2002 Ford Explorer...Continued

It's smooth and settled now like it's a part of the road, and when pitched into the face of a hard corner, like the escarpment hairpins on Arizona 87, it reacts with a flat stance to forge a stable track through the curve without pitching the structure off-center or unsettling riders strapped inside.

The trip down the cliff route in this Explorer turns into a confidence-inspiring exercise as the vehicle demonstrates its dexterity in dancing through all curves.

It's also stoked with power.

The standard engine, a 4.0-liter single-cam V6 with aluminum heads, produces 210 horsepower and strong torque dispersed evenly across the range of engine speeds.

Coupled to the V6 is a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic that uses adaptive shift logic through sophisticated electronic controls.

The automatic in effect adds another notch between first and second gears of a four-speed automatic. This creates more precise gear ratios and quicker response for accelerating, towing a trailer or, with four-wheel-drive traction, heading away from pavement into rough terrain.

Explorer also offers the option of V8 power with a new aluminum plant in single-cam design and 4.6-liter displacement. It leaps to 240 hp at 4750 rpm, with torque numbers boosted to 280 lb-ft at 4000 rpm and trailer tow ratings rising as high as 7300 lbs. The V8 mates exclusively with the five-speed automatic.

These two powertrain packages appear in four trim variations of a four-door Explorer wagon cast as 2002 models for the new generational design.

Explorer's name traces back to its inception in 1990 as the first sport-utility wagon to provide cushy comforts and push-button conveniences of a conventional sedan. A second generational design in 1995 introduced a short-and-long-arm independent front suspension to replace the original cumbersome twin I-beam arrangement.

New designs for 2002 Explorer on the longer and wider chassis carry the short-and-long-arm independent suspension to rear wheels in a concise mechanical scheme that not only develops a smoother and more controlled ride quality but liberates cabin space at the rear for the addition of an optional third-row bench seat that flips forward and folds into the floor of the cargo bay.

The new structure, with fully boxed chassis rails, adds two inches to the wheelbase length, 2.5 inches to the track width and several more inches to the overall height. Front and rear overhangs have been pared to create better approach angles for scaling rough terrain when traveling off-road and the platform stands higher so the ground clearance improves.