North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Explorer VS 2017 BMW X4 Near Ellijay, GA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Explorer inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The X4 doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Both the Explorer and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available all-wheel drive, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Explorer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 11 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The X4 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Explorer has more powerful engines than the X4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Explorer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Explorer Sport/Platinum for maximum performance). The X4 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Explorer has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.6 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Explorer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

The Explorer stops shorter than the X4:

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (255/50R20 vs. 245/45R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the X4 (112.8 inches vs. 110.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4.

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X4 can only carry 5.

The Explorer has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Explorer’s middle row seats recline. The X4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the X4.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Explorer Sport/Platinum’s optional second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The X4 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Explorer offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Explorer (except Base/XLT)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport/Platinum’s exterior keypad. The X4 doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Explorer has standard extendable sun visors. The X4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air conditioned seats in the Explorer (except Base/XLT) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X4 doesn’t offer air conditioned seats.

The Explorer (except Base/XLT) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Ford Explorer outsold the BMW X4 by over 43 to one during the 2016 model year.