This week I bring you one of the best-selling SUVs in America, the redesigned 2025 Ford Explorer. I was in the Ford business when the original Explorer SUV came out 34 years ago, and it was a total game changer. For years, Ford could not build enough to keep up with demand. There were a number of years when I wasn’t a huge fan in recent times, but you’ll often hear me on the Car Pro Show speak about the huge changes in 2020 when the Explorer went back to its roots and became a rear-wheel drive SUV with a truck chassis underneath. That put Explorer back in my top tier of ratings for 3-row SUVs.
Exterior
Although much of the style cues have carried over from the last few years, for 2025 the Explorer gets a new front fascia with LED lighting and a new grill, and some new additions to the inside as well.
This Rapid Red Metallic color looks terrific with 20” machined-aluminum wheels, distinct body lines down the sides, and a fairly large spoiler in the rear. There are tasteful black accents around the windows, along the bottom, and over the tires.
Trims
Let’s talk about trim levels. This SUV is the ST-Line, the second in succession in order of cost and features. You start with the Active, then this one, from the ST-Line you go to the Platinum, and finally the ST, which adds 100-horsepower and a lot of sporty features.
I question naming this one ST-Line, that’s a dumb name and clear to cause confusion with the ST. What was wrong with XLT, Ford? I’m sorry, car names often drive me crazy, who hires these people? I digress.
Performance
Let’s talk about what is under the hood. This is where you’ll find a 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder EcoBoost with turbo putting out 300-horses and 310-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed shiftable automatic that shifts with speed and determination. My tester is rear-wheel drive but all-wheel is certainly available. If you are worried about the power-don’t be. It has plenty, even for my heavy foot, and this SUV will tow 5,000 pounds.
Interior
Inside, the ST-line has a very nice interior with soft simulated-leather seats that Ford calls Activex. This is a common thing in all vehicles these days. It is manmade leather that feels and looks the same but is actually more durable.
You are only missing that leather smell, but there is no maintenance to do to these seats and they are simple to clean. The seats are slightly bolstered, power on both sides, the driver has memory settings, both seats are heated-but not cooled, and get this: They massage you! I found that sort of extraordinary given the price of this vehicle.
As you sit down for your massage, there is a colorful 12.3” LCD gauge display that greets you. It is highly configurable and gives you a lot of stats, and you can even put a map up there. Gauges are easy to read and views are quickly changed from the power tilt and telescoping steering wheel.
As you change the drive modes from the center console, the dash display changes as well. You can choose from normal, eco, tow/haul, trail, slippery, deep snow/sand and of course my favorite, sport. Each mode changes the parameters of the SUV pretty dramatically.
New for 2025, and frankly much needed, there is a 13.2” touchscreen that sits high on the dash. From the screen you operate the B & O audio system, Google Assistant, voice activation, a host of apps, settings, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen is fast enough and easy to operate.
If there is a knock on it, it is that the climate controls all run through the screen and I would prefer separate controls not part of the screen, but once you get used to it, it is not a big deal. There is one knob underneath, and it is for the radio volume. Under the screen you can turn off the start/stop and traction control, turn on the brake hold, activate the cameras, and turn on the parking assist.
The center console is well done with a rotary gear shifter, drive mode selector, a closeable cubby hole with USB and power points, and a wireless phone charger. There is also a deep center glove box that has a lot of storage and two more USB-Cs.
The back seats offer good leg and head room and is in a split 40/20/40 configuration with a fold-down armrest if there is no center occupant. Rear seat passengers can control their own temperature and have a 12-volt power plug and USB port, and the seats are heated.
A button on top of the rear seats slide them forward for easy access to the 3rd row, which is much roomier than in years past. Rear A/C vents are in the ceiling, which I really like, and the two outside seats slide and recline.
Utility
Cargo area with the 3rd row seat up is quite good, and there is more storage underneath. From the rear area, you can put the 3rd row seats down and up with the push of a button.
With the 3rd row upright, there is 16.3-cubic feet of cargo, plus storage underneath for valuables. Fold the 3rd row down, and you get 46-cubic feet of cargo, and flip the second row seats down for a huge 85.3-cubic feet of cargo. All seats down form a completely flat load floor.
Standard Equipment, Safety and Options
The ST-Line comes extremely well equipped with standard features including power liftgate, 20” wheels, power tilt wheel, park assist, trailer towing package, reverse sensing, rear camera, keyless entry on the fob, remote start, heated steering wheel, universal garage opener, and automatic headlights.
The ST also comes with host of standard safety features including Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite comes standard and includes automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, a rearview camera, and automatic high beams.
Also at no charge is the Ford Blue Cruise semi-autonomous-driving system which works great. Blue Cruise allows you to operate the vehicle on pre-mapped, divided highways called Blue Zones without keeping your hands on the wheel, though your eyes must stay on the road. It uses a combination of cameras, radar, GPS, and a driver-facing camera to monitor both the vehicle’s surroundings and your attention level. While it’s not fully autonomous, it provides a major convenience boost for long drives and heavy traffic, offering features like lane centering and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. You get 90 days of free use, then Blue Cruise typically costs $75 per month or $800 for a 3-year plan (pricing may vary slightly depending on model and region).
Options include $495 for the paint, and the $2,740 Premium Package which is ambient lighting, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and the power-fold third row seat.
Ride and Drive
This SUV drives fantastic, and again, the acceleration is just fine especially in Sport Mode. The handling is great, the ride is not too stiff, and the best part is the interior quietness, Ford did a great job with that.
Verdict
Fuel economy is really good for this size SUV at 20 city and 29 highway and combined 24. Total MSRP as equipped is $49,345 and after driving the Ford Explorer ST-Line, I am surprised it is not more, especially considering the competition’s pricing.
- What I liked most: The value, the ride and drive, and the interior room..
- What I would change: I would prefer less interaction with the touchscreen.
- MSRP: Base price $44,513, as equipped $49,345.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 20 in town/29 highway/24 overall.
- Official Color: Rapid Red Metallic Clearcoat.
- Odometer reading when tested: 3,400 miles.
- Weight: 4,457 pounds/6,160 GVWR.
- Spare Tire: Compact spare.
- Length-Width-Height: 198.7” long/78.9” wide/69.” tall.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.6 gallons with the filler on the driver’s side.
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds.
- 2025 Explorer ST-Line in a few words: A roomy 3-row SUV that rides and drives great and offers an outstanding value
- Final Assembly Location: Chicago, IL.
- Warranty: 36-month/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000 mile power train warranty with roadside assistance.
- Manufacturers website: Ford
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