Thirty-four years ago, the Ford Explorer was something fresh and new---the next step beyond more primitive and limited conveyances like the Bronco II.
The 2025 model is not the same vehicle, of course. This is the sixth generation of Explorer, with an interior and exterior refresh this year.
Others have poured through the door Ford opened back in '91, and now, the Explorer finds itself competing in a very crowded segment against the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, the Honda Pilot, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Mazda CX-70 and CX-90, the Volkswagen Atlas, the Subaru Ascent, the Toyota Highlander, the Chevrolet Traverse, the Nissan Pathfinder, the GMC Acadia, and the Dodge Durango.
It's hard to be a standout in any crowd, but in terms of sales, the Explorer is more than holding its own. It and the Grand Cherokee (which includes the long-wheelbase Grand Cherokee L in its sales stats) are neck-and neck for the lead in the segment, with the Honda Pilot selling only about 80% as well, the Telluride, Palisade and Traverse doing a little bit better than half the Explorer's volume and the rest (including the once-mighty Highlander) far behind.
The light refresh can only help, giving the Explorer some creases and bulges in largely the right places, as the "macho" vibe spreads from Dad's trucks to Mom's SUVs.
The standard engine for the 2025 Ford Explorer is the 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost, with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration is more than respectable, with zero to 60 achievable in six seconds flat.
Our test vehicle, however, had the optional 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, upping the output to 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. That's significant thrust, with the Explorer's 0-60 time a very quick-for-its-class 5.1 seconds.
Getting that engine is pricey, though. It's standard on the top-of-the-line Explorer ST model, which starts almost $15,000 higher than the base Explorer Active, and it is only available as an extra-cost option ($4,615) on the Platinum trim, which, with it, becomes $2,605 more expensive than the ST.
Both engines have a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional. The EPA fuel economy estimate is 20 city/29 highway with the four-cylinder and rear-wheel drive, 20/27 with the four-cylinder and AWD, and 18/25 with the six, regardless of whether it's RWD or AWD.
Sixteen cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats becomes 46 when you press the power-folding buttons that are standard on the Explorer Platinum. Need more space? Fold the second row and there's 85 cubic feet.
Second-row legroom is generous at 39 inches. The third row, on the other hand (leg?) is cramped---just 32 inches.
The interior design is much more flowing and tasteful for 2025, with logically-placed controls and far less hard, cheap plastic where your eyes and hands are likely to encounter it.
The exact vehicle I drove came with a window sticker marked "VEHICLE NOT FOR SALE", with no pricing, but using the Ford consumer site's build tool tells us that the base price of the 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum RWD is $52,250. The engine upgrade to the V6 EcoBoost adds $4,615, giving us a real base of $56,865.
At that price, the standard equipment list is a long one, with a Class III trailer towing package, LED exterior lighting, heated, power-folding exterior mirrors, a moonroof, privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, an AC power outlet, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, second-row sunblinds, USB ports in all three rows, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, with a 14-speaker B&O sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Lux Leather Package, and a 90-day trial of Ford's semi-autonomous Blue Cruise system.
The great thing about the Platinum with the big engine is that there really aren't major options left. So, with $1,595 destination charges, the bottom line on a real-world window sticker of a for-sale 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum RWD with the EcoBoost V6 is $58,460.
With 13 direct competitors, staying near the top of segment sales isn't easy. The biggest reason the Explorer is still there is that it is a very good SUV, offering utility and performance.
