2025 Ford Explorer

Get ready to explore new paths and enjoy new levels of comfort and performance. The 2025 Ford Explorer is here and continues this three-row SUV’s legacy of greatness. The Explorer has been one of the best-selling SUVS in America since its release in 1991; people simply cannot get enough of this well-designed SUV. The big SUV boom of the 1990s might be over, but the reign of the Explorer goes on.

For the 2025 model year, Ford has made some exciting updates to this seven-seater SUV, such as making the personalities of each trim more robust and more refined, boosting elements in the areas of performance and comfort in ways we think drivers are really going to appreciate.

Our goal is to help drivers understand the elements of the 2025 Ford Explorer. We want you to know about some of the great available features, what you can do with your Explorer, and more. As always, we’ve gotten behind the wheel, pressed every button, turned every knob, and tested out this terrific model for ourselves so we can reliably report back to you about the highlights of the all-new 2025 Ford Explorer.

MSRP: $39, 625^[a]
Horsepower (hp): 400
Towing (lbs): 5,000
Cargo Space (cu.ft.):87.8

Performance

Powertrain

The Explorer has always been an SUV for wanderers—in fact, it’s that’s right there in its name. The Explorer is designed to make it easier for you to go wherever you want when you get a break from life’s responsibilities, in addition to being a terrific daily driver. Ford continues its promise of delivering a great adventure vehicle with the 2025 Explorer.

Drivers can choose between two powertrain options for the 2025 year. The starting engine is the turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost I-4. A holdover from the 2024 model, this peppy engine gets drivers solid fuel economy figures in the city and on highways, so it’s suitable for daily errands around town but is also ready to get out when you are. Drivers looking for a little more oomph can move up to the turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine, which combines hefty power (400 hp, to be exact) with the fuel efficiency of an EcoBoost to give you the best of both worlds.

Capabilities

Since the Explorer is the dream vehicle of a camper, hiker, and boater, we naturally have to discuss its towing capabilities. The 2025 Explorer is ready to tow up to 5,000 lbs, so feel free to hitch a boat, a camper, or a trailer loaded with dirt bikes to the back of this SUV. Each trim comes standard with a Class III Trailer Tow Package and is ready to transport the vessels that increase the fun for you.

The sojourn-ready features continue with the Terrain Management System. RWD models get standard Normal mode (best for daily driving), Eco mode (for boosting fuel economy), Sport mode (for increased performance), Tow/Haul mode (for better towing dynamics), Slippery mode (for slick roads), and Trail mode (for off-road terrain). If you get an AWD model, you’ll get all the aforementioned modes as well as Deep Snow/Sand mode for traction in particularly tricky environments.

By the way, the all-wheel drive system is an intelligent one, meaning it constantly monitors several factors to know which wheel needs extra torque and automatically sends it there. So, if you like to explore ever-changing terrain, you’ll appreciate this system that adapts to the ground beneath your tires.

If you’re looking for a different type of performance, check out the ST trim. This gets you a sport-tuned suspension, ready to give you precise handling during spirited driving. It also enjoys performance brakes that can handle your sudden and rapid halts without wearing out.

Technology

Cabin Tech

The 2025 Ford Explorer is rich with exciting new technology features that won’t make you miss your home devices one bit. First off, there are massive screens showing you the information you need and want. Let’s start with the 13.2-inch LCD touchscreen, as this will be where you can look at your turn-by-turn directions, your playlists, and other fun elements for your road trips. Then there’s the 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel, which gives you important driving and travel stats.

What’s really exciting, though, has to be all of the ways you can stay connected in your Explorer. In addition to wireless smartphone compatibility for Apple and Android devices, your Explorer also enjoys Google Assistant as its default voice assistant; thus, you can ask Google to do things like look up the weather and traffic reports, find coffee shop recommendations, set reminders, and so much more. However, if you prefer Alexa, Amazon’s assistant is also available. That means having the power to add things to your Amazon shopping list, activate smart home devices, and so much more, all from your vehicle using just your voice.

The 5G Wi-Fi hotspot means that passengers and drivers can use the internet on the go. So whether you have backseat riders who need to handle homework or fill out invoices, or they want to stream shows and scroll social media, everybody can enjoy the speed of a 5G network on their devices. As for charging your devices on the go, there’s an available wireless charging pad in a tray beneath the touchscreen, as well as USB ports in all three rows.

The streaming capabilities don’t stop at the Wi-Fi hotspot. For the first time, Ford drivers can enjoy the Ford Premium Connectivity system. When you’re parked, this system lets you stream videos from YouTube and Prime Video. It’s further noteworthy that the first five years of this service are complimentary with the purchase of a new Ford!

Technology extends to safety, too. Drivers of the 2025 Explorer will enjoy all of the great driver assistance features of the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite they’ve long relied on. That means features like lane keep assist, evasive steering, hill start assist, and so much more. What’s very exciting about the 2025 model, though, is that Ford’s BlueCruise is finally available on the ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trims; this hands-free driving system takes over steering, accelerating, braking, and lane changes on hundreds of thousands of compatible highways.

Interior

Comfort

As always, the Ford Explorer remains a comfortable people-hauler that everyone will be content in for long trips, no matter what seat they’re in. In the front, drivers will enjoy a ten-way power and heated seat. You’ll have no trouble getting comfortable with so many ways to adjust the position of your seat for optimal angle, height, and distance from the pedals and steering wheel. The front passenger gets a four-way power heated seat, too.

If you opt for the Platinum trim, you’ll get the multi-contour seats with active motion. These super supportive seats boast a gentle massaging function that fights muscle fatigue in your lower back and legs, so say goodbye to those tingly, numb legs on long drives. Plus, drivers can adjust the seven air chambers inside of the seat back and bottom to get the exact level of support they want. If you have long hauls ahead of you and want to arrive feeling refreshed and energized, you’ll love these seats.

Enjoy the view wherever your adventures take you with the twin-panel moonroof. Ushering in the vistas of your surroundings, this component is perfect for those going off to explore national parks and other natural landscapes. As for loading up your trunk with all the things you need for camping trips and road trips, there’s a power liftgate that takes some of the grunt work out of loading the rear.