EXPLORER 2ND GEN

About the Explorer 2nd Gen

Ford updated the Explorer for 1995 with an independent rear suspension option on the Limited and a revised interior that felt less truck, more family hauler. The 4.0-liter SOHC V6 replaced the OHV unit with 210 hp and better manners. The 5.0 V8 made 215 hp and was available in rear-drive and 4WD. Control Trac four-wheel drive added a two-speed transfer case that worked well enough for snow and light trails. The SOHC V6 had a known timing chain issue that was expensive when it failed, and it always failed eventually. Build quality was adequate, the ride was softer than the first gen, and the interior was genuinely comfortable for four adults. The second-gen Explorer rode the late-'90s SUV boom harder than any competitor and outsold everything in the segment.