If you’re in the market for a new SUV that has both a powerful engine and top safety ratings, you may be kind of disappointed. That’s because there’s not a single midsize SUV with a V8 engine that makes the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ list. Yet you can still get an SUV that has an engine so powerful that it feels like a V8. That’s the 2022 Ford Explorer, and there are several engine options that will have you forgetting that you ever wanted a V8.

Is the 2022 Ford Explorer a V6 or a V8?

So does the 2022 Ford Explorer come with a V6 or a V8? The answer is neither, at least for the base model. The 2022 Ford Explorer comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. This makes 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and is matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. However, you can upgrade to a 3.0-liter V6 that puts out 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. You may also upgrade to four-wheel drive, according to U.S. News.

A base model 2022 Ford Explorer costs $36,345 and has an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a six-speaker sound system. Every Ford Explorer from the base model and up comes with frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitor, and lane-keeping assist.

The Ford Explorer is also very safe

The 2022 Ford Explorer is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+. The Top Safety Pick+ award has been around since 2013, and it’s given only to vehicles that ace all the tests. These measure things like crashworthiness, crash prevention, and headlights.

The 2022 Ford Explorer gets a good or better in all major categories. It has acceptable headlights standard on both available trim levels. This is the minimum to qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ award. In addition, it has advanced or superior safety systems.

How much does the 2022 Ford Explorer cost?

The 2022 Ford Explorer starts at $36,345, but the high-end Platinum trim level is $56,985. The base model 2022 Explorer comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also has an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a six-speaker sound system.

As you might expect from one of the safest midsize SUVs on the market, the Explorer comes with some important safety features. Every Ford Explorer from the base model and up comes with frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitor, and lane-keeping assist.

The 2022 Ford Explorer has a powerful engine – perhaps the most powerful engine of any SUV on the Top Safety Pick+ list that’s not a luxury SUV. It’s also incredibly safe with the IIHS’ best safety award. If you’re looking for an SUV that is both super safe and has a powerful engine, the 2022 Ford Explorer is a great choice.