The Ford Explorer has a solid history of earning excellent safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for both 2020 and 2021. Most recently, the IIHS awarded the 2022 Ford Explorer its highest possible score – good – in its newly updated side-impact evaluation test.

In terms of raw safety capability, the 2022 Ford Explorer arrives standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a deluxe package of driver-assist features. These technologies include Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, a vivid rearview camera with integrated lens cleaner, a Lane-Keeping System, and automatic headlights. You can also get the vehicle’s Active Park Assist 2.0 feature, which is class-exclusive and allows the driver to park in a parallel or perpendicular space with the easy touch of a button.

This year’s Ford Explorer is one of 10 out of a total of 18 mid-size crossovers/SUVs that were given a good rating after completing the new test, a ranking list that also includes the Infiniti QX60, Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, and Volkswagen ID.4. The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse earned acceptable ratings, while the Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Wrangler four-door, Kia Telluride, and Nissan Murano were rated as marginal.

This is a substantial improvement from the initial evaluation results last October, when just one out of 20 small crossovers/SUVs tested earned a good rating. The IIHS updated its side-impact evaluation to make it similar to a 4,200-pound vehicle (the average weight of the majority of mid-size SUVs) striking every tested model. The previous edition of the test just used a 3,300-pound barrier for the impact. To earn a good rating, the vehicle’s passenger compartment must hold its shape well during the crash and protect the occupants’ heads from injury.
 

“It’s encouraging to see so many midsize SUVs from different automakers earn good ratings in this more challenging evaluation,” said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Becky Mueller. “These results will help confirm the adjustments they need to make to other vehicles going forward.”