Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Ford Explorer ST 4WD
Specs
Class: Midsize Crossover
Coloration: Fast Purple Metallic
Seating Capability: 6
Miles pushed: 261
Actual-world gas financial system: 20.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B+ |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | B+ |
| Gas Economic system | B |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | A |
| Tall Man | A |
| Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 400-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Sort | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 20/18/25 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas kind: Common fuel
Base worth: $56,260 (not together with $1595 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check car: Solar and Sound Package deal ($2995) particular paint ($495), 12-month BlueCruise subscription ($495)
Value as examined: $61,840
Execs and Cons
The nice: Roomy, refined, loads of energy
The nice: Upscale cabin, European-style experience and dealing with
The not so good: We weren’t prepared for a $60,000 Explorer
Overview
Query: How would you like your 2025 Explorer? Your choices included inexpensive however form of premium, sporty wanting, critically premium, or really sporty. In search of extra to select from? Sorry, Ford critically simplified the Explorer lineup as a part of a major 2025 freshening.
Adjustments for 2025
The ’25 replace contains replace styling in and out, a newly out there black roof possibility, and the provision of Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system. Gone for 2025 are the XLT, Restricted, off-road-oriented Timberline, and leather-infused King Ranch trim ranges.
Costs and Trim Ranges
A equally outdoorsy Temor trim stage is anticipated to exchange the departed Timberline in some unspecified time in the future, seemingly for the 2026 mannequin 12 months. For 2025, the Explorer lineup seems to be like this:
- Energetic (base, $1,450)
- ST-Line (sporty wanting, $46,210)
- Tremor (coming quickly)
- Platinum (luxurious, $53,845)
- ST (sporty, $55,855)
Engine
All however the ST characteristic a 310-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Commonplace on the ST, and out there on the Platinum is a 400-horsepower turbocharged 3.0—liter V6. Each engines mate to a 10-speed computerized transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the usual power-delivery setup on all Explorers, with AWD out there (a $2000 add).
Ford Edge Discontinued
Explorer turns into the one midsize crossover in Ford dealerships this 12 months, with the 2-row Edge having been discontinued after 2024. And whereas the off-road oriented Bronco technically serves as a midsize SUV, it lacks the cabin house, mechanical refinement, and gas financial system to serve a household in addition to the Explorer.
Client Information not too long ago spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 AWD Ford Explorer ST in Fast Purple. Outfitted with particular paint (Fast Purple), a 1-year BlueCruise subscription ($495) and the Solar and Sound Package deal ($2995) our check truck got here to $61,345 together with vacation spot.
Design
From the surface, our check ST seemed the a part of a sporty crossover. The pink paint and black wheels work nicely collectively, the truck seems to be placing even from a distance. Likewise, inside, the black leather-based upholstery with pink stitching comes off as each stylish and athletic.
Passenger Area
Moving into and out of the cabin is simple sufficient; the Explorer is a lot massive and roomy, and the massive door openings make egress easy. There’s ample house even for bigger adults in each ahead seating rows, much less so within the 3rd row. That mentioned, even spry excessive schoolers will discover the far-back seating ample for even longer missions.
Cabin
Ford up to date its infotainment system for the brand new 12 months, and it really works nicely. The largish touchscreen gives up clear and easy icons, and there’s no delay in responding to the touch inputs. The motive force seating place is great, no less than for this huge editor, who discovered it simple to regulate the seat for optimum consolation and outward visibility.
Controls and Connectivity
Extra cabin tidbits: Most-used controls fall simply handy, cabin supplies appear and feel substantial and upscale, and the usual (on ST) Band & Olufsen-brand audio system is great. We do want, nevertheless, that the up to date touchscreen interface integrated extra coloration, and fewer black display screen space. Although simple to learn, the display screen presentation is surprisingly dreary.
Trip and Dealing with
On the street, the Explorer ST looks like a well-engineered sporty crossover. The experience and dealing with stability is great, with no complaints from us in regards to the sport suspension messing up experience freeway consolation. There’s some actual heft to the steering, in addition to properly managed lean in corners, and robust, reassuring feeling brakes. The cabin is quiet, too, making for relaxed longer journeys.
Energy and Efficiency
Now we have complained prior to now about this drivetrain’s uneven energy ship, however discovered our specific check automotive freed from that situation. Certainly, the Explorer ST delivers loads of easy and progressive energy, and makes fast work of passing and merging conditions. The turbocharged V6 makes some fairly compelling noise within the course of. To not work, the engine quiets down completely in routine driving. As an added bonus, we averaged higher than 20 mpg over 263 miles of principally metropolis driving.
BlueCruise
We didn’t have the chance to completely consider the BlueCruise driving system on this check car, however have loved prolonged use of the expertise on different Ford land Lincoln merchandise. We have been impressed by relaxed an extended drive could be with BlueCruise in operation, and loved the journey extra due to it. That mentioned, $495 is a major sum of money for one thing chances are you’ll not use. Ensure your common automotive use would justify the expense.
Worth
Whereas we discover the Explorer’s customary 2.3-liter engine completely satisfying in common driving, we will whole-heartedly endorse the out there V6 for extra energetic commuting. Moreover, the ST’s dealing with and braking upgrades do little to compromise the car’s ambient goodness. We just like the ST, however maybe barely want the extra relaxed Platinum trim stage. You’ll be able to learn our assessment of that Explorer right here.
For customers unwilling to decide to the ST with its efficiency upgrades, contemplate the more-affordable ST-Line, which remains to be a lot fast, and prices much less.
Hearken to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
2025 Ford Explorer Platinum Footage
Click on under for enlarged photographs
