Wife has the
2015 Explorer with 4WD and Tow package (haven't towed with it though) and we really like it. It's been reliable and if I were in the market, I'd buy another. It's tow rating is 5000 lbs, tongue rating is 500 lbs and it's "actual" payload on the yellow tread act door jam sticker is 1398 lbs.
Other than it's short wheelbase, it seems like it would be a capable tow vehicle for a smaller trailer.
BTW, we have had 2 200# boys in the 3rd row, 240 lbs of kids in the 2nd row, and 400 lbs of adults in the 1st row (wife small, I'm bigger), and the SUV has absolutely no squat at all.
My 2005 pathfinder had squat with anyone sitting in the 2nd row and poor squat with people in the 3rd row seat.
Explorer definitely has a much stronger suspension.
Explorer has 290 Hp @ 6500 rpms and lb.-ft @ 4000 rpms of torque. It really gets up and goes compared to the lethargic 2005 Pathfinder despite it's over rated 291 lb.-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm.
Also both my 2004 Nissan Titan and 2005 Nissan Pathfinder proved to be unreliable, only my 2000 Xterra was fair. All my Fords have proven to be much more reliable than the Nissan 3 except my 2010 F150 that had issues. The 4 Ford Trucks/Suvs have been good.
Good luck on your hunt.
