Ford Explorer

Ford offers eight trim levels for the Explorer, so you'll have no trouble finding one that suits you. The base trim comes standard with a power liftgate, rear privacy glass, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Moving up to the XLT nets you roof rails and heated side mirrors. At the SL-Line level, the Explorer comes equipped with 20-inch wheels and dual chrome exhaust tips. The Explorer's Timberline trim is better suited for off-roading, thanks to its all-terrain tires. The Limited, on the other hand, boasts more luxury and offers convenience features like auto-folding power side mirrors. When you choose the ST trim, you get stylish blackout headlights and taillights. With the King Ranch trim, the theme is more Western, and it offers a hands-free, foot-activated power liftgate. Finally, the Platinum trim upgrades the wheel size to 21 inches and boasts rear painted skid plate elements.

Three engines are available for the Explorer, and they're all packed with satisfying power. Even at the base level, the engine offers 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque with its 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four design. Upgrade to the hybrid 3.3-liter V-6, though, and you'll get 318 horsepower with 322 pound-feet of torque. Lastly, the available 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 offers 400 horsepower along with 415 pound-feet of torque.

The Explorer may be a midsize SUV, but it's remarkably easy to control from behind the wheel. Every engine option pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission that makes taking advantage of its power simple. If you're interested in taking some extra cargo with you on your next adventure, you'll be happy to know that, when properly equipped, it also offers a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds.

Inside the Explorer, you'll find a spacious interior with room for up to seven people. Of course, it's important to remember that the maximum seating capacity drops to six if you decide to upgrade the second row to captain's chairs. Your passengers in the second row will have plenty of room regardless, however, as the Explorer features 39 inches of legroom back there. If you need to haul much cargo, you'll appreciate this SUV's 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Explorer's safety features are state-of-the-art and include systems like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist standard on all Explorer models. Still, you can upgrade your safety systems if you like with add-ons like self-parking assist and BI-LED headlamps. In fact, equipping the Explorer with the latter makes it a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after extensive testing.