V8 FTW: Explorer ST Needs Impractical Tune to Beat Durango SRT
TFLCar hosts latest Dodge vs. Ford skirmish, which saw an SRT Durango battle both a stock and tuned Explorer ST.
It’s been almost ten years since the third generation Durango graced us with its formidable presence. Dodge continued to update the three row SUV and as of right now it’s safe to say that the Dodge is living its best life. The Durango pretty much exists in its own segment. And there really hasn’t been a challenger from any other automaker so far.
At least until recently. For 2020, Ford emulated Dodge by putting the Explorer on a rear-wheel drive unibody chassis. They also saw fit to introduce a performance-oriented trim in the form of the ST model. Can the Explorer go toe-to-toe with the Durango? Not really. But it would be foolish to outright dismiss the new guy on the block. Andre Smirnov from TFLCar went to the drag strip to see which American SUV would win. The Dodge beats the stock Explorer easily and puts on a damn fine performance against the tuned ST.
The Devil’s in the Details
The three amigos you see above are as follows: On the left sits a stock 2020 Explorer ST. Ford outfitted the ST with their 3.0 liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. Output is rated at 400 horsepower and 415 Ib-ft of torque. A 10 speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox available. Most of those specs also apply to white Explorer ST too, with one important distinction. A company called 5 Star Tuning applied a custom tune to the Ford. “For just under $600 you can get a custom tune with an SCT programmer and a custom tune from 5 Star Tuning and you can add about 100 horsepower and 165 Ib-ft of torque at the wheels with only software. No hardware modifications at all,” says Smirnov.
That’s a pretty impressive feat that theoretically brings the Explorer ST to 500 horsepower and 480 Ib-ft of torque. That output bests the SRT’s 6.4 liter Hemi by 25 horsepower and 5 Ib-ft of torque. There’s an important catch to all this though. “It’s got the twin turbos from the factory, all OEM components besides the tune, and in terms of the tune we’re running an E50 blend, so it’s a mix of E85 and 93,” says Chris Duncan, manager at 5 Star Tuning. Basically, the company built a tune that requires Explorer ST owners to fill half their tank with E85 and the other half with 93 octane gasoline. Is that terribly practical? Not really. And running such an high amount of ethanol in a vehicle not built for it sounds risky.
No Replacement for Displacement
How does the Durango SRT hold up against the Explorer ST with a custom tune? Pretty well. It ran 8.6 seconds in 1/8 mile. The Explorer achieved an 8.0 second time in the same 1/8 mile run. Aside from the tune, the Explorer likely benefited from its engine weight, as it has two fewer cylinders and less than half the displacement of the Hemi. Smirnov also performed 0-60 mph tests for all three vehicles. The tuned Explorer took 4.8 seconds to reach 60 mph while the Durango only needed an additional .2 seconds to do the same. “5.0! That’s quick for a factory SUV. No doubt about it,” says Smirnov. It goes without saying that the stock Explorer was the slowest of the bunch. But 5.72 seconds to reach 0-60 mph and 8.8 seconds in 1/8 mile certainly isn’t slow.
The Explorer needed a light tune to beat the SRT. That’s kind of lame. But it’s still a cool ride. The stock Explorer ST exists as a kind of a half-step between the Durango R/T and the SRT. We respect that. But when it comes to the raw power of a mighty V8, the Dodge can’t be beat. We applaud Ford for migrating the Explorer to a rear-wheel drive platform. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it’s pretty apparent they were envious of what Dodge accomplished with the Durango lineup. Watch the video to see the complete run down of TFLCar‘s drag strip tests and to drink in the beautiful sound of the 6.4 Hemi when it’s in its natural habitat.