As mentioned, the four ’25 Explorer trims are the Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST. A 300-horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is standard on all but the ST, which gets a 400-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 (this is optional for the Platinum). Both engines are designed to work with regular-grade gasoline. A ten-speed automatic transmission is paired with both drivetrains; rear-wheel drive is standard across all trims, but four-wheel drive is available.
The redesigned Explorer is a great partner when you have stuff to transport, inside or outside the vehicle. For starters, it has standard roof rails with available crossbars, and it can tow as much as 5,000 pounds. The maximum cargo capacity (behind the front seats) is 85.8 cubic feet in the lower trims and 85.3 cubic feet for the Platinum and ST. There is 46.0 cubic feet available behind the second row and 16.3 cubic feet behind the third.
The 2025 Explorer Active’s equipment list starts with seating for seven (the middle row is a three-person bench), fabric upholstery, a ten-way power driver’s seat, a four-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, and tri-zone automatic climate control. This most affordable Explorer also comes with a Class III trailer tow package, a power liftgate, LED exterior lighting, rear privacy glass, heated power side mirrors, eight USB ports, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The ST-Line takes on a more athletic look with trim-specific exterior treatments and interior accents, ActiveX upholstery with cloth inserts, LED exterior signature lighting (including fog lights), and 20-inch wheels. It also gets a heated steering wheel, an eight-way power front passenger seat, and remote start.
The Platinum has many features of the ST-Line, but with a more elegant appearance and additional equipment, including leather-trimmed seating surfaces with perforated suede-like inserts, a twin-panel moonroof, heated second-row captain’s chairs (for six-passenger seating), and massaging front seats. It also has adaptive headlights, a driver’s position memory system, a power-folding third-row bench for two, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering column, power-folding heated power side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, second-row sunshades, ambient interior lighting, wireless device charging, and a 110-volt AC power outlet.
In the ST, Ford combines the energetic looks of the ST-Line with most of the features of the Platinum. Its unique features are performance brakes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, 21-inch aluminum wheels complement, and ActiveX upholstery. It’s eligible for the twin-panel moonroof as an option.
Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist is standard issue in the redesigned Explorer. This array of advanced driver-assist technologies consists of forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping alert, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, rear cross-traffic braking, evasive steering assist, intersection assist, adaptive cruise control, exit warning, driver alert, rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. All but the Active also get Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, which adds a surround-view monitor, adaptive cruise control with predictive speed assist, road edge detection, and front and side parking sensors. Those same three trims are eligible for Ford BlueCruise, the proprietary hands-free highway driving system.
The Ford Digital Experience is the center point of the 2025 Explorer’s infotainment offering. Based on a high-definition 13.2-inch touchscreen with pinch-to-zoom capability. The system is based on Google built-in, giving Explorer occupants easy access to Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play Store. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard, as is SiriusXM satellite radio, 911 Assist, and access to a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot. The Active gets a six-speaker audio system, while the ST-Line upgrades to a B&O arrangement with 10 speakers. The ST-Line and Platinum get the same B&O system with two additional pairs of speakers (14 total).