Text by Tom Appel
2025 Ford Explorer ST 4WD
Specs
Class: Midsize Crossover
Color: Rapid Red Metallic
Seating Capacity: 6
Miles driven: 261
Real-world fuel economy: 20.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 400-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 20/18/25 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $56,260 (not including $1595 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Sun and Sound Package ($2995) special paint ($495), 12-month BlueCruise subscription ($495)
Price as tested: $61,840
Pros and Cons
The great: Roomy, refined, plenty of power
The good: Upscale cabin, European-style ride and handling
The not so good: We weren’t ready for a $60,000 Explorer
Review
Question: How do you want your 2025 Explorer? Your options included affordable but kind of premium, sporty looking, seriously premium, or actually sporty. Looking for more to choose from? Sorry, Ford dramatically simplified the Explorer lineup as part of a significant 2025 freshening.
Changes for 2025
The ’25 update includes update styling inside and out, a newly available black-roof option, and the availability of Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system. Gone for 2025 are the XLT, Limited, off-road-oriented Timberline, and leather-infused King Ranch trim levels.
Prices and Trim Levels
A similarly outdoorsy Temor trim level is expected to replace the departed Timberline at some point, likely for the 2026 model year. For 2025, the Explorer lineup looks like this:
- Active (base, $1,450)
- ST-Line (sporty looking, $46,210)
- Tremor (2026?)
- Platinum (luxury, $53,845)
- ST (sporty, $55,855)
Engine
All but the ST feature a 310-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Standard on the ST, and available on the Platinum is a 400-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Both engines mate to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the standard power-delivery setup on all Explorers, with AWD available (a $2000 add).
Ford Edge Discontinued
Explorer becomes the only midsize crossover in Ford dealerships this year, with the 2-row Edge having been discontinued after 2024. And while the off-road oriented Bronco technically serves as a midsize SUV, it lacks the cabin space, mechanical refinement, and fuel economy to serve a family as well as the Explorer.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 AWD Ford Explorer ST in Rapid Red. Equipped with special paint (Rapid Red), a 1-year BlueCruise subscription ($495) and the Sun and Sound Package ($2995) our test truck came to $61,345 including destination.
Design
From the outside, our test ST looked the part of a sporty crossover. The red paint and black wheels work well together, and the truck looks striking even from a distance. Likewise, inside, the black leather upholstery with red stitching comes off as both classy and athletic.
Passenger Space
Getting into and out of the cabin is easy enough; the Explorer is plenty large and roomy, and the big door openings make egress simple. There is ample space even for larger adults in both forward seating rows, less so in the 3rd row. That said, even spry high schoolers will find the far-back seating arrangement adequate for even longer missions.
Cabin
Ford updated its infotainment system for the new year, and it works well. The largish touchscreen offers up clear and simple icons, and there is no delay in responding to touch inputs. The driver seating position is excellent, at least for this large editor, who found it easy to adjust the seat for optimal comfort and outward visibility.
Controls and Connectivity
More cabin tidbits: Most-used controls fall easily to hand, cabin materials look and feel substantial and upscale, and the available Bang & Olufsen-brand audio system is excellent. We do wish, however, that the updated touchscreen interface incorporated more color, and less black screen area. Though easy to read, the screen presentation is surprisingly dreary.
Ride and Handling
On the road, the Explorer ST feels like a well-engineered sporty crossover. The ride and handling balance is excellent, with no complaints from us about the sport suspension messing up overall comfort. There’s some real heft to the steering, as well as nicely controlled lean in corners, and strong, reassuring-feeling brakes. The cabin is quiet, too, making for relaxed longer trips.
Power and Performance
We have complained in the past about this drivetrain’s uneven power deliver, but found our particular test car free of that condition. Indeed, the Explorer ST delivers plenty of smooth and progressive power, and makes quick work of passing and merging situations. The turbocharged V6 produces some pretty compelling noise in the process. Not to worry, the engine quiets down entirely in routine driving. As an added bonus, we averaged better than 20 mpg over 263 miles of mostly city driving.
BlueCruise
We didn’t have the opportunity to fully evaluate the BlueCruise driving system in this test vehicle, but have enjoyed extended use of the technology on other Ford and Lincoln products. We were impressed by how relaxed a long drive can be with BlueCruise in operation, and enjoyed the trip more because of it. That said, $495 is a significant amount of money to spend for something you may not use. Be sure your regular automotive routine would justify the subscription cost.
Value
While we find the Explorer’s standard 2.3-liter engine entirely satisfying in regular driving, we can whole-heartedly endorse the available V6 for more energetic commuting. Additionally, the ST’s handling and braking upgrades do little to compromise the vehicle’s ambient comfort and refinement. We like the ST, but perhaps slightly prefer the more relaxed Platinum trim level. You can read our review of that Explorer here.
For shoppers unwilling to commit to the ST with its performance upgrades, consider the more-affordable ST-Line, which looks good, is still plenty quick, and costs less.
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2025 Ford Explorer Platinum Pictures
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