgraded suspension, and all-terrain tires, Ford’s created essentially the most off-road succesful Explorer but. However whereas it ought to be sufficient to sway some from a Subaru Outback, it falls wanting stealing Jeep’s lunch.

Functionality on a eating regimen

Just like the Subaru Outback, the Explorer Timberline goes gentle on the off-road functionality in comparison with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Let’s simply name it Functionality Gentle, the 95-calorie functionality.

Each Explorer Timberline has a 2.3-liter turbo-4 rated at 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque underneath its hood mated to a 10-speed automated transmission. Whereas that’s extra energy than any Subaru Outback and it’s sufficient within the Explorer, the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain within the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will go away this Ford within the mud.

In day-to-day driving the Explorer’s turbo-4 is the definition of high quality, however it begins to expire of steam in freeway passing maneuvers. I don’t query the Timberline’s most tow score of 5,300 kilos, however I do suspect it’s going to battle to tow confidently at freeway speeds. That’s a take a look at for an additional time. Senior Editor Robert Duffer additionally famous lumpy first-to-second and second-to-third gear shifts, although I didn’t have the identical expertise.

The place the Timberline takes a proper flip down a gravel highway from different Explorers is its suspension and operating bits. Ford swapped in a set of industrial quality shocks (which had been yanked from the Explorer Police Interceptor’s components bin), upgraded the stabilizer bars, and put in off-road springs with extra rebound up entrance to cut back jarring off-road actions. Firm engineers additionally went with taller 265/65R18 Bridgestone Dueler All-Terrain tires, and added skid plates beneath the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Additionally they recalibrated the steering to mesh with the suspension adjustments.

The result’s the best-riding Explorer cash should buy. On damaged Midwest pavement the Timberline soaks up highway imperfections and retains them within the background. Physique motions are properly managed, and with a barely wider observe than the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, the Timberline feels a bit extra secure taking place the freeway.

The strategy angle improves over the usual Explorer from 20.1 to 23.5 levels, whereas departure angle rises from 22.0 to 23.7 levels. However with 8.7 inches of floor clearance (up 0.8 inch over an ordinary Explorer), the Timberline comes up quick, actually, subsequent to the Subaru Outback Wilderness with its 9.6 inches of floor clearance. And the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will go a lot deeper into the wilderness with its disconnecting entrance sway bar and 10.9 inches of floor clearance when raised up on its air suspension. The Jeep additionally has a 2-speed switch case to let the SUV crawl over rocks and thru streams. The Explorer? It’s residing a lie with a 4WD badge slapped on its tailgate regardless of the actual fact it lacks a 2-speed switch case with low-range gearing for low-speed torque and management within the hardest off-road conditions. It goes about its enterprise with an all-wheel drive system that sends energy to the wheels with traction. The Ford’s greatest characteristic is its Torsen limited-slip rear differential to assist preserve wheel spin in examine throughout slippery conditions.

However, just like the Jeep, the Explorer’s ace within the gap, which the Outback lacks, is a terrain administration system. The system has Regular, Path, Deep Snow/Sand, Slippery, Sport, Tow/Haul, and Eco driving modes. Whereas my off-roading tour within the Explorer Timberline consisted solely of a gravel farm highway, I’ve had intensive expertise with Ford’s Terrain Administration System because it’s featured in every part from Raptors and Broncos to the Expedition. It’s among the finest methods within the enterprise and really tailors the powertrain and traction/stability management for the situations at hand, although it’s telling that it lacks Rock Crawl and Mud/Ruts modes on the Explorer Timberline.

The underside line is the Explorer Timberline will present the off-roading functionality most patrons want higher than different variations of Ford’s mid-size three-row SUV. Nonetheless, it’s going to hit the top of the path when confronted by the technical, low-speed stuff that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk can deal with.

Enjoying undercover undercover cop

With blacked out headlights and taillights, chunky all-terrain tires, 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, and grille-mounted LED fog lights, the Explorer Timberline appears like an undercover cop automotive. The orange Timberline badges and tow hooks reveal it’s a Timberline, however they take greater than a fast look to identify.

The grille-mounted LED fog lights strips on both aspect of the Ford badge truly carry out extra like driving lights. They do a terrific job of lighting up the highway, however the beams are targeted down the middle of the highway in between the headlights relatively than spreading to the perimeters of the highway. Additionally they can’t be used with the excessive beams, although they can be utilized along with the spherical manufacturing facility fog lights mounted decrease within the bumper, which is an odd selection. The highest-mounted fog lights are engaged by an AUX button on the headlight management dial. An orange gentle signifies they’re energetic and has an aftermarket look.

Inside, the Timberline is customary Explorer fare, together with the analog gauge cluster with a 6.5-inch info show and eight.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The usual satin silver coloured trim with Timberline-specific graining Ford known as Stone Mesh is sweet to take a look at and contact, however it’s the inexperienced inside with orange stitching that’s so sizzling with ’90s vibes that tugs at my childhood coronary heart strings. Whereas the inexperienced inside regarded incredible with my tester’s Cast Inexperienced paint, it’s unclear how it could look with one of many different out there colours.

These inexperienced seats are delicate, supportive, and road-trip worthy. The primary two rows are extraordinarily comfy, and the seats are wider than these discovered within the Grand Cherokee. However the third row is a bit small for adults. It’s acceptable for fast journeys round city, however nobody previous grade-school age will wish to spend actual time again there. The Outback has no third row and neither does the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.

At $47,450 as examined (although the bottom worth has since been raised to $51,475), the Timberline falls in the midst of the Explorer lineup between the Restricted and the sportier, extra highly effective ST. It’s additionally about $11,000 greater than a Subaru Outback Wilderness and $14,000 lower than a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.

The Explorer Timberline sits between the Jeep and Subaru in worth. It may well’t match the Jeep’s off-road functionality, however is roughly equal to the Subaru so long as 8.7 inches of floor clearance meets your wants. Relying on the off-road journey functionality you need, the Explorer Timberline may pencil out to be the appropriate match. You actually can’t get a inexperienced inside in a Subaru or Jeep, and neither of these have three-rows of seats. So, how far do you really want to go off-road and with how many individuals?

Ford supplied a green-on-green Explorer Timberline for this assessment, however your writer provided the Minnesota backdrop