2006 Ford Explorer

Ford's Explorer is feeling the strain. Not too long ago, it sat comfortably on its throne as the best-selling SUV in America. But rising gas prices and a rising tide of new-wave, carlike crossovers offering the versatility demanded by active families, with fewer of the on-road compromises demanded by traditional SUVs, have left the crown up for grabs. Time, then, for a midlife makeover.

The 2006 Explorer gets a fresh new face featuring a wide-open mouth that, at first glance, makes it look like Ford stole another designer from VW/Audi. Just so you don't get confused, though, the Blue Oval on the grille is now seven inches wide. Out back, a new liftgate and modified taillights finish off the cosmetic tweaks, and urban fashionistas can now order optional 18-inch chrome wheels.

Inside is an all-new, more upscale interior with available DVD navigation and Ford's first installment of Sirius Satellite Radio. The DVD nav features useful programming that'll audibly call out upcoming street names, but doesn't work as well as units from Honda or Toyota. A new chrome-topped shifter, borrowed from the F-150, is now mounted in a more ideal location in the center console. A power-folding third row is available, and, once down, the floor is truly flat.

Underneath the sheetmetal lies new and significantly updated hardware. An all-new, stiffer frame borrows the tube-through-tube technology first seen in the 2004 F-150. This clever welding trick puts the crossmembers through the frame rails, creating what Ford claims is an inherently stronger joint. To take advantage of the more rigid frame, Ford redesigned the front suspension by reducing the weight of the upper and lower control arms and switching the shocks from a twin-tube to mono-tube design to enhance ride comfort and maximize road holding.