The 2025 Ford Explorer is equipped with larger screens but abandons the hybrid variant.
The 2025 Ford Explorer offers a new front face with a wider grille, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, and an updated center console. Four years after the complex and clumsy launch of the sixth-generation Explorer by Ford Motor Co., the automaker is simplifying the production of the three-row SUV by removing the hybrid version and offering more standard features on the 2025 model.
The officials hope that a new front end with a larger grille, a bigger touchscreen, and an updated center console will help the Explorer maintain its position as the best-selling large SUV. It reclaimed that title from the Toyota Highlander in 2023, even though the volume dropped by 10%.
The Explorer will start at $50,535 and will be based on the same platform as the current model, offering two existing engine choices: a standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and an optional 3.0-liter, 400-horsepower turbocharged V6.
The Explorer will be offered in four trims with all-wheel drive standard: Active, ST, ST-Line, and Platinum. The XLT and King Ranch trims will be discontinued after 2024. The hybrid variant will be discontinued, except for the Police Interceptor Utility version.
Ford is also simplifying the buying options, with a 13.2-inch screen standard for all models, as well as features such as adaptive cruise control with blind spot monitoring, heated seats, and a towing package. Ford is targeting millennials, expecting them to soon make up the largest customer base for the Explorer.
Most of the Explorer trims will have the latest version of Ford’s hands-free driving assistance system BlueCruise, as well as the new Ford infotainment system, allowing for activities like watching YouTube or playing video games while stopped.
By simplifying the lineup and optimizing the features, Ford hopes to avoid the issues that plagued the launch of the redesigned Explorer in 2020. With some customization options remaining, the brand aims to offer an improved experience while staying true to the Explorer’s iconic reputation.
