2025 Ford Explorer Review

You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for an updated Ford Explorer in 2024 or 2025. The 2025 Ford Explorer is a three-row mid-size SUV starting at $39,755, and several changes distinguish its presence within the crowded segment.

MotoPickers Rating: 8.3/10

Ford has streamlined the Explorer lineup to include four trims: Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum. The Michigan-based automaker hit the refresh button on this SUV’s front fascia with a new grille, low air inlets, headlights, and different taillights. Platinum, ST, and ST-Line buyers can add exterior flair with the new black-painted roof, and tech enthusiasts will appreciate this model’s debut inclusion of BlueCruise self-driving software.

One area the Explorer has previously struggled with is its interior materials. Ford has made progress in this area by adding soft-touch surfaces to the 2025 Escape’s door panels and center console. Drivers can also select new interior color schemes and enjoy an updated Android-based infotainment system. Ford announced its decision to transition to Android-based infotainment tech in 2023.

The pros we’ll highlight with this mid-size Ford SUV include its competitive fuel economy, robust towing and exterior styling, and the responsiveness of the available V6 engine. Still, our review will also touch on its potential drawbacks, which include a continual vibration from the base engine and constricted third-row seating dimensions.

This Ford Explorer’s 2025 production year rivals include:

• Toyota’s Highlander
• Honda’s Pilot
• Kia’s Telluride
• Hyundai’s Palisade
• Chevrolet’s Traverse
• Nissan’s Pathfinder
• Subaru’s Ascent

Learn more about how the 2025 Explorer stacks up against its competition with the information we’ve gathered below.

Exterior spotlight

The 2025 Explorer’s headlights and taillights contain LED tech. These headlamps have low and high beams with courtesy delay and auto on/off brights to accommodate other drivers during night rides, increasing your convenience behind the wheel. Roof rack side rails are black in their standard configuration, and a body-color rear spoiler adds a contemporary look.

Exterior color options for the 2025 Ford Explorer are somewhat limited:

• Vapor blue
• Agate black
• Carbonized gray
• Rapid red
• Star white

The grille looks great blacked out on the ST trim or with a black mesh insert containing chrome bars, which matches the lower bodyside cladding. A black rear bumper step pad adds convenience, while skid plate elements cover the front and rear sides. The 2025 Explorer’s side view mirrors contain power operation, heated glass, and black caps.

Moving beyond the base trim into an ST or ST-Line gives you 21” magnetite-painted wheels, red performance brake calipers, and the aforementioned black-painted roof option. ST-Line models receive a distinct blackout treatment with their headlights and taillights, while ST grades receive an exclusive Explorer badge on their hood. The peak Platinum trim contains roof-rack side rails in satin and available quad chrome exhaust tips.

Regarding the competition, Toyota’s 2025 Highlander has many conservative exterior colors bordering on bland. While the Explorer has fewer exterior color options than the Highlander, this Toyota’s black or silver roof rails fall short of the visual appeal you get with the Explorer Platinum’s satin roof rails.

Interior analysis

Starting with the base Active grade, you’ll find tri-zone electronic automatic temperature control complemented by a cabin particulate air filter. Door-sill scuff plates exist in the front and rear with an Explorer embossing. The driver’s seat features 10-way power adjustability, with the front passenger receiving standard 4-way power adjustments. Upholstery within this grade is expectedly cloth, and you’ll have 16.3 cubic feet (cu. ft.) of cargo capacity behind the third row, which is average for the segment.

Competitors with more cargo space behind their third rows include Honda’s Pilot, Kia’s Telluride, Chevrolet’s Traverse, Subaru’s Ascent, and Hyundai’s Palisade. If you want more cargo room, the base model’s second row contains a 35/30/35 split-fold-flat bench seat configuration, while the third row exists with a 50/50 split-fold bench seat setup. Splash guards, along with the heated steering wheel and twin-panel moonroof, are optional within the Active Explorer variant.

ActiveX synthetic leather seating material is available, as well as a more adjustable 8-way power passenger seat, second-row captain’s seats with armrests, and a safe deposit console vault.

Graduating to an ST-Line trim means receiving a unique ebony door design with red stitching. The heated leather-wrapped steering wheel in this Explorer grade and ambient lighting help set the tone for every night drive. ActiveX trimmed seats with cloth inserts and red stitching are standard, and heated second-row seats give second-row passengers front-row treatment. Unlike the base grade, ST-Line trims and up contain acoustic-laminate side front-row windows, helping reduce cabin noise.

Moving up into the ST Explorer variant enhances daily drives with ST-branded seats and micro-perforated seating surfaces containing red accent stitching. ST Explorer drivers can also select optional floor liners for each row. The peak Platinum trim distinguishes itself with front multi-contour seats featuring active motion massage. This rolling massage pattern targets your legs and lower back. Drivers can customize air chambers in their seats’ back and bottom portions for more precise massage treatment.

Platinum drivers can opt for the available lux leather package, which has piping and quilting on the seats to match the door panels and distinct Platinum badging.

Power and performance

Ford equips its 2025 Explorer with a standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine with auto start-stop technology. This motor produces a solid 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Drivers seeking more power can select the optional 3.0-liter V6, delivering 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter V6 powertrain comes with quad chrome exhaust tips instead of its counterpart’s dual configuration.

All 2025 Explorer models contain a 10-speed automatic transmission. The standard terrain management system offers up to seven selectable drive modes, which include normal, trial, deep snow, sand, slippery, sport, tow/haul, and eco. Trailer sway control helps optimize this mid-size SUV’s towing capacity measuring 5,400-5,600 lbs. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and four-wheel drive (4WD) is optional. Drivers will receive up to 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway behind the wheel of a 2025 Ford Explorer.

