Over the past few years, Ford Explorer has been the leader in sales of imported SUVs. It is also in the top 10, even if other segments and weights are combined. On September 16, Ford Korea launched preliminary contracts for vehicles for the sixth generation of 2020 Explorer. It is expected that it will continue its popularity in the past, but this car is actively engaged in hostilities. Who should be afraid of Ford's sixth-generation Explorer?
What is a message to a Korean SUV?
Hyundai Palisade, which was launched in late 2018, has played a major role in the quantitative growth of the market for large and large SUVs of about 5000 mm total length. Palisade's shipments are still very popular, having reached six months. The weight of the 4980mm total length and the 2900mm wheelbase gives a sense of space that domestic cars did not have, and the variety of options seems to be the secret of popularity.
The popularity of Palisade has caused some revival in the domestic market of SUVs. In particular, the price is about 50 million won based on the full version. At the same time, it has disturbed imported users of medium price SUVs, shocked the psychological standard of domestic and imported cars, emphasizing the variety of convenient functions. It is difficult to prove how successful such a strategy is based on sales data, but importers are inadvertently involved in trouble and inevitably lose their image. Hyundai's strategy to launch palisades is not aimed at depriving imported large SUVs of the entire automotive market, but it should be noted that the bodywork is close to the intention to distract users from imported cars while in domestic cars. ,
Are the palisades still going well against the 6th generation explorer against the cry of "The King's Return"? It's hard to say yes. As mentioned earlier, Palisade has no reason to compete with Explorer on loans. If you dare, it is a question of the shock of the cost of a brand of import cars.
Recently, Kia Motors also introduced "The Master", a model of Mojave's redesign, an SUV in the back. It also receives a great response for the same reason as the Hyundai Palisade. However, Mojave the Master is also unlikely to be a direct target for imported large SUV owners. Palisades, Mojave, and Explorer may be a type of vehicle that would be happy if they enjoyed happiness in their areas.
More, but cheaper? Another American Challenge SUV?
In mid-September 2019, the Korea Importers Association (KAIDA) approved GM Korea as a member of the Chevrolet brand. In order to compete in the domestic market, it is necessary to create a lot of new cars, but for various reasons, it is advisable to expand the possibilities of importing and selling finished cars from the U.S. factories. Chevrolet also launched Colorado and Traverse pickups, key models of the Seoul Motor Show in 2019.
Colorado is likely to occupy its own territory without selling gasoline-powered pickups in Korea. However, Traverse must compete in the existing market for large SUVs. It is now important to set the goal of the competition one level higher. Of course, Chevrolet never mentioned Ford Explorer as a competitor in the official voice of the brand. However, the intention is to create a confrontational picture through Chevrolet's friendly media or its own media channel. Of course, this is natural in a capitalist society.
What Chevrolet Traverse has to offer is a difference in cargo space and a price based on a wheelbase of 5200 mm, 150 mm longer than the Explorer and a wheelbase of 3073 mm, 48 mm longer. Ford's 2.3-litre EcoBoost, which is currently listed as a limited edition with a preliminary contract.
Traverse interior
However, as you know, Ford Explorer comes with an updated version of Co-Pilot 360, its main ADAS system. In particular, the package uses a more advanced semi-autonomous driving system than before. Although internal specifications have not been fully disclosed, U.S. standards also allow the steering system to return to the road after dodging forwards.
However, the ADAS Traverse specification is quite limited. Of course, there is a direct collision warning system, a lane departure warning system, and lane retention assistance system, as well as front pedestrian detection and braking system. However, adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts the distance to the previous vehicle according to the set speed, is excluded. This is not a specification that does not exist in North America. In fact, if you put this feature in the best specifications, the gap between the Explorer is likely to be reduced.
3.6 l N/A VS. 2.3 liters of EcoBoostcan't fight?
This is not the only place in the online community where there are two cars. The 3.6-liter V6 Chevrolet Traverse "American Car Down" with an in-line four-cylinder turbo engine Explorer.
Of course, the smooth sound of a natural intake engine is attractive. However, for the Explorer's engine line to be a weakness, the 3.5-liter turbocharged engine had to be high on previous Explorers. Due to the characteristics of Explorer users, caravans and small trailers are often installed because the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine provides relatively strong early grip.
The Chevrolet V6's 3.6-litre turbo-free engine is actually more powerful than the Explorer EcoBoost, with 275 hp at 314 hp. However, the maximum torque is 42.9 kg in the Explorer, which is stronger than 36.8 kg in the Traverse. Tolerance weights in the domestic specification are not yet available, but in the U.S., when the conditions are set to the same four-wheel drive, Traverse is 4,403 pounds (1,997 kg) and the Explorer is 4,345 pounds (1,970 kg). A load that is towed with a torque of 1 kg is lighter on the conductor side.
The researcher uses a vertical layout with rear-wheel drive and 10-speed automatic gearbox. Of course, the rear-wheel-drive base is not an absolutely perfect layout. However, due to the nature of the large SUVs, which are heavily loaded with transmissions, there is an advantage in cooling over all-wheel drive based on a horizontally positioned front-wheel drive with the direct engine and transmission connection.
Of course, Chevrolet Traverse has the advantage of relatively low heat dissipation due to the characteristics of a natural inlet engine. The transmission also fits the multistage trend with nine gears. If you feel you don't want to die, the answer is Chevrolet Traverse. But if you only know the difference in power between the two engines, it's not too late to decide the direction after at least two models are released and a test run. For reference, Travers expects Facelift to debut on the world market by 2020.
The hybrid is also waiting for the launch, andthen a researcher, looking at
In addition, Explorer plans to present PHEV models in Korea. In June, the U.S. test drive was conducted in the United States, a hybrid of the U.S. model that combines a 3.3-liter gasoline engine with a compression ratio of 12: 1, a battery of 1.5 kWh and a 10-speed gearbox, while providing fuel savings of about 10 km/liter. I did it with this excellent value, considering that the environmental testing scheme repeated the rapid acceleration and deceleration to see different aspects of the car. For reference, the hybrid in Korea is expected to be the European PHEV, which combines a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine with a 13 kWh battery.
Although it is difficult to compare directly with sales, the big SUV, which could become a competitor to Ford, is a big Honda SUV pilot, a relatively solid enthusiast. However, due to political problems, Japanese carmakers are closed. In addition, the expensive Land Rover SUV Discovery, which has long been created and which lagged behind Ford in sales in 2018, will also be halved in 2019. On the contrary, even if the traverse appeared, strong real competitors were reduced.
Of course, Ford Explorer is also improving its maintenance and lagging problems caused by maintenance issues. At the moment, the biggest contender for the 6th generation Explorer could be a discounted Explorer that comes on sale