Ford Explorer Trims

The Ford explorer was introduced with the 1991 Ford model year. This full sized SUV was designed as a replacement for the Ford Bronco II. The 2011 lineup of Explorers come sin 3 flavors the base model Explorer, the Explorer XLT and the Explorer Limited. All three come standard with a 3.5 liter TiVCT V6 engine and 6 speed automatic transmission. The engine provides 290 hp for towing up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the class III tow package.

Past Ford Explorer Trims

While the Ford Explorer was debuted in 1991, we will be starting with the 1995 model year ad working our way forward through the different trims offered through the years.

In 1995 the Ford Explorer 4 wheel drive came with a V6 engine in two trims the Sport Utility 2 door and the Sport Utility 4 door, the Sport Utility 4 door came as an optional 2 wheel drive.

Ford expanded the Explorer 4 door in 1996 to the XL Sport Utility and added an additional option besides 2 wheel drive, buyers could now choose an All Wheel Drive option.

For 1997 Ford continued to expand the options for the Explorer XL Sport utility to include a choice of engines. Besides the standard V6 buyers could now choose between a 4.0 liter SOHC V6 and a 5.0 liter V8. These trim packages continued for the 1998 and 1999 model years.

Eddie Bauer Sport Utility

In 2000 Ford started to offer an optional 2 wheel drive and 4.0 liter V6 SOHC option for their 2 door sport utility. There was also a new Eddie Bauer Sport Utility trim offered this year with the following options; 2 wheel drive, All Wheel Drive, a 4.0 liter V6 SOHC engine and a 5.0 liter V8.

In 2001 Ford stopped offering the 4.0 liter V6 SOHC engine as an option for both the 2 door and 4 door models of the Explorer. In addition the Explorer XLS Sport Utility 4 door was added to the lineup.

Third Row Seat

2002 was the first year that Ford offered a third row seat for the ford Explorer, this was offered with the Eddie Bauer Edition Explorer.

Explorer Sport Track Pickup

Ford made a number of changes for the 2003 model year. For its 2 door Sport Utility there were two trims, both with four wheel drive, the XLS and the XLT with optional 2 wheel drive. For the 4 door models there was now a XLS Sport Utility, a XLT Utility the Eddie Bauer Sport Utility and the new NBX Sport Utility and the Limited Sport Utility which offered the third row seat, 2 wheel drive, All Wheel Drive, and a 4.6 liter V8 as an optional replacement for the Flex Fuel V6. Ford also added a pickup version of the Explorer this year the Explorer Sport Track with a standard V6 engine. This pickup came in two trims the XLS 4 door Utility Pickup and the XLT Sport Pickup with an option for 2 wheel drive.

Ford continued to make a number of changes in the available Explorer trims for 2004. Following is the full lineup for 2004.

Explorer 4 Wheel Drive with the V6 Flex Fuel Engine standard

• XLS Utility 4 door
• XLS Sport SUV
• XLT Sport Utility 4 door
• XLT Sport 4 door
• NBX Sport Utility
• Eddie Bauer Sport Utility
• Limiter Sport Utility

The Limited Sport Utility came with an optional third row seat, 2 wheel drive, All Wheel Drive, or 4.6 liter V8 engine. In addition to the XLS Utility Pickup and XLT Sport Utility Pickup offered for the Explorer Sport Track line Ford started to offer the Adrenalin Utility pickup with the option of 2 wheel drive for the 2004 and 2005 model years.

In 2006 Ford greatly reduced the trims offered for the Explorer. The Sport Track pickups were not offered this year and only the XLS Sport Utility 4 door, XLT Utility 4 door, XLT Sport SUV, Eddie Bauer Sport Utility and Limiter Sport utility with the optional third row seat, 2 wheel drive and 4.6 liter V8 engine were offered.

The Explorer Sport track pickup was once again offered in 2007 with standard 4 wheel drive and a V6 engine, this came in two trims the XLT Utility Pickup and the Limited Utility Pickup with optional 2 wheel drive or the 4.6 liter V8 engine. For the Explorer 4 wheel drive three trims were offered, the XLT Sport Utility 4 door, the Eddie Bauer Sport Utility and the Limiter Sport Utility with the optional third row seat, 2 wheel drive and 4.6 liter V8 engine.

For 2008 the main difference was the Fords once again offering All wheel drive for the Eddie Bauer and the Sport Track limited utility pickup. For the Explorer 4 wheel drive the list of options was moved from the Limited Sport Utility to the Eddie Bauer sport Utility. The same trim packages were offered for the 2009 model year.