The Chevrolet Explorer is a midsize SUV that is manufactured and sold by SAIC-GM Chevrolet. It was launched in China in 2017 and is equipped with 15t or 2The 0-liter engine is mated to a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic manual transmission, available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions, and is priced at 1849-23.990,000 yuan. The Explorer is positioned as a sporty, smart, and practical urban SUV aimed primarily at young consumers.
However, the market performance of the Explorers has not been satisfactory. According to Autohome's data, the average monthly sales of the Explorer in 2021 will only be 3,051 units, far lower than competitors in the same class, such as Honda CR-V, Toyota Rongfang, Buick Envision, etc. Even with the launch of a mild-hybrid version of the Explorer in 2022, sales have not increased significantly. So, why is it difficult to sell a good car, and why is the Chevrolet Explorer, which has a large volume and a low price, still not sold well?
To answer this question, we need to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of Explorer from multiple aspects, as well as the market environment and consumer needs it faces. First of all, what are the advantages of the Explorer?According to Autohome's reputation, users of the Explorer mainly recognize its following aspects: Power performance: 1The 5T engine has a maximum power of 124kW and a peak torque of 250 NmThe 0T engine has a maximum power of 174kW and a peak torque of 350Nm, and is mated to a 6-speed or 9-speed gearbox, which makes acceleration and gear shifting relatively smooth and sensitive, meeting the needs of daily driving. The mild-hybrid version of the Explorer can also use an electric motor at low speeds, improving fuel economy and environmental friendliness.
Space performance: The body size of the explorer is 4723 1843 1702mm, the wheelbase is 2725mm, it belongs to the big man in the medium-sized SUV, the front and rear seats are relatively spacious, and the trunk volume is 798-1788L, which can place more luggage, suitable for family travel and long-distance travel. Rich configuration: The configuration of the explorer is also relatively complete, in addition to the common active and passive safety configuration, there are keyless entry, one-button start, wireless charging, flow ** rearview mirror, panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, vehicle interconnection, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, reversing radar, etc., which improves the convenience and comfort of driving.
Sporty appearance: The exterior design of the Explorer is relatively young and sporty, and the front face adopts the Chevrolet family-style double-banner grille, with LED headlights and daytime running lights, which looks stylish and dynamic. The body lines are sleek, with a pronounced waistline and skirt on the sides, adding a sense of hierarchy and power. The styling of the rear is also relatively simple, with the taillights and bilateral exhaust presenting a sporty style. Explorer also offers a variety of color and wheel options, as well as RS Sport Packages to meet the individual needs of different users.
So, what are the disadvantages of the Explorer?According to Autohome's reputation, the users of the explorer mainly reflect the following aspects: low-grade interior: the interior design of the explorer is relatively simple and old-fashioned, the layout and buttons of the center console are not new, the materials and workmanship are not exquisite enough, the plastic sense is strong, and there is no sense of grade that a medium-sized SUV should have. The size and resolution of the central control screen are also relatively low, the response speed and operation logic of the system are not friendly enough, and the accuracy and practicality of navigation need to be improved.
Driving quality: The chassis tuning of the explorer is biased towards sports, the support and feedback of the suspension are better, and the steering is more calm and precise, but the comfort is lacking, the ability to filter bumps is not enough, the vibration and noise of the road will be transmitted to the cabin, and it is easy to get tired after long-distance driving. In addition, the brake force and travel of the Explorer are not linear enough, creating a sense of uncertainty for the driver. After-sales service: There are also some problems in the after-sales service of the explorer, mainly in the high maintenance cost, the lack of maintenance parts, the service attitude and level of 4S stores, and the low retention rate. These problems have affected the user's experience and confidence, and also reduced the reputation and loyalty of the explorer.
In addition to the advantages and disadvantages of the explorer itself, the market environment and consumer demand it faces are also important factors affecting its sales. From the perspective of the market environment, there are many competitors of the explorer, not only the traditional joint venture medium-sized SUV such as Honda CR-V, Toyota Rongfang, Buick Envision, etc., but also the rising self-owned brand medium-sized SUV, such as Haval H6, Geely Boyue L, Changan CS75 PLUS, etc., these models have good performance in terms of **, configuration, quality, reputation, etc., which has brought great pressure to the explorer. From the perspective of consumer demand, the target users of Explorer are young consumers, but the needs of this part of the user are also constantly changing, they not only pay attention to the performance, space, configuration and other hardware conditions of the vehicle, but also pay attention to the intelligent, personalized, differentiated and other software conditions of the vehicle, Explorer does not have too many highlights and advantages in these aspects, it is difficult to attract and retain these users.
Based on the above analysis, we can see that the poor market performance of the explorer is mainly due to its lack of product power, which cannot meet the diversified and personalized needs of consumers, and cannot form an effective differentiation from competitors, resulting in it not having much voice and influence in the mid-size SUV market. In order to improve this situation, Explorer needs to upgrade and remodel its products, improve the level of appearance, interior, power, chassis, safety and other aspects, increase intelligent and personalized elements, and create more attractive and competitive products, so as to win the favor and trust of more consumers.