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Ford’s refreshed midsize SUV gets revised exterior/interior styling and new tech.
The public will get its first look at the freshened 2025 Ford Explorer at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show. Sporting updated exterior styling, a revamped interior, and new availability of the brand’s BlueCruise autonomous driving tech, the domestic automaker is hoping these changes will allow this midsize SUV to remain front and center in the minds of consumers.
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2025 Ford Explorer
It’s not as if Explorer is in dire need of help moving units. The three-row, seven-seat SUV is on a heater, with sales volume up more than 20 percent in January 2024 versus the same month last year. The 2025 freshening is the first major update Explorer has received since the current iteration debuted for the 2020 model year.
Ford has pared down the number of Explorer trims to four from eight. Instead of ascending from a base grade, the lineup moves more laterally depending on what a potential buyer values most. The 2025 roster comprises luxury Platinum, sport-themed ST-Line, outdoorsy Active, and high-performance ST.
Exterior styling updates for 2025 include a larger front grille and sleeker LED front headlights. The rear fascia sees some nip-and-tuck tweaks, and all grades but the Active are available with a black-painted roof option.
The interior sees the most changes for 2025. The dashboard has been pushed forward to give the impression of an airier space for front-seat occupants. There’s a new space for a wireless smartphone charging pad along with USB power points for all seating rows. A new instrument panel and 13.2-inch, tablet-style touchscreen infotainment display are easier to read and navigate. Explorer will include Google Built-in services and 5G mobile WiFi hotspot connectivity. Cabin materials also get an upgrade across the board with more visually appealing textures and nicer-feeling surfaces. Available amenities, depending on trim selection, include power-folding exterior mirrors and third-row seats, heated second-row seats, multi-color ambient lighting, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
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Ford is not making any changes under the hood for 2025. Platinum, ST-Line, and Active models retain their 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Standard on the ST and optional on the Platinum is a 3.0-liter turbo V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The sole transmission is a 10-speed automatic. All grades will offer a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. ST-Line and ST buyers will receive a complimentary course at Ford’s Performance Racing School in Asheville, North Carolina, or Park City, Utah.
Customer and dealer orders for the 2025 Ford Explorer are open now. Pricing starts at $41,220 including mandatory destination fee. Initial deliveries are expected to take place in the second quarter of this year.
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CG Says:
Ford has made some worthwhile improvements to the Explorer for 2025. Customers should appreciate the simplified model lineup, more premium looking and feeling interior, and the fact that you can get the high-power V6 engine in a model other than the ST. We look forward to putting this freshened SUV through its paces.
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