The larger grille and new headlights freshen up the front of the 2025 Ford Explorer.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The sixth and current generation of the Ford Explorer that began in 2020 marked a big change to the SUV’s fundamental architecture with its move back to a more truck-like rear-wheel-drive platform.
It was Ford’s answer to customers who wanted SUVs with more off-road capability. At the same time, the company also launched the Lincoln Aviator, which was based on the same platform. It was an ambitious undertaking, even for an automaker the size of Ford.
When it launched, the Explorer was plagued with quality-control issues, and the company admitted that things weren’t going according to plan. The world shutting down because of the pandemic added extra challenges. While that version of the Explorer had many positive features, the interior materials and build quality fell short of what was expected in its segment.
Now, Ford says it’s improved the 2025 Explorer in nearly every way, especially inside, and it’s listened to customer feedback and added the features people wanted most.
The Explorer was one of the original family SUVs, pioneering the now madly popular mid-size segment. I learned how to drive a manual with a first-generation Explorer in a parking lot, years before I got my driver’s licence. More than eight million have been sold since 1991, and the first-generation Explorer has become a legend in its own right. It even had a starring role as the tour vehicle in the first Jurassic Park movie.
The 2025 model, which starts at about $50,000, gets new headlights and a new grille, which is bigger than before. In the back, updated taillamps and a new rear bumper round out the design changes. Already a good-looking SUV, Ford didn’t need to mess too much with the exterior styling; it was the cabin that required a transformation and that’s exactly what the designers have done.
You’ll find few traces of the old interior. The dash, door panels and centre console are new and are crafted from materials that feel better to the touch. The goofy vertical screen that jutted out of the dashboard like a sore thumb has been replaced by a larger 13.2-inch landscape-oriented one, and the new driver’s display is easier to read and shows more information.
Soft padded material covers sections of the dash and the centre console, replacing all the scratchy hard plastic. In the middle, there’s a new shelf that’s perfect for storing mobile devices, with one of the sides acting as a wireless charger. Taking a nod from the Mustang Mach-E, a fabric-covered soundbar housing Bang & Olufsen speakers runs the length of the dash. For the first time, Blue Cruise, Ford’s hands-free driver assistance system, can be used on the Explorer.
Ford also revamped the trim lineup with the base model now called Active. Prices have inevitably gone up and the Explorer starts at $50,535.
In the middle, there’s a new shelf perfect for storing mobile devices with one of the sides acting as a wireless charger.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Powertrains are largely carried over, with the 300-horsepower, 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder as the base engine. The ST trim gets a three-litre turbo V6 with 400 horsepower. Both engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic and all-wheel drive is the only way to get it in Canada.
The base engine provides plentiful power for this large SUV and the 10-speed feels less clunky than I remember. The Explorer offers a good driving experience with a comfortable and well-cushioned ride, accurate steering and better handling than it needs to have. The base trim is also well equipped with the same large screens as the rest of the lineup, wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Ford’s full suite of driver assistance technology and USB ports in all three rows.
If for any reason the base powertrain doesn’t offer enough oomph, the ST scores you an extra 100 horsepower and a stiffer suspension, good for tackling highway on-ramps when you’re late for the school drop-off. The ST has significantly more power than anything else in its class, which might make it an enticing proposition for those who want a little more out of their family SUV. But you’ll pay for it, with prices starting at nearly $70,000, pushing it closer to its more exclusive sibling, the Lincoln Aviator, which starts at about $80,000.
The door panels are crafted from materials that feel better to the touch.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The Explorer is also very good at being a family vehicle with tons of cupholders and USB ports, and ample room in the first two rows. Keeping in mind that it’s still a mid-size vehicle should temper expectations of a roomy third row, which is probably best suited to kids or adults you don’t like.
Even with a vast improvement in interior quality, the Explorer still lags behind rivals like the Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Palisade, which feel a bit more premium. What it does offer are robust powertrains with more power than any of its competitors, class-leading technology like its hands-free driving system and a competitive price tag. With the production woes of the original launch well behind it, the Explorer finally becomes the SUV it should have been in the first place.
Tech specs
2025 Ford Explorer Platinum
- Base price / as tested: $60,635/$62,435 plus $2,195 for freight, predelivery inspection and fees, plus tax
- Engine: 2.3-litre turbocharged inline-four cylinder
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 300 / 315 (rated with premium gas)
- Transmission / drive: 10-speed automatic / four-wheel drive
- Curb weight: 1,952 kilograms
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 11.9 city; 8.7 highway; 10.4 combined
- Alternatives: Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Chevrolet Traverse, Nissan Pathfinder, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Looks
Get one in black or grey and you’d easily be mistaken for law enforcement, which could be a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. The larger grille and new headlights freshen up the front, and although the lightbar that connects the tail lights isn’t actually a lightbar, it still looks pretty good.
Interior
The third row is really meant for kids.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
If Ford didn’t get it right the first time, it did now. The cabin looks better, feels better and has a ton of cubbies and charging ports, which is exactly what a family vehicle needs. The new 13.2-inch centre screen is standard across all trims and the software is new too. It’s called the Ford Driving Experience and is based on Google’s Android Automotive operating system. It’s easy to use because it works like a smartphone and integrates voice controls through Google or Alexa.
The climate controls are also integrated into the screen, which is a step in the wrong direction but this isn’t unique to Ford. At least they left the volume knob.
Performance
This is one of the best reasons to buy an Explorer because even base trims have 300 horsepower and, more significantly, 315 lb-ft of torque. It feels quicker than most of its competition and it handles well too. The ST is even quicker, but a bit unnecessary in this segment.
Technology
The addition of Blue Cruise is an added incentive for buyers and the Explorer receives the latest version that incorporates automatic lane changes and in-lane repositioning, which can move you a little farther away from larger vehicles in the adjacent lane. It works similar to GM’s Super Cruise, enabling hands-free driving on specific roads and highways.
Cargo
Trunk space with the seats up is 462 litres.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
With all three rows in place, there’s 462 litres of space, but fold them down and the space almost triples to 1,303 litres.
The verdict
The Explorer has good performance and is priced competitively. It’s a much better choice than it was last year.
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