The Ford Explorer has been around for more than 25 years - but it's still a brilliant SUV

So what's the verdict?

Navigation was reliable. Audio quality was also impressive, and you have Bluetooth connectivity, as well as AUX and USB ports. The voice-recognition system got mixed up at one juncture of our journey, but in general, it worked well.

Sync itself uses a fairly intuitive tiled interface.

Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system was rolled out two years ago, and I've been warming up to it. The eight-inch touchscreen on the Explorer is small-ish, but it works well.

A drive-mode selector allows for adjustments based on conditions and road quality.

The dual moonroof keeps the rear seats from feeling as if they're trapped in a dark cave.

Some trim-level branding.

Ford seats are some of the most comfortable in the business. Our testers had massage functions for both driver and passenger. The stylish quilting is a nice touch.

More wood trim. The interior is handsome, with brushed metal. top-stitched leather, and most wood elements throughout.

The instrument cluster combined analog and digital elements, but it's a family tachometer-speedometer layout. The steering wheel has a nice hunk of wood trim at the top and while steering is far from sporty, I also never labored to maneuver the two-and-half ton SUV.

To handle all our stuff, we had to drop one of the third-row seats. But the cargo capacity was more than adequate for a quick weekend getaway that included two adults and three kids. That's a power liftgate, by the way.

The Premium is the top-of-the-heap Explorer trim level. Ours had a 3.5-liter, 365-horsepower EcoBoost V6 under the hood (that means turbocharged power). The transmission is a six-speed automatic that effortlessly sends the power to a four-wheel-drive system. The whole thing can tow 5,000 lbs.

We enjoyed the "Platinum" trim level, which rolls in a healthy options list — everything from the aforementioned leather interior to heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats, along with power-assist features to fold and stow seats and branded floor mats, rain-sensing wipers, and a premium audio system.

The "Explorer" badging at the rear end is literally etched in chrome. To be honest, it's a bit on the subdued side.

The rear end is also nicely proportioned relative to the rest of the vehicle. Overall, the Explorer's design is about as harmonious as a quite large SUV can be.

The Ford blue oval badge is pretty big, but the arrangement of elements is in proportion.

The waveform grille and backward-wrapping headlights reduce the overall massiveness of the front end, but the Explorer continues to have a powerful road presence when viewed from this angle.

The design of this SUV has evolved over the years, becoming progressively sleeker. But this is still a full-size, three-row SUV that intended to max out passenger space and cargo capacity.

The 2017 Explorer arrived in "White Platinum" paint job, with a black leather interior.