No pricing data available at this time. Our Opinion - 2025 Ford Explorer Review The 2025 Ford Explorer SUV will still be a family car for the suburbs, but it will get some new technology and some small changes to how it looks. It no longer comes with the base, limited, king ranch, and timberline trims. (There are reports that the off-road-focused Timberline will be back soon and better.) The Explorer still comes with two engine options: a turbocharged four-cylinder and a twin-turbo V-6, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It can also have rear- or all-wheel drive. The best things about the Explorer are its third-row seats and roomy interior, which makes it great for families. It might not be as comfortable as some other options, but having the back row open when you need it gives you peace of mind. It shows a good amount of cargo room when it is folded down. However, there is a lot of competition in the mid-size SUV market, and the Explorer is up against a lot of strong competitors right now. Many of these cars look more modern and are better built overall. The Hyundai Palisade, the Kia Telluride, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and the Toyota Grand Highlander are some of these cars. What's New? Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum are the only trim choices left. The front face has been changed a lot. It now has new headlights, lower air intake, and a grille. The back has new taillights. People who buy a Platinum, ST, or ST-Line can now get a new roof painted black. Even more important, BlueCruise customers can now use the hands-free driving system for the first time. The center console, door panels, and new soft-touch surfaces are some of the internal changes that put comfort, better materials, and new color schemes first. The Ford Digital Experience is a fancy name for a new software system that comes with the Ford 2025 Explorer. It lets users quickly connect their favorite apps and offers built-in streaming and internet surfing when the car is parked. Pros and Cons Pros There’s a powerful V-6 available. Large cabin. Big changes in technology. Cons Discontinued Explorer Hybrid. Average fuel economy anticipated. Increased starting price for base model. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Active, ST-Line, and Platinum models come with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can make 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. There is a 3.0-liter V-6 turbocharged engine in the ST that makes 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. On the Platinum, you can choose not to have it. (All powerful people want expensive fuel.) All-wheel drive is not normal, but rear-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission are. During our first test drive, we saw that the 2025 Explorer moved almost exactly like the previous model. The Explorer ST is a real performance SUV thanks to its more powerful engine and firmer suspension. However, drivers who want a more thrilling ride will enjoy how well-controlled and reliable the ST’s handling and ride are. Safety Every Ford Explorer comes with a number of basic driver-assistance features, as well as extra ones like self-parking assist. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about the Explorer’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are: Forward crash alarms and emergency brakes that adjust on their own. Standard features include blind spot detection and back cross traffic alerts. Regular lane-keeping support and lane-departure warning. Internal and External Cargo Capacity In the past, the Explorer’s interior design put function over style. But for 2025, new color schemes and more soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door panels, and center console make the car more comfortable. The new panel gives the people sitting in front of you more room. The second-row seat can be moved out of the way with a button on the seat. This makes it easy to get into the third row. The seat is too close to the floor for comfort for older kids and people when they come back. There is more space in the third row of competitors like the Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse. We were able to fit four carry-on bags behind the Ford’s third row, for a total of 31. Both back seats could be folded flat. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The 2025 turbo four gets 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient model. All-wheel drive drops both of these numbers by one mpg. The Explorer can get up to 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway when it has a twin-turbo V-6 engine. With all-wheel drive, it can get 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It got 25 mpg on our 75-mph highway route, which is one mpg more than the EPA’s number. We also tried a four-cylinder, all-wheel-drive Explorer on our highway fuel economy route at 75 mph. It got 28 mpg, which is one mpg more than the EPA said it would get. Infotainment and Connectivity There is an entertainment system with an LCD screen that is 13.2 inches. This is possible because of new standard software called the Ford Digital Experience. It lets drivers use suitable devices to access apps and services from Google and Amazon, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. People can use the internet, play games on Google Play, and watch movies from YouTube and other sites while their cars are parked. There are also eight USB ports, three 12-volt power sources, and two for people in the third row. Only the base is different. They have a Bang & Olufsen sound with 12 speakers. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The Explorer’s base 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine doesn’t have much power. In 2022, a test of the four-cylinder Explorer in the no longer available Timberline trim level showed that it could hit 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. People who like fast cars will like the ST model, which has a 3.0-liter V-6 engine that makes 400 horsepower. Towing and Payload Capacity The most weight that the 2025 Ford Explorer can pull is 5,000 pounds. All types come with the Class III Towing package, which has a hitch, a trailer wiring harness, and a trailer sway control system. Price and How to Choose The mid-level Limited model will be taken off the market in 2025, so the ST-Line is the best choice. It looks like the ST and has the same 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it costs more than $11,000 less. It has 20-inch painted alloy wheels as standard (the Active only has 18s), the BlueCruise package, and a black painted roof, which are not offered on the base Active. It can tow the same 5,000 pounds as Explorers with V-6 engines. It also has a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, heated seats in the second row, a flat-bottom ST steering wheel, and power-folding mirrors. For an extra $2,000, we would add all-wheel drive.
