Tested: 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline Can Explore More
It’s no Bronco, but the Explorer Timberline adds hardware to improve the off-road capability of Ford’s three-row mid-size SUV.
Ford puts more «explore» into the Explorer with the addition of the off-road-oriented Explorer Timberline. The trim, which debuted last year, goes beyond a simple appearance package. The 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline includes hardware upgrades for getting farther off the beaten path. These include dampers cribbed from Ford’s Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility, which work with a set of revised springs and Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 tires mounted on trim-specific 18-inch wheels to add 0.8 inch to the mid-size SUV’s ground clearance, netting it a total of 8.7 inches.
The Blue Oval further fortifies the all-wheel-drive Timberline’s off-pavement capabilities by fitting the model with a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, underbody skid plates, front rebound springs, and restyled fascias. The latter—in conjunction with the vehicle’s increased ride height—afford it improved approach and departure angles of 23.5 and 23.7 degrees. Additionally, the Timberline’s breakover angle of 18.9 degrees improves upon its more tarmac-focused kin by 1.8 degrees. That said, those figures still fall well short of a base four-door Ford Bronco, which has approach, departure, and breakover angles of 35.5, 29.7, and 20.0 degrees, respectively.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to put the Explorer Timberline’s off-road chops to the test during its stay with us. Instead, we spent the bulk of our time driving this Forged Green Ford on the pockmarked pavement and dirt roads of southeast Michigan. In other words, we used it in much the same way most consumers will.
The good news is that the adjustments to the Timberline’s springs and dampers, as well as its anti-roll bars, give the model more cohesive suspension characteristics than other current-generation Explorers we’ve tested. Yet, the Timberline still leans heavily in corners and can’t match the supple ride quality of class leaders.
Explore more
The Timberline-specific steering calibration fails to do this Explorer any favors, as the setup feels overboosted and indirect—attributes surely exacerbated by the model’s all-terrain rubber. At the track, the chunky tires proved less of a hindrance to the Explorer than expected, though, with the Timberline’s 0.81 g of lateral grip on the skidpad matching that of a previously tested all-wheel-drive 2020 Explorer XLT equipped with all-season rubber. Additionally, the Timberline needed just 168 feet to come to a stop from 70 mph, or two feet less than the XLT, which took the crown for shortest stopping distance in a five-SUV comparison test.
Likewise, the Timberline’s 6.0-second run to 60 mph bested the XLT’s 6.1-second time (the Explorer XLT also took gold with that sprint in the same comparison test). In fact, the Timberline outpaced the XLT in nearly every straight-line acceleration run, this in spite of the two models sharing the same 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.
Despite its copious grunt, the powertrain fails to charm. Blame the engine’s industrial drone, its relative lack of low-end torque (its maximum of 310 pound-feet peaks at 3500 rpm), and the automatic transmission’s constant gear hunting and occasionally harsh shifts.
Compared to other Explorers, the 4565-pound Timberline takes a hit in fuel economy. Its EPA estimates are 21 mpg combined, 19 mpg in the city, and 22 mpg on the highway. Those figures represent a significant drop relative to other 2.3-liter power all-wheel-drive Explorers, which are rated at 23/20/27 mpg (combined/city/highway). We averaged just 18 mpg overall.
The Timberline’s Deep Cypress green interior bits with contrasting Deep Tangerine stitching do a nice job of zhooshing up the Explorer’s otherwise dull interior, which is fraught with low-grade materials. And like its lesser siblings, the Timberline’s cabin suffers from a slow-to-respond 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and its third row is cramped.
The exterior elements of the Timberline package successfully add a dash of style and excitement with darkened headlight and taillight decor, red tow hooks, and a tough-looking grille with provisions for installing Ford Performance’s $515 auxiliary off-road lights. Add these grille-mounted lamps at your own risk, as the 160,000-candela units light up the road with a death ray at night but bestow the Explorer with cop-car-like looks when viewed from head-on during the daylight, such as in a rearview mirror. Drivers ahead of us in traffic regularly slammed on their brakes to avoid a ticket from the law-enforcement-cosplaying Explorer behind them.
At $48,040—just $2420 more than a similarly equipped all-wheel-drive XLT—the 2022 Explorer Timberline makes a strong case relative to its siblings. With its additional off-road capability, cohesive suspension setup, and tough-yet-handsome style, the Explorer Timberline is one of the best iterations of the Explorer available today. Even so, the Timberline fails to fix other issues that plague the Explorer, such as its uncouth four-cylinder powertrain, slow-witted infotainment, and unimpressive interior materials. Buyers in this segment should still explore other options.
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Ford Explorer Timberline
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $48,040/$48,555
Options: Timberline off-road light kit, $515
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 138 in 3 , 2264 cm 3
Power: 300 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.6-in vented disc/12.6-in disc
Tires: Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3
P265/65R-18 112T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 198.8 in
Width: 78.9 in
Height: 70.7 in
Passenger Volume: 156 ft 3
Cargo Volume: 18 ft 3
Curb Weight: 4565 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.5 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 113 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/22 mpg
Ford Explorer Timberline: новая версия для бездорожья
Игорь Владимирский
У кроссовера Ford Explorer уже есть «заряженная» версия ST и роскошная King Ranch, а теперь появилась еще одна разновидность под названием Timberline. Она предназначена для тех покупателей, кому нужен Explorer повышенной проходимости. Причем перечень доработок у этого кроссовера довольно серьезный.
В подвеске — более выносливые амортизаторы от полицейской версии, новые пружины и стабилизаторы, а также дополнительные буферы отбоя на передней оси. В результате дорожный просвет увеличен на 20 мм — до 221 мм. Снизу установлена дополнительная стальная защита, а в трансмиссии — самоблокирующийся задний дифференциал Torsen.
Ford Explorer Timberline имеет оригинальные бамперы, благодаря которым увеличены углы въезда и съезда. Спереди напоказ выставлены буксировочные проушины, а сзади сделана заводская подготовка для установки фаркопа. Оригинальная решетка — с дополнительными диодными прожекторами, которые светят в 2,5 раза ярче штатного дальнего света. Наконец, Timberline имеет внедорожные шины Bridgestone Dueler размерности 265/65 R18.
Особенности салона новой версии — яркая прострочка и резиновые коврики вместо текстильных. Timberline имеет сравнительно простое оснащение с аналоговыми приборами и маленьким экраном медиасистемы, да и мотор у такого кроссовера базовый — турбочетверка 2.3 EcoBoost мощностью 304 л.с. в тандеме с десятиступенчатым «автоматом» и полным приводом. На рынок США кроссовер Ford Explorer Timberline выйдет летом. А впоследствии подобная версия Timberline появится и у других моделей компании.
Ford Explorer Timberline
Сейчас данный автомобиль доступен только под заказ!
Также, возможно, вас заинтересуют другие автомобили в наличии:
В резерве
В резерве
В резерве
20th Anniversary
