Ford Explorer - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More
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Pros | The return of rear-wheel drive, one of the best Explorers to date, options that can tow, punchy base engine |
Cons | Gets expensive fast, third row seat space |
Bottom Line | While the Ford Explorer isn’t the cheapest three-row SUV on the market, it offers attractive styling, peppy performance, and rarely-found rear-wheel drive. |
Table of contents
VIDEO: Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90 Comparison
Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90 Comparison
The more things change…
Back at the turn of the century, Ford and Mazda had a close working relationship. Engines, platforms—and in some cases, basically entire cars—were shared between Dearborn and Hiroshima.
They’ve since gone their separate ways, and yet both brands have ended up with a similar formula for their mid-sized three-row SUVs. After a generation of essentially being a burly Taurus, the Explorer has moved back to a rear-drive-biased platform once again. Mazda’s CX-90 was all-new two years ago, riding on a whole new rear-biased platform as well, with a fresh inline-six engine to boot.
As the only two mainstream offerings with this layout, the Explorer and CX-90 offer buyers a different experience. Which of them does a better job of it? Mike Schlee and I are on the case.
Read the full comparison by clicking here.
2025 Ford Explorer First Drive Review: It's The Inside That Counts
Ford’s venerable SUV sees a range simplification and welcome quality improvements.
The Explorer has consistently been one of the best-selling SUVs on the market since it launched way back in 1990. With millions on the road, it’s a known quantity—especially as one of the main choices for law enforcement. Despite a return to a rear-drive-based platform, the current generation has struggled to recapture the magic against an onslaught of strong competitors from Japan and Korea.
The weak point? A cabin that felt cheap but not cheerful.
No more.
Read the full review by clicking here.
2025 Ford Explorer: Hands on Preview
The 2025 Ford Explorer made its first public appearance at the Chicago Auto Show with a refreshed design, updated interior, and a new digital user experience.
The sixth gen Explorer has been around since 2019 (as a 2020 model), and while the powertrains carry forward, Ford has simplified the lineup and made quality-of-life improvements. But I’ll get to that further down. First up, the visuals.
Read the full article here.
Ford Explorer XLT Vs Limited: Which Trim is Right for You?
The Ford Explorer remains one of the brand's most enduring—and best-selling—SUVs.
When it debuted back in 1991, the Explorer served as a preview of the high-rider future. It sat on a modified truck platform and well, it drove like one. Fast forward to today's sixth-generation model and the Explorer has a much more road-friendly ride. Nonetheless, it still stands apart from most of the mid-sized segment, as it sits on a rear-biased platform, not front-drive-based. For those moving out of trucks, that similarity provides a comfortable familiarity.
Like a truck, the Explorer comes in plenty of trims, ranging from frugal to fancy. For this trim-on-trim comparison, we're focusing in on two of the more popular flavors. Stuck on which is the right one for you? Read on for our full Ford Explorer XLT versus Limited comparison.
Read the full comparison here.
Detailed Specs
Price | $39,855 - $52,250 |
Engine | 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder / 3.0-liter turbo 6-cylinder |
Horsepower | 300 hp / 400 hp |
Torque | 310 lb-ft / 415 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | RWD / AWD |
Transmission | 10AT |
Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 18–20 mpg / 25–27 mpg |
Cargo capacity | 18.2 cu ft |
Our Final Verdict
Ford Explorer
Overall | 7.5 |
Performance | 7.5 |
Features | 7.5 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Quality and Styling | 7.5 |
Value | 6.5 |
More by AutoGuide.com Staff
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I've owned every version of the Ford Explorer up to the 2017 model. The 2017 is an A&W cruiser and not worth the time and money it has cost on constant repairs and I think at last count 9, maybe 10 recalls. It only has 27000 kilometers on it and usually gets relegated to storage because I have better trucks to drive.
This new version of Explorer with it's dinky little motors don't interest me at all. You know the things are going to grenade before 50000 kilometers.
If you want a pretty reasonable and useful Explorer I would buy another 2000 year Eddie Bauer. Unfortunately they are becoming collectable so prices are going up.