Police Interceptor Utility vs Ford Explorer: What’s the Difference?

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Ford Motor Company was the first commercial automaker to create a line of vehicles specifically for law enforcement. Debuted in 1950, Ford has since spent the last 70 years working alongside law enforcement officials to provide police agencies with the power and performance they need to be effective in the field. With safety, durability, performance, and purpose at the forefront of their design and manufacturing process, Ford took these superior features and modified them for their civilian vehicles as well. Driving on the freeway, you may have noticed a Ford Explorer driving behind you and thought for a moment that it was a police vehicle—more specifically, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. This is because they share a very similar appearance. However, there are several key differences in fit and functionality that make the Police Interceptor Utility a key member of Ford’s police vehicle lineup.

Storage Capacity

One of the biggest differences between the civilian Explorer and the Police Interceptor is that the police vehicle has two rows of seats allowing up to 5 passengers, whereas the Explorer has 3 rows of seats that accommodate up to 7 passengers. This gives the police vehicle much more room in its trunk for firearms storage and other cargo. Storage solutions such as Troy Products’ police command vault help officers maximize this space with optimized and secure lock boxes that are custom made for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle. Troy Products’ Ford Police Interceptor Utility cargo partition can also help further secure the cargo area with a 3-sided design that guards the driver and passenger-side cargo windows. Whereas the civilian vehicle might be needed to accommodate more family members, the Police Interceptor Utility is beloved by agencies throughout the country for its cargo space, in addition to other key features.

 

Customizable Console

While most of the differences between the Explorer and the Interceptor are in the exterior and performance specs, one notable interior difference lies with the center console. Instead of the Explorer’s standard center console-mounted shifter, the police vehicle’s shifter is column-mounted in order to make room for tactical equipment. Troy Products creates dozens of products designed especially for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility console, including overhead consoles, L-shape consoles, vertical consoles, and in-dash computer mounts. Functionality is a crucial aspect of every effective police vehicle, regardless of make or model, so taking advantage of your vehicle’s specs and investing in accessories created specifically for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility console can make a surprising difference while on duty.

Performance Specs

There’s also the reason that police vehicles can outperform most civilian vehicles in the case of a pursuit: performance specs. Most retail versions of the civilian Ford Explorer come equipped with a 300-horsepower, 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine. The Police Interceptor Utility base model, by contrast, has a 285-horsepower, 3.3 liter V6 engine. The new 2020 model also has hybrid assist, a first for the line. According to tests conducted by Michigan State Police, the Police Interceptor with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine could reach 60mph in just 5.8 seconds, making it the fastest vehicle of any tested.

If your agency utilizes Ford’s time-tested Police Interceptor Utility vehicle in its fleet, you want to make sure it’s utilized to the fullest. Troy Products creates hundreds of products for public safety vehicles, including products specially made to fit the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. Choose from cargo partitions, firearm vaults, console accessories, mounts, command posts, and more. We work one-on-one with agencies to design custom products guaranteed to meet your specific needs. Give us a call at (800) 700-8769 to find out more.