This car is great in the snow - there is almost no snow that this car will not get through. Acceleration is not so good. For a V6, it seems rather under powered. Also, for the smaller of the two engines, this car gets rather lousy gas mileage. My car has over 130,000 miles and it drives really well. Low sound, very few rattles and a very smooth ride. It also is great for hauling as the explorer is very spacious. It also features third row seating which is a great bonus. The inside look leaves something to be desired. The inside really isn't much to look at and the car seems to be lacking options for the fully loaded model. No sun roof, radio controls on steering wheel, etc. There are problems with the paint as most explorers in this year have chipped paint on the hood. As for handling, the car does a fairly decent job at cornering and taking turns - about as well as can be expected for a car of this size. Parts on this car seem to fail like clockwork. I know someone who owns the same model and year and we both have the same parts fail at around the same time. Most of these parts are routine maintenance parts like springs, ball joints and belts.

I like how it is good for long trips, but I do not like how things keep on breaking on it. The air conditioner does not work anymore, the engine makes weird noises, and there is a strong exhaust odor. I was overcharged for the vehicle, but it was all I could get before I moved out of state. The windshield is broken, and the brake light never turns off. Though the car doesn't overheat, the coolant gets used up pretty fast. There is no leak in the coolant. Even with all of the issues, it is still good for getting me to where I need to go. If it was in better condition, I would enjoy the car much more. The radio and speakers work well, although a speaker in the very back randomly works and stops working. There is a lot of room in the vehicle, and I feel as though it is safe for my family, which includes a dog and a three month old infant. The car is not worth what I had to pay for it, but it is reliable for now.