2025 Ford Explorer Photos, engines & full specs

Ford refreshed the sixth generation of the Explorer SUV in early 2024, five years after the model’s introduction, and the 2025 model year came with significant changes.

The Explorer was the all-time best-selling SUV in America when Ford launched the facelift for the sixth generation of it in early 2024 for the 2025 model year. Even though the car was appreciated by customers, the automaker knew that it needed some upgrades. Moreover, it simplified the lineup by reducing the grades from seven to four. Also, it added more standard features to the car. Ford hoped these changes could keep customers coming and asking for this three-row SUV.

At the front, the 2025 Explorer featured different grilles, depending on the grade. The ST and the ST line sported a black color with red badges on it. At the same time, the Platinum version was spoiled with a decoration that mixed chromed and black elements in a honeycomb pattern. All versions had similar-looking lower bumpers with a slim and wide air intake at the bottom flanked by side scoops that housed the fog lamps.

From its profile, the cab-rearward design of the Explorer was characteristic of a vehicle based on a rear-wheel drive platform. Ford emphasized that with a slightly sloped down roof line and an ascending waistline. The automaker also tried to create a rugged appearance for the Explorer by adorning the wheel arches with black moldings. For the ST and the ST line versions, the vehicle had specific badges mounted on the sides and on the tailgate, while the Active (base model) and the Platinum grades didn’t.

While the exterior didn’t look too much different from its predecessor, the interior was drastically refreshed. First, it had a new dashboard that was pushed forward to create a roomier area for the front passengers. Atop the center stack was a landscape-oriented 13.2-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, while in front of the driver was a standard 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster for the entire range. Both screens were controlled by the same computer so the driver could transfer the information from one screen to the other. The 2025 Explorer was the first to integrate the Ford Digital Experience, which connected Google accounts with the car, so all the preferences regarding music, apps, and locations were synchronized. Besides the technological upgrades, the SUV also boasted higher quality materials than its predecessors. On the downside, the rearmost row of seats couldn’t provide enough room for adult-sized passengers.

Under the hood, Ford installed its 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine carried over from the previous generation, and it paired it with a standard ten-speed automatic transmission that sent power in all corners. The ST grade, on the other hand, became not just the most expensive in the range but also the most powerful since it was the only one available with the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that sent 300 hp (304 PS) to the wheels.