2023 Ford Explorer

We purchased our Ford Explorer when I was pregnant with our third child, and it has been an excellent family vehicle through every stage we've gone through. At the time, we had one child in a high-back booster and another in a forward-facing car seat. When our youngest was born, we temporarily used the third row so our oldest could ride comfortably in the booster. As our kids have grown, our seating configuration has changed, and the Explorer has adapted with us. One of the biggest reasons we chose the Explorer over the Expedition was that the second-row bench is wide enough to fit three child seats across. Today, we have our 20-month-old in a rear-facing car seat behind the passenger seat, our oldest in a booster in the center, and our middle child in a forward-facing car seat behind the driver. Everything fits comfortably without feeling cramped, and everyone has easy access to their seats. Because all three kids fit across the second row, we can keep the third row folded down most of the time, which gives us a huge cargo area for strollers, groceries, sports equipment, luggage, or anything else that comes with family life. That extra storage has been invaluable. If you're a growing family trying to decide between a midsize and a full-size SUV, don't overlook the Explorer. For us, it has provided the flexibility we need for three kids while still being easier to drive, park, and fuel than a larger SUV. It's been a great fit for our family, and we've been very happy with our decision.