Sam, the host of the Sam CarLegion channel on YouTube, has prepared yet another drag-and-roll race skirmish on unprepped Canadian tarmac with American and Asian DNA – this time between mid-size SUVs!
Typically, the Ford Explorer doesn't compete with the Acura MDX and Genesis GV80 because the latter two belong to the premium segment. The starting MSRP for the 2024 Explorer is less than $37k, while the Genesis GV80 begins from $57,700, and the Acura MDX is also more than $50k, to begin with. However, if you go to the top, the differences are subtler.
More precisely, the Explorer ST now also starts from above $50k and brings to the table a 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that's good for 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft (513 Nm). Meanwhile, the equivalent Genesis GV80 with the 3.5-liter turbo V6 costs $64,850 and was offered initially with 375 horsepower (now it's upgraded to 409 horsepower). As for Acura's MDX Type S flagship CUV, it packs the 3.5-liter V6 turbo with 355 horsepower for $68,450 and the company's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD setup). In fact, all three of them are all-wheel drive; Acura just has a fancier way of putting it.
Still not convinced what the Ford Explorer has to do with the Genesis GV80 and Acura MDX Type S? Well, according to Sam, the community was overwhelmingly curious about the mighty US sport utility vehicle and constantly asked him to find out to race. Now there's an Explorer St lined up on the damp tarmac against the GV80 and MDX Type S. Ever the professional, Sam races the vehicles two by two in the foggy atmosphere and first kicks off the proceeds with the Explorer ST and MDX Type S with the roll races from 50 kph (32 mph) and 70 kph (43 mph).
Curiously, the Acura wins one of the races and then also nails the inaugural drag race. When they switch drivers, the Explorer ST takes back the laurels and goes on to fight the second set of battles against the Genesis GV80. Although the power difference is smaller now, there are no shocking results this time, and the big Explorer ST seals four victories in a row during the slow-speed and medium-speed rolls, plus the digs. Well, that was interesting – especially now that Sam also has a makeshift setup resembling a proper dragstrip situation, complete with a small Christmas tree and a victory camera.
As for the three competitors, it's pretty obvious that if you are after a sporty mid-size crossover SUV, the cheaper Ford Explorer ST will easily win the day in most situations – at least against the Genesis GV80 and Acura MDX Type S. On the other hand, if luxury is more important, maybe there's no need to get the Blue Oval SUV – although the Acura is a bit more expensive, it looks slightly better than the GV80, which is primarily a generic mall crawler.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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