Used 2017 Ford Explorer Limited SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2017 Ford Explorer Limited SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
2017 Limited 3.5 4WD....not bad overall!
WalleyeChris, Easton, PA, 11/26/2017
2017 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I am going to throw comparisons to the Buick Enclave in here since I’ve spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel of one previous to buying my Explorer. I found this 2017 Limited with 1950 miles on it and saved a nice chunk of change. What was Important to me? 4 or all wheel drive, the ability to tow a 3400 pound boat/trailer and some cargo room. 95% of the time it’s just me driving … this vehicle. I drove a 2002 Town Car for the last 11 years as a daily driver, so the Explorer was a pretty radical change. The tech is impressive for me, the infotainment package does all I need and more and Car Play is great, texting is an option now for me while driving, since I don’t have to take my eyes off the road. Comfort is fairly good for me and my 6’7” frame. I agree there could more more left leg room, it has plenty of head room, but I find the center console isn’t diggging into my right leg like the Buick, and thank you power pedals and power telescoping steering wheel!! After 3 hours in the Buick I have to get out and move around. The Buick does have better seats in my opinion especially the headrests, you can truly rest your head. But the Explorer truly wins with the dash design and instrumentation, the Buick is dated in all regards there. Rear seats? They are nice (heated!) but the bench does not adjust back and forth on the larger half, too bad. Passengers are not my full concern most the time but the few that rode back there said it was fine. I’d say taller than 6’2” would be an issue, as I can fit back there but the person in the front would have to be less than 6’. The Buick and the rear buckets have more leg room for sure, I fit in them just fine. I do enjoy the power fold rear seats for convenience and the trunk well that is there for groceries etc. And the hands free lift gate opening is a blessing as well. The Buick wins for total cargo space and third row comfort but lacks the options and configurations as the Ford. Performance wise both vehicles are similar from the engine and transmissions, though the Buick may shift slightly smoother. Gas mileage similar too with both being AWD models. The Ford has a bit tighter feeling in the steering department. I do love the brakes on the Ford so far! The Buick has a smoother ride in the front row by a little bit but the second row on that vehicle, it’s hard to read the newspaper and it gets real bouncy. I’ve yet to see snow in this vehicle and am anxiously awaiting to test out the AWD system. Heck driving a RWD Lincoln for 11 years had some white knuckle moments but I was very used to it in the snow and did fine, but this should be a major improvement. Bottom line I like my Ford, I like the styling and overall so far it is a nice vehicle and get many complements. I almost bought a Buick but since like 5 people in my family have them, I really didn’t want to be the 6th, LOL. And the styling and interior was getting old and tired to me (I know they have a new 2018 model coming). So many choices out there for sure and I drove them all. This was the best combo of space, size and utility for me.
Not a fan of the 2.3L i4 ecoboost
Rehtaeh8604, Charleston, WV, 03/10/2020
2017 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Let me start by saying I'm a Ford girl. I was raised in a Ford family, I refuse to buy anything but Ford. Started out with a new 2010 Ford Edge Limited, that only lasted for 2 weeks because I got hit head on by a dude with a mobile meth lab in his car, but for those 2 weeks I loved it. I then moved on to a new 2011 Ford Edge Limited, drove it until it had about 75k miles & never had any … problems. I traded my 2011 edge in for a used 2013 Ford Explorer Sport because I was getting close to 100k miles & I just knew something was going to break soon if I didn't since my warranty had already run out. The explorer had 15k miles when I got it, never had any problems with it, kept it until June 2017 when I bought the 2017 Ford Explorer Limited with the 2.3L i4 ecoboost engine. It was delivered to my house, I didn't realize it was a 4 cylinder until I had driven it to work that following Monday. At this point, I'm mad at myself for not paying attention to such an important detail. I would have NEVER thought that a mid-size suv would have a 4 cylinder. That's where my regret began. What I love about it: the bright headlights, the massaging seats, the air conditioned seats, the adaptive cruise control, the remote start, the door keypad, the stowaway feature of the 3rd row seats. What I hate about it: they've changed the front space-there's not as much room for the driver/passenger as there was in the 2013; also, it has been a money pit - I had to replace the battery somewhere between 30 & 50k miles & I had to replace the water pump at 66k miles. I've also read about a couple lawsuits against Ford, that Ford has known about for at least 10 years but has refused to fix. The first, a paint issue on the hood. The paint bubbles up due to a material that they use in production (I don't remember exactly but google it & you'll find what I'm talking about). The second, a water pump failure (google this too). There may be more that I just haven't run across yet but it's very disappointing because I want to love Ford but they're making it so hard with all of these problems I've had with my 2017 Limited 4-cylinder. It's very hard for me to look at the positives with this car.