Toyota’s 2025 Highlander, which contains an 8-speed automatic transmission, falls short of the Explorer’s standard horsepower at 265. The Highlander also offers a lower maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. Still, Toyota’s 2025 Highlander provides a hybrid option, which will deliver a 36 MPG combined fuel economy.

Honda’s 2025 Pilot has less standard horsepower and torque than the Explorer at 285 and 262 lb-ft. The Pilot shares the Highlander’s 5,000-lb max towing capacity but contains a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of an 8-speed. You’ll achieve comparable mileage with a 2025 Pilot. Separate competitors with lower standard torque and horsepower than the 2025 Explorer include Hyundai’s Palisade, Kia’s Telluride, and Subaru’s Ascent.

Tech overview

The 2025 Ford Escape contains a 13.2” LCD touchscreen with updated Ford Digital Experience tech, providing custom voice assistance, graphics, and connectivity to features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Drivers can make better use of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by moving beyond the standard six-speaker system and selecting the available 12 or 14-speaker sound setup from Bang & Olufsen. Both the 12 and 14-speaker systems contain a subwoofer.

This mid-size SUV’s instrument panel cluster contains a 12.3” color LCD productivity screen. Available BlueCruise tech allows you to enjoy the convenience of hands-free driving on 97% of controlled-access highways in the US and Canada. BlueCruise can operate in stop-and-go traffic in addition to normal highway conditions. This self-driving tech controls acceleration, braking, lane-centering, and steering. BlueCruise monitors a driver’s gaze to ensure their eyes are on the road during hands-free operation.

Alexa built-in enhances the 2025 Ford Explorer with familiar tech, alongside features like 5G LTE WiFi hotspot capability. Passengers can access two charging ports in the media bin, two in the rear row’s center console and two in the third row’s right trim panel. Selecting an ST-Line 2025 Explorer gives you access to a 360-degree camera with split-view functionality. A wireless smartphone charging pad comes standard within the ST grade, along with ventilated front seats and power-fold third-row seats.

Explorer competitors, like Toyota’s Highlander, fall short of this Ford’s optional 14-speaker sound system with an audio upgrade offering 11 speakers. You also won’t find semi-autonomous tech with the capabilities of BlueCruise within the Highlander. Honda’s Pilot contains a smaller 9” display, and Kia’s Telluride includes a central infotainment screen falling short of the Explorer at 12.3”.

Safety capabilities

The 2025 Ford Explorer’s crash protection capabilities have not yet been rated by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) nor the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). However, it’s worth noting that the 2024 Explorer received these organizations’ highest ratings of Top Safety Pick+ and five stars.

Standard safety features within the 2025 Ford Explorer include:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Pedestrian detection
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane centering
• Intersection collision mitigation
• Evasive steering assist

Blind-spot monitoring will warn you when another vehicle approaches your blind spot with audible and visual notifications before initiating automatic steering inputs if you begin to turn toward this hazard. Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist operate similarly. Pedestrian detection helps you recognize additional dangers beyond other cars and cyclists with specialized attention to this danger in high-risk situations like city driving, and forward collision warning utilizes automatic emergency braking for added confidence.

Rear parking sensors are standard, which isn’t always a given within this segment. Still, adaptive cruise control with automatic acceleration and deceleration is expected, along with lane-centering tech. Intersection collision mitigation expands your awareness of limited visibility areas like your sides. Evasive steering assist will activate when you approach a slow or stopped vehicle in your path, and the tech’s radar sensor and camera judge an accident as imminent.

Higher 2025 Ford Explorer trims contain an auto-dimming rearview mirror, which adjusts automatically, reducing glare from trailing vehicle’s headlights or other nearby lights. This Explorer will likely follow in its predecessor’s footsteps by receiving top ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. Due to the Ford Explorer’s popularity, you likely won’t have to wait long for the NHTSA and IIHS to release these grades.

Trim guide and owner considerations

Below is a complete list of the 2024 Ford Explorer’s trims, their starting prices, and some highlights for each grade.

Active – $39,755

We’re impressed with the 2025 Explorer’s Active base trim, which justifies its price with a large 13.2” display, 300 horsepower, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

ST-Line – $44,115

The ST-Line is equipped with BlueCruise hands-free driving tech, 20” machined aluminum wheels with painted pockets, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer.

ST – $55,505

ST drivers receive 400 horsepower, sport-tuned suspension, red-painted performance front and rear brake calipers, and seating surfaces with red accent stitching and the ST logo.

Platinum – $51,655

Front-row heated and ventilated, multicontour seats with active motion help distinguish the Platinum trim’s interior from its less-expensive counterparts. This peak Explorer’s sound system boasts 14 speakers, which you can stay connected to with a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Warranty info

Ford offers 2025 Explorer buyers a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, whichever comes first, and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. This warranty protection is relatively standard for the mid-size SUV segment. Check out Kia’s Telluride and Hyundai’s Palisade if you’re seeking longer basic warranty coverage.

Final verdict

There’s a reason why Ford’s Explorer is one of America’s best-selling SUVs. Its ability to balance fuel economy, power, and tech appeals to a wide range of buyers, and Ford’s efforts in upgrading the interior’s materials is a step forward for the model. While the 2024 Explorer excels on several fronts, its cabin materials still fall short of competitors like Kia’s Telluride and Hyundai’s Palisade, despite updates. Moving into an ST-Line, ST, or Platinum grade Explorer will help balance this minor drawback, which plays a role in why we’re giving this Ford an 8.3/10 rating.