What are the differences between the domestically produced Explorer and the North American version?
2 Answers
The engines and exterior designs are different. Engines: The domestically produced Ford Explorer is equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, while the North American version features a 365-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine, rated at 276 PS (272 HP), paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Exterior differences: The domestically produced Explorer has a larger hexagonal grille with greater vertical height. The grille design also differs: the domestic version uses block-shaped dot-matrix filling, whereas the North American version adopts a fish-scale mesh structure.
The differences between the domestically produced Explorer and the North American version are quite noticeable. Having driven both, I found that the domestic version has a slightly longer wheelbase, offering more legroom in the back seats, making family trips super comfortable. The North American version is also spacious, but the rear seats are a bit tighter, better suited for luggage. In terms of power, the domestic model uses a 2.3T engine, providing smooth starts and better fuel efficiency, ideal for city traffic. The North American version offers an optional V6 engine, delivering strong acceleration but with higher fuel consumption, requiring frequent refueling on long trips. The interiors differ significantly too—the domestic version features softer, more comfortable seats with thoughtful materials, while the North American version feels more rugged with a plastic-heavy, colder touch. The navigation system in the domestic model supports Chinese voice commands directly, with Baidu Maps being very convenient, whereas the North American version mostly has an English interface, which can be awkward to use. Overall, the domestic version is better suited for our traffic-heavy lifestyle here.
