Although it wasn't the first SUV when it came out in 1991 as a replacement for the Bronco II, the Ford Explorer was the first mainstream SUV. Once the Explorer hit the streets, everyone had to have an SUV, and all the manufacturers answered by offering their own SUVs similar to the Explorer. Now, almost 35 years later, the Explorer remains one of the best-selling SUVs of all time in the American market.
The 2025 Ford Explorer SUV continues its role as a suburban family shuttle with some minor cosmetic updates, some new tech features and a lineup overhaul.
On the exterior, the 2025 Explorer gets its front fascia mildly reworked with a new grille, headlights, and lower air inlets, while the rear gets new taillights. Other than that, today’s Explorer still looks much like it did when this sixth generation made its debut in 2020.
Under the hood, both Explorer’s powertrains — a turbocharged four-cylinder and a twin-turbo V-6, each with a 10-speed automatic transmission, continue, as does the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. Unlike the previous generation (the 5th generation, 2011 to 2019) when Ford made the interesting move to put the Explorer on a front-wheel drive platform, today's Explorer is back on a rear-wheel drive platform - as has been the case for the first four generations.
The Explorer's strong point is its family-friendly interior and third-row seat capability. While that back row is not as comfortable as 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 base Explorer, now called the Active, is nicely equipped with 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, keyless entry, heated power seats, digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. It is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that makes 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Move up to the ST-Line, which is how the tester arrived, and the Explorer changes into a sportier outfit by blacking out its grille, emblems and lower body cladding. Wheel size increase to 20-inches and BlueCruise (Ford's hands-free driving system) is offered. With the ST, things get interesting. Retaining the blacked-out look from the ST-Line, the ST gets a twin turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft. of torque. It also has 21-inch wheels. For those wanting a more luxurious Explorer, the Platinum is the way to go, with its twin-panel sunroof, leather and suede interior and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The turbocharged four-cylinder is standard on the Platinum, but the V6 is optional.
I recall previous Explorers having an interior design that generally favored function over form. For 2025, that has changed as Ford has focused on comfort and upgraded materials and has incorporated new soft-touch surfaces on the center console and door panels, and new color schemes. A redesigned dashboard is shaped to provide front passengers with more space. Second row seats continue to be roomy and getting into the standard third row is easy thanks to a mechanism that moves the second-row seat out of the way at the touch of a button. Also new is the Ford Digital Experience - a new software system that is designed to easily integrate a user's favorite apps and provide native streaming and internet browsing.
The main emphasis of the Explorer is to be able to haul passengers and cargo. The first two rows of seats provide great comfort for its occupants. The standard third row seat is a bit tight for me but won’t pose a problem for children. Maximum cargo capacity is about 87 cubic feet, typical for this class.
The ST-Line that I am in is motivated by the turbocharged four-cylinder and provides plenty of get-up-and-go. 0-60 times are shown to take around 6 seconds. With that quickness, the twin-turbo V6 may not be necessary, but I am sure it provides a lot more thrills. I estimate it would knock a second off that 0-60 time. The four-cylinder does have an advantage with an EPA rating of 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (1 mpg lower for all-wheel drive models).
The Explorer sure has come a long way since it hit stardom back in the 1990's. Like many of us, it has gotten bigger as time has gone by. But it has aged well and grown to be more luxurious and comfortable. Pricing for the 2025 Ford Explorer starts at $41,350.