With fresh styling and a new high-tech interior, the 2025 Ford Explorer continues to offer the roomy cabin and helpful utility that make this one of the best-selling SUVs in America.
Photo: Perry Stern
While the exterior changes to the 2025 Explorer are subtle, interior upgrades bring a redesigned dashboard, higher-quality materials, and new technology to this popular three-row midsize SUV.
In addition, Ford simplifies the Explorer lineup for the 2025 model year, offering the SUV in Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trim levels. Each comes standard with turbocharged power and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is available.
During a media reveal of the new Explorer, the automaker showed an image of an all-terrain tire in the dirt, suggesting a more rugged 2025 Explorer Timberline is also in the works.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2025 Ford Explorer gets an updated look that sticks close to the current design. The revamped front end showcases a more prominent grille flanked by LED headlights. Available fog lights integrate into vertical air curtain inlets at each edge of the front fascia, giving the new Explorer a wider appearance.
Each trim gets a unique grille treatment. The Explorer Active gets a black mesh grille with chrome bars, the ST-Line and ST feature a honeycomb gloss black grille, and the top-level Platinum features a satin chrome/black grille treatment.
Wheel sizes range from 18 inches in silver finish for the Active and 21-inch “Magnetite” painted wheels for the Explorer ST. All but the ST offer 20-inch wheels in various finishes as standard or optional equipment.
At the rear, the LED taillights extend horizontally into the power liftgate, emphasizing the SUV’s width. In addition, a new black-painted roof option is available for all but the Active trim.
Photo: Perry Stern
Ford has completely redesigned the Explorer’s dashboard. The most apparent changes are the new standard 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. In addition, Ford eliminates many of the physical controls from the dashboard, resulting in a tidier interior.
With the added dashboard real estate, Ford adds a storage tray beneath the air vents and the remaining row of controls. It contains a wireless charger and two of the vehicle’s eight USB ports.
Softer touchpoints with premium materials are evident throughout the cabin, and even the base Active trim gets contrasting stitching on the dashboard, doors, and center console. Fabric reminiscent of high-end home speakers covers the upper part of the dashboard, providing an additional touch of class. Ambient lighting with up to seven colors to choose from is also available.
Further simplifying the SUV, each trim has a standard interior color scheme. For example, the Explorer Active features dark gray seats with black inserts and bronze accent stitching, while the top-level Platinum gets Mojave Dusk leather on the seats, dashboard, and other interior panels. Available interior upgrade packages add higher-end features, more premium materials, or additional color choices.
Photo: Perry Stern
While the 2025 Ford Explorer gets revised exterior styling and interior updates, the underpinnings carry over from the previous version.
Ford will offer two turbocharged engines in the 2025 Explorer. A 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine is standard with Active, ST-Line, and Platinum models, and it makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 is standard with ST trim and optional in the Explorer Platinum. It makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines feature a 10-speed automatic transmission powering the SUV’s rear wheels. Four-wheel drive is optional. A towing package is standard equipment, delivering a 5,000-pound towing capacity.
Every 2025 Ford Explorer comes standard with Co-Pilot360 Assist+, the company’s collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). In addition, Ford will offer its subscription-based BlueCruise on the Explorer. BlueCruise is a hands-free driving assistance system for use on approved limited-access highways and provides Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
With BlueCruise, drivers can remove their hands from the steering wheel but must be ready to take control at any time. The latest version of BlueCruise also features Lane Change Assist, which automatically changes lanes when the driver activates the turn signal. The feature includes a complimentary 90-day subscription to functionality, after which owners must pay to use it.
Photo: Perry Stern
For the 2025 model year, the Explorer gets a new Google-based infotainment system called Ford Digital Experience. Popular features like Google Maps and Google Assistant are standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and access to a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot through FordPass Connect. You can also customize the system with additional apps from the Google Play Store.
Ford Digital Experience also provides new entertainment features while the SUV is parked. For example, you can stream movies or TV shows to the 13.2-inch dashboard display through apps like YouTube or Amazon Prime Video or surf the internet using a Vivaldi browser. Games like the Ford-exclusive Asphalt Nitro 2 racing simulator are also available, played via the touchscreen or with a Bluetooth-enabled gaming controller.
Changing a vehicle with a loyal following like the Ford Explorer is always a challenge. Still, the fresh styling, substantial interior upgrades, and significant technology improvements should help this family-size SUV maintain its edge in a crowded market segment.
When it goes on sale, the Explorer will face the redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, in addition to the all-new Toyota Grand Highlander. Other rivals include the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-90, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Volkswagen Atlas.
Ford is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of January 29, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JD Power.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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