From the stories we read on theFordStory.com, we know there are very satisfied Explorer owners out there, and the numbers tell the same story. The Explorer is the fastest-growing midsize utility in the nation, with more than 100,000 sold this year alone! This is the first time it has surpassed the 100,000-sales mark since 2007. And another exciting number? U.S. retail sales of the Explorer are up 290 percent compared to the same period in 2010.

“We know many consumers have a strong need for utility vehicles, even as rising gas prices made fuel efficiency one of their top concerns,” said Erich Merkle, Ford Sales Analyst. “Ford answered our customers’ needs in the utility segment by offering its all-new 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine in the 2012 Ford Explorer and Edge.”

The Explorer powered by the EcoBoost engine delivers an EPA-estimated 28 mpg on the highway, besting the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg. Since their introduction in the 2012 model year in September, sales of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost-equipped Explorer and Edge are meeting expectations, garnering their strongest take rates in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando and Phoenix.

What makes your Explorer so awesome? Is it because you can pack your family inside comfortably? Is it because it’s fun to drive? Is it the technology? The safety features? All of the above and then some? Tell us with a comment here or by posting Your Story!