2017 Ford exploder
Steven, Scappoose, OR, 09/02/2017
2017 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Purchased brand new 2017 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3 ecoboost. This is my second year owning it and so far I already encountered electronic glitches/problems. Blindspot monitoring system goes out every other time, The notification on the dash is annoying. The transmission is starting to shift hard and it is currently 15,000 miles. Pathetic 4 cyl. engine is gutless and average economy … reading 17.9 mpg. Ford falsely advertises everything! You spend over $40k and what do you get?? A POS with hankook tires that are already ripping, smeary wipers and deteriorating interior materials. This is probably The last ford I'll ever own. When the warrantee is out I'm sending the car to hell.
Surprising quality
Doug, Indianapolis, IN, 02/03/2019
2017 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
My father bought a Ford in 1958, had a bad experience, and inculcated me with an aversion to the brand. But when I needed a new suv in 2017 and my wife’s brother-in-law could get us the employee discount, I took a chance and bought an Explorer XLT with the 4 cylinder turbocharged engine and AWD. The vehicle has been completely trouble-free. Except for poorer than I had hoped gas … mileage, the car has been wonderful. I have had it for 17 months and love the comfort, road handling and reliability.
Update: I have now had the 2017 Explorer for almost 36 months. The vehicle remains trouble free. Vehicles I have had in the past have been great; only a little problem here and there. This is the first one that has not had even the smallest issue. Great vehicle!
Update: I am at 41 months ownership. I have received three recall notices and had all three problems corrected in one visit. Recalls are a hassle, but my vehicle has had no problems.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2017 Ford Explorer Limited SUV
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Plenty of high-tech features that are easy to use
- Pro:Optional turbocharged V6 engine delivers plentiful power
- Pro:Cabin is quiet and comfortable on the highway
- Pro:Cargo space is generous behind the third row
- Con:Depending on trim level, feels big and ponderous from behind the wheel
- Con:Legroom in the second and third rows is subpar
Which Explorer does Edmunds recommend?
Our favorite version of the 2017 Ford Explorer is easily the Sport. It eradicates the ponderousness of non-Sport versions while still maintaining excellent ride composure. The Sport doesn't compromise the Explorer's quiet demeanor either, despite its relatively low-profile 20-inch wheels. On top of that, its EcoBoost V6 is plenty powerful, though fuel economy could be better. Summer tires are optional on Sport models, and we recommend matching the tires to the season whenever possible — summer tires in rainy or dry conditions and dedicated winter tires when there's snow on the ground.
Full Edmunds Review: 2017 Ford Explorer SUV
Driving
5.0Unlike other models dubbed "Sport," the 2017 Explorer Sport is indeed sporty, thanks to its turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, stiffer suspension tuning, quicker steering and our test vehicle's optional summer performance tires. The result is lots of speed and impressive handling and braking.
Comfort
4.5Given the 2017 Explorer Sport's handling prowess, we expected ride quality to suffer. We were wrong. Although it loses a small degree of overall plush compared to the regular Explorer, the tauter handling is worth the minor trade-off. The seats are comfy, except in the third row.
Interior
3.5We're glad Ford finally got rid of the touch-sensitive controls on the Explorer's center stack. We highly recommend the optional sliding second-row bucket seats — you lose a seat but gain comfort as well as better third-row access and space. Rear visibility is a problem.
Utility
3.5The cargo area's deep well is useful even if the total cargo volume isn't exceptional. There's a good variety of cabin storage overall.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2017 Ford Explorer in California is:
not availableLegal