Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    By Drew Dowdell •

    Ford Updates the Explorer for 2025

      A refresh for the all-time best-selling SUV in America, plus a big jump in price.

    Ford unveiled the updated 2025 Ford Explorer today with a simplified engine lineup, trims, and revised exterior and interior.

    2025 Ford Explorer ST FrontFord has cut the number of trim options from eight to four, with just the Platinum, ST, ST-Line, and Active trims available.  All trims except ST come standard with the 300-horsepower 2.3-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder mated to a recalibrated 10-speed automatic. Available on the Platinum and standard on the ST is the 400-horsepower 3.0-liter Ecoboost V6.  All versions come standard as rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive optional.  The hybrid option was dropped from civilian Explorers after the 2023 model year.

    Outside, the primary visual difference is an enlarged grille, all-LED headlamp and tail lamp clusters, a front skid plate, and an updated tailgate.  Platinum, ST, and ST-Line buyers can select a black-painted roof option. Each trim line will receive a distinct grille.

    2025 Ford Explorer ST RearMost of the changes in the 2025 Explorer appear on the inside.  A reimagined interior has more soft material in high-touch locations.  The large vertically oriented infotainment screen in some 2020-2024 models has been replaced with a more traditional, horizontally mounted unit. The dashboard has been pushed forward to give front-row occupants a more open and spacious cabin.

    The 2025 Explorer also debuts Ford's new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system.  This 5G-enabled system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus has the ability to download select apps from the Google Play Store. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are built-in and designed to prioritize voice control over in-vehicle controls such as cabin temperature and entertainment selection. It can also control home automation systems.  This new platform allows for over-the-air updates for the first time in Explorer.

    2025 Ford Explorer ST DashboardWhen parked, Explorer customers can also use YouTube and Prime Video, as well as play select games available on the Google Play store. Surfing the web on the built-in Vivaldi browser app, or Google Chrome coming soon, is made easier with a Bluetooth-connected keyboard.

    Buyers of ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trim Explorers come equipped with Ford's BlueCruise hardware, enabling hands-free highway driving. Lane Change Assist is included, allowing the driver to pass with the tap of the turn signal when the path is clear.  New customers can activate their plan for one year at purchase or select a 90-day free trial.

    Following the trend of large price jumps in the large crossover market this year (see: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2024 Chevrolet Traverse), the base price of the 2024 Explorer jumps to $41,220, a $4,360 increase over the current model.

    The 2025 Ford Explorer will be in dealerships in the 2nd quarter this year.

    • Like 1
    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Drew Dowdell
    35 minutes ago, Paolino said:

    Nice update. The only thing I'm not 100% crazy on is the way the dash swoops down to reveal the rubber tray (I assume also wireless charging) in the center stack.

    Yes, that's a spot for the optional wireless phone charger.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt

    Will have to take a wait and see approach to this as when my son went SUV shopping in 2017 the Jeep Grand Cherokee won over the Explorer as the interior fit n finish was a huge difference between the too and now with the Jeep issues he ran into, he traded it in on a Kia Telluride. 

    Ford Recalls and poor interiors have a wait and see approach to their autos for my household.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Drew Dowdell
    2 hours ago, David said:

    Will have to take a wait and see approach to this as when my son went SUV shopping in 2017 the Jeep Grand Cherokee won over the Explorer as the interior fit n finish was a huge difference between the too and now with the Jeep issues he ran into, he traded it in on a Kia Telluride. 

    Ford Recalls and poor interiors have a wait and see approach to their autos for my household.

    Was the 2020+ model or the prior one?  The 2020+ model had really cheapo feeling door plastics.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    28 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    Was the 2020+ model or the prior one?  The 2020+ model had really cheapo feeling door plastics.

    It was a 2017 Explorer against the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Alex test drove both with the family and we all were not impressed with the interior of the Ford.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Drew Dowdell
    5 minutes ago, David said:

    It was a 2017 Explorer against the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Alex test drove both with the family and we all were not impressed with the interior of the Ford.

    Ah, that generation is such an odd duck, but people liked them.  They were solid and pretty reliable, but the seating position is odd and they have an unusually high step up for a unibody crossover.  It was an unusual deal breaker for me that I noticed the first time I got into one.  We had them as fleet vehicles at the last job and it was bad in winter because weather gunk would build up and then you'd get it on your pant leg getting in and out.

