If you’ve been waiting for a new family SUV that’s smarter, safer, and easier to live with every day, the 2025 Ford Explorer might be exactly what you’ve been hoping for.
Ford’s popular three-row SUV is getting a full redesign, and it looks like they’re fixing everything buyers asked for — from better tech and a more upscale interior to smarter hybrid options and sharper styling.
The Explorer has always been one of America’s best-selling SUVs, and the 2025 version shows Ford wants to keep it that way.
Let’s dive into everything we know about the new 2025 Ford Explorer — and whether it should be on your shopping list.
A Fresh, Sharper Design
The 2025 Explorer gets a full front and rear redesign, but Ford didn’t go crazy.
Instead, they cleaned things up, tightened the look, and gave the Explorer a sportier, slightly more upscale vibe.
The headlights are slimmer, sharper, and fully LED. The grille is bolder but less bulky than before, and the lower bumper has a more athletic shape. From the side, the Explorer’s profile looks a little sleeker, thanks to smoother body lines and better-integrated door handles.
At the back, new taillights stretch wider, and a more sculpted tailgate gives the SUV a more modern stance.
Overall, the 2025 Explorer doesn’t lose its identity — it just looks cleaner, fresher, and a little more ready to compete with stylish newcomers like the Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-90.
Interior: A Huge Step Up
If there was one area where buyers complained about the old Explorer, it was the interior.
Ford listened.
The 2025 Explorer’s cabin is a big upgrade, with better materials, smarter design, and a more premium feel across the board.
The dashboard is totally new. It’s dominated by a wide, horizontal 13.2-inch touchscreen running Ford’s latest Sync 4A system. Beneath that, physical buttons for climate control return — a welcome change for drivers who hated digging through menus just to adjust the temperature.
The center console is reworked for more usable space, with a better phone charging area and deeper storage bins.
Soft-touch materials cover most surfaces you’ll actually touch, and higher trims like the Platinum and ST-Line add stitched leather, metallic accents, and ambient lighting to boost the luxury feel.
The front seats are reshaped for more support, and heating and ventilation are available even on mid-level trims. Second-row passengers get improved legroom, and optional captain’s chairs make access to the third row easier.
Third-row space is still best suited for kids or shorter adults, but Ford improved the seat design to make longer trips more bearable back there.
Cargo space stays strong, with 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row and a huge 87.8 cubic feet with all seats folded down.
Overall, it finally feels like Ford gave the Explorer the interior it should have had all along.
New Hybrid and Powertrain Options
The 2025 Explorer keeps some familiar engines but adds smarter, more efficient choices too.
The base engine is still a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo-four making around 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s strong, smooth, and perfect for daily driving or light towing.
Above that, Ford continues to offer a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 in the Platinum and ST models, pushing out about 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. If you want serious power in a three-row SUV, this is it.
But the big news is the new hybrid option.
Ford is introducing an improved Explorer Hybrid model using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with electric motors.
Expect around 320 horsepower combined and 36–38 mpg in city driving — a huge win for families looking to save money at the pump without sacrificing space or towing ability.
All models come standard with rear-wheel drive, with optional all-wheel drive across the lineup.
Towing capacity remains strong too, with gas models towing up to 5,600 pounds and hybrids handling about 5,000 pounds — plenty for campers, boats, and trailers.
Tech and Safety: Smarter and Safer
The 2025 Explorer isn’t just about looking good and driving well. It’s loaded with tech too.
The new 13.2-inch touchscreen is faster, sharper, and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ford’s digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel gives you customizable displays for navigation, speed, and driver-assistance systems.
Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system is available on higher trims.
This lets you take your hands off the wheel on mapped highways while sensors and cameras monitor your attention and the road around you.
Standard safety features include:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear cross-traffic alert
Higher trims add extras like 360-degree cameras, traffic sign recognition, and upgraded collision-avoidance systems.
Families will appreciate the built-in rear-seat reminder system and an improved child-seat anchoring setup for easier installs.
Real-World Family Use: Built for Life
The 2025 Explorer isn’t just a spec sheet star. Ford clearly focused on making it better to live with every day.
Access to the third row is easier thanks to improved seat-slide mechanisms. The second-row captain’s chairs tilt and slide with one hand, and the pathways between seats are wider.
Cargo loading is simpler too, with a power liftgate standard on most trims and a lower lift-over height.
Ford’s interior storage areas are bigger and smarter. There’s more space under the center armrest, deeper door pockets, and clever slots for phones, tablets, and water bottles.
Noise insulation is improved across the board, making long highway trips quieter and less tiring.
If you’re a busy family hauling kids, pets, groceries, and sports gear every week, the new Explorer feels like it was built with you in mind.
Price and Trims
Ford hasn’t finalized all pricing yet, but here’s what to expect:
- Base Explorer: Around $39,000
- XLT: Around $42,000
- ST-Line: Around $46,000
- Limited: Around $48,000
- Platinum: Around $55,000
- ST (Performance Model): Around $57,000
The hybrid model will likely slot between the XLT and Limited trims, offering good value for eco-minded families.
Fully loaded models could push past $60,000, but for that, you’re getting real luxury features and strong towing ability in a stylish package.
Should You Buy It?
If you need a spacious, comfortable, tech-smart family SUV, the 2025 Ford Explorer should absolutely be on your shortlist.
Ford fixed the interior quality complaints, added smarter hybrid options, improved tech, and sharpened the driving experience — without messing up the Explorer’s strong points like space, towing, and everyday usability.
Compared to rivals like the Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride, the new Explorer now feels fully competitive again.
Personally, I think Ford nailed the redesign.
The 2025 Explorer looks better, drives better, and feels more premium — all without losing the rough-road toughness that made it so popular in the first place.
If you need a true family hauler that’s easy to live with Monday through Sunday, the new Explorer is a smart move.
