Starts at $39,855
Rank
FAST FACTS
"The Explorer is the rare midsize 3-row SUV that's based on a rear-wheel-drive platform, and we love the sporty proportions that follow from that, especially the clipped front overhang. Acceleration is quick with either engine, the turbo V6 being a particular (if pricey) delight; however, the fuel economy fails to impress, and the Explorer's rear passenger space is relatively limited."—Ranked #4 out of 15 Midsize 3-Row SUVs
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Ford Explorer that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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We hope you like Ford's 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, because it's what you're going to find in most Explorers. Fuel economy isn't great for a four-banger, but the acceleration is fairly impressive.
Adding all-wheel drive only subtracts one mile per gallon from the Explorer's fuel economy. It's probably worth the $2k stretch if you think you'll use it.
If you're disinclined to pursue the sport-oriented Explorer ST, which is the most affordable Explorer V6, you can still have that righteous 3.0-liter twin-turbo six in the Platinum trim. It's an extra-cost option there, however, that pushes the Platinum's price well beyond where the ST starts.
Adding AWD to an Explorer V6 comes with a familiar $2k upcharge, but it doesn't affect fuel economy one bit, which makes that extra spend especially tempting. The sporty Explorer ST is the one that starts at the price listed here; you can get the AWD V6 powertrain in the Explorer Platinum, too, but the starting price there is thousands higher.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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