2025 Ford Explorer

Overview

The 2025 Ford Explorer SUV continues its role as a suburban family shuttle with a few minor cosmetic updates and some new tech to keep things fresh. The lineup has been culled, with the Base, Limited, King Ranch, and Timberline trims exiled. (Rumor is a new, more rugged off-road oriented version is on the way to fill the void left by the departed Timberline.) Both of the Explorer's powertrains—a turbocharged four-cylinder and a twin-turbo V-6, each with a 10-speed automatic transmission—remain in place, as does the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. The Explorer's strong point is its family-friendly interior and third-row functionality. While that back row is not as comfortable as in some rivals, just knowing that it's there for when you need it buys some peace of mind. Fold it down, and it reveals a reasonable amount of cargo space. The competition in the mid-size SUV space is intense, though, and the Explorer is now facing off against a legion of highly talented rivals, including the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and Toyota Grand Highlander—many of which offer more contemporary styling and overall refinement.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#20 in Best Mid-Size SUVs

1

Kia Telluride

STARTING AT: $37,585

2

Toyota Grand Highlander

STARTING AT: $44,465

3

Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

STARTING AT: $46,065

4

Mazda CX-90

STARTING AT: $39,220

5

Mazda CX-90 Hybrid

STARTING AT: $51,400

20

Ford Explorer

STARTING AT: $41,220

What's New for 2025?

The lineup has been reduced to just four trims: the base Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum. The front fascia is mildly reworked with a new grille, headlamps, and lower air inlets, while the rear gets new taillamps. Platinum, ST, and ST-Line buyers can spec a new black-painted roof option, and, more significantly, can for the first time add the BlueCruise hands-free driving feature. Interior updates are focused on comfort and upgraded materials and incorporate new soft-touch surfaces on the center console and door panels, and new color schemes. The 2025 Explorer is the first Ford to implement the Ford Digital Experience, a fancy name for its new software system that is designed to easily integrate a user's favorite apps and provide native streaming and internet browsing while parked.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

With the mid-level Limited model gone for 2025, we think the ST-Line makes the most sense. It has the sporty cosmetic features of the ST and keeps the standard 300-hp turbo four-cylinder, but it's also nearly $11K less expensive. It also rolls on standard 20-inch painted alloy wheels (the Active has 18s), tows the same 5000 pounds as the V-6-equipped Explorers, and opens the door to the optional BlueCruise and black painted roof, which aren't available on the base Active. It also includes a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a flat-bottom ST steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and power folding mirrors. We'd also add all-wheel drive for $2000.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The base Active, ST-Line, and Platinum trims come with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine rated for 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The ST is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet. (All power figures are dependent on premium fuel.) A 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is available. Ride and handling are composed and predictable, but drivers looking for a more engaging experience will want the Explorer ST, as its extra power and stiffer suspension make it a bona fide performance SUV.

0–60-MPH Times

The base turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four motivates the Explorer with a reasonable amount of authority. When we tested the Explorer with the four-cylinder engine in the now-discontinued Timberline trim in 2022, it hit 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. The lead-footed drivers among us will prefer the ST model, which is powered by a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6.

View Exterior Photos

Towing and Payload Capacity

The maximum towing capacity for the 2025 Ford Explorer is 5000 pounds. All models come with the Class III Towing package, which includes a hitch, a trailer wiring harness, and a trailer sway control system.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The thriftiest 2025 models have rear-wheel drive and the turbo four, which is rated at 21 mpg city and 28 highway; all-wheel drive drops both figures by 1 mpg. With the twin-turbo V-6, the Explorer is rated at up to 18 mpg city and 26 highway with rear-wheel drive and 18 mpg city and 24 highway with all-wheel drive. On our 75-mph highway route, the 400-hp Explorer ST earned 25 mpg, beating its EPA rating by 1 mpg. We also tested a four-cylinder Explorer with all-wheel drive on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, where it returned 28 mpg, beating its EPA estimate by 1 mpg. For more information about the Explorer's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Explorer's interior design has generally favored function over form, but its comfortable cabin gets a boost for 2025 with some new interior color schemes and the incorporation of more soft-touch materials on the center console, door panels, and dashboard. A redesigned dashboard is shaped to provide front passengers with more space. Getting into the standard third row is fairly easy thanks to a mechanism that moves the second-row seat out of the way at the touch of a button. Once back there, however, taller kids and adults will find that the seat is too close to the floor to be comfortable. Rivals such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas provide more comfort in the third row. We managed to fit four carry-on suitcases behind the Ford's third row, and we fit a total of 31 carry-ons with both back rows folded flat.

View Interior Photos

Infotainment and Connectivity

A 13.2-inch LCD touchscreen infotainment system is standard. New standard software, dubbed the Ford Digital Experience, allows drivers to access apps and services from Google and Amazon, as well as with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through compatible devices. With the vehicle parked, it allows users to stream videos from YouTube and other providers, browse the internet, and play games via Google Play. There are also eight USB ports – including two for third-row passengers and three 12-volt power sockets. A 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo is standard on all but the base Active Explorer

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Ford outfits every Explorer with a host of standard driver-assistance technology and offers upgrades such as self-parking assist. For more information about the Explorer's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Ford provides wholly average limited and powertrain warranties that align with most competitors' plans. However, the company doesn't provide the complimentary maintenance that Toyota and Chevy do.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2022 Ford Explorer Timberline
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $48,040/$48,555
Options: Timberline off-road light kit, $515

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 138 in³, 2264 cm³
Power: 300 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.6-in vented disc/12.6-in disc
Tires: Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3
P265/65R-18 112T M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 198.8 in
Width: 78.9 in
Height: 70.7 in
Passenger Volume: 156 ft³
Cargo Volume: 18 ft³
Curb Weight: 4565 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.5 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 113 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/22 mpg

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C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

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2020 Ford Explorer ST

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$62,020 (base price: $55,835)

ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, iron-and-aluminum block and aluminum heads,  direct fuel injection
Displacement
180 in³, 2956 cm³
Power
400 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
415 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.3-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Latitude Sport 3, 275/45R-21 107Y

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 199.3 in
Width: 78.9 in
Height: 70.2 in
Passenger volume: 149 ft³
Cargo volume: 18 ft³
Curb weight: 4853 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.2 sec
100 mph: 13.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
¼-mile: 13.8 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (govenor limited): 146 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.86 g
*stability-control-inhibited

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 20/18/24 mpg 

More Features and Specs