Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Ford Explorer ST 4WD
Specs
Class: Midsize Crossover
Colour: Speedy Purple Metallic
Seating Capability: 6
Miles pushed: 261
Actual-world gasoline financial system: 20.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B+ |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | B+ |
| Gas Financial system | B |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | A |
| Tall Man | A |
| Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 400-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automated |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 20/18/25 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas sort: Common fuel
Base worth: $56,260 (not together with $1595 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: Solar and Sound Bundle ($2995) particular paint ($495), 12-month BlueCruise subscription ($495)
Value as examined: $61,840
Execs and Cons
The good: Roomy, refined, loads of energy
The nice: Upscale cabin, European-style trip 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 reasonably priced however sort of premium, sporty trying, significantly premium, or truly sporty. Searching for extra to select from? Sorry, Ford dramatically simplified the Explorer lineup as a part of a big 2025 freshening.
Adjustments for 2025
The ’25 replace consists of replace styling in and out, a newly accessible black-roof choice, 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 predicted to interchange the departed Timberline sooner or later, possible for the 2026 mannequin yr. For 2025, the Explorer lineup seems like this:
- Energetic (base, $1,450)
- ST-Line (sporty trying, $46,210)
- Tremor (2026?)
- 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 accessible on the Platinum is a 400-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Each engines mate to a 10-speed automated transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the usual power-delivery setup on all Explorers, with AWD accessible (a $2000 add).
Ford Edge Discontinued
Explorer turns into the one midsize crossover in Ford dealerships this yr, 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 gasoline financial system to serve a household in addition to the Explorer.
Client Information lately spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 AWD Ford Explorer ST in Speedy Purple. Geared up with particular paint (Speedy Purple), a 1-year BlueCruise subscription ($495) and the Solar and Sound Bundle ($2995) our take a look at truck got here to $61,345 together with vacation spot.
Design
From the surface, our take a look at ST seemed the a part of a sporty crossover. The pink paint and black wheels work nicely collectively, and the truck seems putting even from a distance. Likewise, inside, the black leather-based upholstery with pink stitching comes off as each stylish and athletic.
Passenger House
Entering into and out of the cabin is simple sufficient; the Explorer is loads giant and roomy, and the massive door openings make egress easy. There may be ample house even for bigger adults in each ahead seating rows, much less so within the 3rd row. That stated, even spry excessive schoolers will discover the far-back seating association ample for even longer missions.
Cabin
Ford up to date its infotainment system for the brand new yr, and it really works nicely. The largish touchscreen presents up clear and easy icons, and there’s no delay in responding to the touch inputs. The motive force seating place is great, a minimum of for this massive 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 at hand, cabin supplies feel and look substantial and upscale, and the accessible Bang & Olufsen-brand audio system is great. We do want, nevertheless, that the up to date touchscreen interface included extra colour, and fewer black display space. Although simple to learn, the display presentation is surprisingly dreary.
Trip and Dealing with
On the street, the Explorer ST looks like a well-engineered sporty crossover. The trip and dealing with steadiness is great, with no complaints from us concerning the sport suspension messing up general consolation. There’s some actual heft to the steering, in addition to properly managed lean in corners, and powerful, reassuring-feeling brakes. The cabin is quiet, too, making for relaxed longer journeys.
Energy and Efficiency
Now we have complained previously about this drivetrain’s uneven energy ship, however discovered our specific take a look at 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 produces some fairly compelling noise within the course of. To not fear, the engine quiets down totally 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 take a look at car, however have loved prolonged use of the expertise on different Ford and Lincoln merchandise. We had been impressed by how relaxed an extended drive may be with BlueCruise in operation, and loved the journey extra due to it. That stated, $495 is a big sum of money to spend for one thing you could not use. Make sure your common automotive routine would justify the subscription price.
Worth
Whereas we discover the Explorer’s commonplace 2.3-liter engine totally satisfying in common driving, we are able to whole-heartedly endorse the accessible V6 for extra energetic commuting. Moreover, the ST’s dealing with and braking upgrades do little to compromise the car’s ambient consolation and refinement. 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 buyers unwilling to decide to the ST with its efficiency upgrades, take into account the more-affordable ST-Line, which seems good, continues to be loads fast, and prices much less.
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2025 Ford Explorer Platinum Footage
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