    Take a look:

    2017_ford_explorer_doors.jpg

    Compared to:

    2017-honda-pilot-touring-2wd-open-doors_100602012_l-585700677.jpg

    2016-chevrolet-traverse-fwd-4-door-ls-w-1ls-open-doors_100516156_l-1081523520.jpg

    2021_volkswagen_atlas_doors-3361707990.jpg

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×



  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      Another white cis male. A teen. A teen radicalized by hate.   No whole lotta media coverage either. Do not know how American media is wrapping this one up as the guy in the video says, a baby faced teen with mental health issues...but...   I know I went off bigly before, but there are SEVERAL themes I mentioned that NEED  to be addressed.  Violence begets violence.  Hate begets hate Violence and death is necessary when violence and death is staring you down. Dont mistake this for ANYTHING OTHER than violence and death...     Jon Stewart says violence should NEVER be tolerated. And he would be correct 100000%.  But he also says that is "their" problem.  NO!!!!  It is ALL of YOUS problem.  And the way Trump talks about MY country, Canada, it kinda looks like its MINE and my fellow Canadians' problem too, hence my violent rhetoric.    Violence (gun or otherwise) now has been accepted and romanticized by MANY Americans.   Lies have buried the truth and fascism has settled in. Peacefully because it is of the slowly boiling a frog scenario.  But hate and violence REVEALS itself every step of the way going forward. If you ignore it while waiting the courts to decide your fate, look again, the courts have been ignored by Trump. Some judges have been replaced with Trump sympathizers.  Dont think the US is becoming violent?   He says 1 death is too many. He asks how many deaths is too many? Violence should NEVER be tolerated after naming 50 school shootings the last 25 years but acknowledging there are plenty more to recognize going back further than 25 years...  He asks what the phoque are we (Americans) are doing?   THE PHOQUE ARE YOU PEOPLE DOING???!!!  And if THAT is the sentiment of the right wing morons that WANT war with the left, with Hyundai employees, with transgenders, with Canada and Canadians...then HOW THE PHOQUE ARE THE REST OF YOU GOING TO RESPOND???!!! Peacefully and with the courts???!!! Yeah...every act of war was NEVER won with give peace a chance, kumbaya sit downs.  Im afraid Yoko Ono/John Lennon Give Peace a Chance love songs are just a tad too late for peace to happen.  It kinda worked after the Viet Nam war for a while.  But American society let hate and violence creep into their world again...         
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      Blame a democrat?  They want to start a civil war with the left yet at the same time complain why there is no empathy for dear ole Charlie and at the same time say that empathy is a made up word with no meaning and empathy is not only a human weakness but empathy is also evil.  Therefore... Is it really horrible  when it comes to death, regardless of how that death was arranged, of misinforming, misleading, false narrative, hate filled  pricks that fuel hatred, bigotry, sexism, racism, homophobic rhetoric designed to divide? For me...it is not horrible when garbage is taken out.  It is necessary.   A society lets people and politicians like Trump and Charlie to spew lies and hatred and divisions happen within that society. Fascism creeps in and takes control.  The truth gets buried and never comes back.  Free speech for me but not for thee is standard practice.  Political violence is tolerated ONLY by those who want to take control.  And in this case, religion is used as a shield.  I find it repulsive when Christianity is used and abused the way it has been by America as a Greek Orthodox practitioner myself.  I also find it repulsive when right wing a55ho77e5 want to silence me by using my kindness, my religion against me as saying I am of the tolerant left and I should NOT revolt back because political violence is not a defining Christian trait and freedoms of this and freedoms of that.  Yet...the right wing BREAKS ALL OF THE RULES.  Hate speech begets hate. Charlie fueled hate. Charlie got hate back. By his own ilk un-ironically. Charlie tolerated violence. School shootings and public executions. Charlie got killed in a school setting by a very public setting. All that he tolerated and was killed by the very thing he preached and praised. By his own flock un-ironically.  And he did not get ANY empathy as even he admitted that empathy is INHUMANE and evil.  Well, colour me inhumane and evil, but I am only following his doctrine.  About religion and violence...Greece is thousands of years old. Greece has seen ALL kinds of political violence in its existence. The Hellenic peoples have seen it all throughout our history on this planet.  About political violence and Christianity being or not being involved. If any of you do not know what was the Ottoman empire, I suggest you read a history book.     As you could see, even if I am not American, (although Im very close in being one), I MOURN the state of the US possibly MORE than some of you that are phoquing afraid to fight for your rights and freedoms!!!    Take BACK your country!!! 
    • Drew Dowdell
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By Drew Dowdell · Posted

      Yeah, someone skilled with a rifle in Utah and they immediately wanted to blame a democrat 
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      (Notice  I chose old geezers to wish you a happy birthday?)    (notice that I used a donkey to simulate that Im joking?  Because I could be such an ass sometimes?)   
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      White cis male from a Mormon gun lovin' and totin' family, Halloween Trump costume wearin' Utah resident no less, at that.   

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search