It's amazing how far Ford has let the once 'gold standard' of the segment fall. And I don't think the Firestone issue is entirely to blame either. Its latest redesign is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor, and that design was uninspiring to begin with. It's not hard to believe that the 5-year-old Trailblazer is doing so well against it, offering a much more exciting exterior, a unique I6, and better performing V8. What does Explorer have to brag about?

As noted above, the new GM pickups will likely make further headway against the F-series. So now Ford is facing the prospect of losing share in pretty much every truck segment:
- full-size SUVs
- mid-sized SUVs
- mini-SUVs (Equinox vs. Escape)
- minivans (especially now that Ford is thinking of abandoning the market)
- full-size vans (GM is still slowly gaining on this once Ford stranglehold)
- compact pickups (the Ranger is getting replaced when?)
- and full-size pickups
Not looking so good for the once undisputed truck leader.

 

I've actually seen quite a few of them around here... There are quite a few on the lots and I've seen at least 10+ driving on the roads!

Good job GM!

 

They're hot around here, they are so popular here that a mid-90's model Tahoe is still in the $7K-$10K range...sheesh.
It's just, the right size, for most people in that market. And the black-out treatment, contrasts and brings out features more, plus being more symetrical looking than the Silverado.
Me either, I think them gaining a tight turning radius by drastically changing camber(positive) the farther you turn the wheel, may have made a problem in emergency handling...I don't know????
Ford should have dropped the Explorer, after all the hyped roll-over/ tire disasters. Made a clean break from the drama. ...A new body and name could've put them back up there. That darned "perception" thing...

 

They have some Yukons and Tahoes at the World Ag Expo (www.worldagexpo.com) and people are really swarming them... that and the TB SS too...

 

woulda bought one could we have found one in our price range.....

instead we got the stupid Durango Hemi, which BTW SUCKS.

 

The Explorer absolutally kills the TB in interior design and quality (strange door pull excluded), and in ride and handling. The TB feels like a floaty barge.

Frankly, I don't think that either vehicle has much to brag about. The TB is just losing slight less sales than the Explorer. Woohoo.

Oh, a heavily refreshed Escape is on the way. I've heard 3.5L and 6-speed.

BTW, I think the Tahoe is a great full sized ute. Its only real flaws are the 4-speed auto, and non fold flat seats. I have yet to see one here, but I'm sure I will soon. (Payson, AZ)

 

haha its funny that GM wants to expand its 62% market share... i think it would be detrimental to others if it became unprofitable to maintain building SUV's if they were in such low volume because GM is taking a monopoly.

like suggest ford or toyota couldnt make SUV's profitable, then they'd drop the line, then they'd have a less production on their truck platforms, so... lets reduce production, now price goes up... GM starts to win some more...

all just speculation... but Good job GM, let everyone get their taxes, and hopefully i'll be able to retire fat and happy in a few years

 

I agree about the TB's interior (particularly the dash)... however, the Envoy's interior is actually quite nice. I was pleasantly surpised at how rich it looks. I can't comment on the floaty part, only because I haven't driven a new Explorer... I wouldn't say that the Envoy is as tight as my GTO or Z28 was by any stretch of the imagination... but, I dont think it is terribly uncharacteristic as far as SUV's go....

That's probably true too, but remember the Explorer is brand new, and the TB is basically unchanged and 5 years old.... that is not good for Ford at all.

Will be interesting to see how it compares to Equinox....

Ya, it seems the new auto trannies can't get here fast enough for GM. While the 4-speed are functionally fine, they are obviously a dated part of a new package...

I'm torn on the no-fold-flat-seat thing... I like the convience of it being there, but from what I understand, you have to ditch the solid axle to have enough room to do it... now... I am an IRS fan, but in a truck based vehicle, I don't know if I like the idea as much. And, I have driven/ridden in both a Tahoe and an Expedition, and I perfered the ride and handling of the Tahoe.... so... maybe the solid axle is a win/win in this application.

 

I love the styling changes. I can't wait to see the new silverado and sierra.

 

Ironically , my brother owns a 2004 Explorer ....was put in the 2006 Trailblazer as rental when he visited here last month and couldnt stop raving about how much better he liked the Trailblazer for its smoother ride , and according to him better looks .

 

I'm not suprised at all. After 4 years of driving my mom's 2002 Trailblazer, I can say that I was initially and still very impressed by the ride an handling. I've ridden in, driven, you name it Explorers 06 and older and only think that handling and ride is comparable to the TB. The only 2 shortfalls of the TB is first, what we all know and I noticed while taking my very first ride as my mom test drove hers when the TB debuted - the dash. It looks terrible, plain and simple. How something like that makes production is beyond me but then look at the placement of the engine in 4th gens. Newer TB's I've worked on arent actually too bad with nicer feeling material and the dash looks better in dark gray or black. Still ugly though. 2nd, the 4wd capability. Not impressed. My old 95 Blazer kicked the TB's *** 3 ways from sunday in heavy snow. I dont like that fact but it is the only thing Blazer did right after all. I'm very confident in the next Trailblazer to be one awesome ride.