The update that came about for the 2002 model year brought about the best Ford Explorer yet; the body style was left in the same mould as before, but with detail changes making the car more modern in appeal.
However, the difference came under the bonnet, where a new 210bhp 4.0 liter V6 was joined by a 4.6 liter V8. This engine, although smaller in capacity than the preceding 5.0 liter, gave almost 240bhp, thus propelling the Explorer to new levels of performance.
Furthermore, the Explorer saw the introduction, for the first time, of three row seating, meaning this already very versatile vehicle now had the capacity to take seven people in comfort. Trim levels were also revised, with the base now known as Sport Value, and the top of the range still called Limited. The Explorer continued its fine tradition for luxury and comfort in this guise, and offered enough variants to make it appealing across the board.
It is interesting to note that the market began to change around the time of this third generation Explorer; whereas the 2 door variety - the Sport - had been popular before, it was noted that sales of 2 door SUVs were falling notably. Ford took the decision to discontinue the Sport 2 door version at the end of the models lifetime, when the newer, current Explorer was introduced for 2005.
It was also the case that sales of SUVs began to fall overall; the Explorer still sold well, but not as spectacularly as previously, and this may have had an impact on the demise of the Sport. However, Ford went full steam ahead with the new model, and also with future concepts for the Explorer.
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