2025 Ford Explorer First Look

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QuickTakes:

• Revamped interior offers upgraded materials, horizontal touchscreen
• New infotainment uses Google-based tech
• Simplified lineup comes in just four trim levels

The Ford Explorer is one of the automaker's strongest sellers — the company even says it's the all-time bestselling SUV in the U.S. So when Ford decides to make significant changes to this three-row SUV, it's a big deal. Those changes come this summer with the introduction of the 2025 Ford Explorer, which arrives with a refreshed exterior design, updated interior style, and a range of new high-tech features, including Ford's advanced hands-free driving system, BlueCruise.

While the new Explorer has a noticeably bolder look, exterior styling updates are more evolutionary than revolutionary. The 2025 Explorer features a restyled front end with a more prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and a front skid plate that gives the big SUV a stronger stance. Additional style updates include new LED taillights that wrap around the corners, extending into the liftgate for a wider stance. Wheels are also redesigned across the board.

While the exterior changes are relatively minor, updates inside are more significant.

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Revamped Interior Offers Upgraded Materials, Horizontal Touchscreen

The 2025 Ford Explorer has been redesigned to offer a more premium experience, from the base-level Active to the top-level Platinum. High-quality materials are found throughout the cabin, with soft touch points and standard interior color schemes for each trim. Accent stitching on the dashboard, doors, and center console is a nice touch, while the upper section of the dashboard houses speakers covered in a fabric that looks like a high-quality home speaker system. Ambient lighting with a choice of seven colors is also available, adding to the premium look of the cabin.

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At the center of the dashboard is an integrated tray for storage and the available wireless charging pad. Not only is this a convenient location, but it also adds a nice design element to the horizontal dashboard design. An additional covered storage area is at the front of the center console with dual USB ports; however, the lid doesn't slide out of the way, making it difficult to access items inside.

One of the most noticeable changes is the move to a horizontal infotainment display, replacing the vertical screen in the current Explorer. The 13.2-inch display is newly standard on all Explorers, as is the 12.3-inch digital driver display. Physical buttons have almost been completely eliminated, with primary functions accessed via the touchscreen display. The volume knob, however, remains.

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New Infotainment Uses Google-Based Tech

The 2025 Ford Explorer comes standard with the new Ford Digital Experience, a completely updated infotainment system. SYNC is gone, replaced by a Google-based system with extensive customization capability and popular features such as Google Maps and Google Assistant. Ford designed the new infotainment system to let voice control take a more prominent role, and the automaker offers Alexa Built-in alongside the default Google Assistant. With the integration of Google Maps as the native navigation system, the map can be shown on the center display or in the digital instrument cluster.

Customers will be able to customize the experience with apps from the Google Play store, including Spotify or Amazon Music. And even more entertainment options are available to the driver when the Explorer is parked.

With a 5G wireless connection, the system lets you surf the web, in addition to streaming videos or movies via apps such as YouTube or Prime Video. Browsing is made easier with the option of connecting a Bluetooth keyboard. There's also an available Wi-Fi hot spot for up to 10 mobile devices.

There are even games available for download from the Google Play store, including a Ford-exclusive version of Asphalt Nitro 2, which lets passengers drive a Ford Mustang via the touchscreen or with a Bluetooth controller.

For the first time, the Explorer will be offered with Ford's hands-free driving system, BlueCruise. Available for use on more than 130,000 miles of controlled-access freeways in the U.S., BlueCruise uses adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and a speed sign recognition system to provide Level 2 driving assist, making it a truly hands-free system. This latest version also features Lane Change Assist, which will automatically change lanes with a tap of the turn signal, as well as In-Lane Repositioning that can shift the Explorer in the lane for further separation from vehicles in the next lane.

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Simplified Lineup Comes in Just Four Trim Levels

Ford is simplifying the Explorer lineup for the 2025 model year — the familiar XL and XLT trims are gone. Instead, the Explorer comes in four trim levels: Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum. The company also hinted at an off-road variant coming soon, but, as of publication, no further details have been released.

While the basic style remains the same, each trim gets a unique grille and wheel set. The base-level Active features a black mesh grille with chrome bars and 18-inch silver-painted wheels. A honeycomb gloss-black grille with a black mesh insert adorns the ST and ST-Line, although the ST gets ST badging as a differentiator. The ST-Line gets 20-inch Ebony machined aluminum wheels, while the ST features 21-inch Magnetite painted aluminum wheels. The top-level Platinum has a satin chrome and Ebony grille, matched with 20-inch Luster nickel-painted aluminum wheels.

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With the new lineup, Ford has increased the level of standard equipment for all Explorer trims. Every Explorer gets heated power front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, eight USB ports (with two in the third row), a power liftgate, LED headlights, and Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite of advanced driver-assistance features.

Each trim has a standard interior color scheme, adding to the lineup's simplicity, although several custom packages can enhance the interior colors and materials. For example, the Explorer Platinum can be upgraded with Platinum badging on front-row seats, in addition to what Ford calls Premium Sanctuary Leather with Tri-Diamond Micro-Perforated inserts. Further seat enhancements include accent stitching, piping, and quilting, complemented by quilting and accent stitching on door panels.

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Ford will offer the 2025 Explorer with two powertrains that carry over from the previous version. All but the ST get the latest version of the EcoBoost 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The high-performance 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 comes standard on the ST (optional on the Platinum), putting out 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft. All variants come standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is available on all trims.

The 2025 Ford Explorer is expected to arrive in showrooms in the second quarter of this year, with prices starting around $41,000.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.