Exploring The Future: 5 Key Features of The 2025 Ford Explorer

The reveal of the 2025 Ford Explorer aims to continue the model’s legacy as America’s best-selling SUV. What sets these Explorers apart from their predecessors is how they will be setting the new standard regarding its driving experience, interior comfort, exterior design, and advanced new technology. In a press release, the 2025 Ford Explorer is “Ford’s best Explorer yet.”

Available in four models, the Active, the ST-Line, the high-performance ST, and the high-end Platinum, this new addition to the Explorer line will feature new exterior color options, interior texture and material choices, and the debut of the new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system. Future customers will also be able to enjoy Ford BlueCruise for convenient, hands-free highway driving.

“For nearly 35 years, families have chosen the Ford Explorer, making it America’s all-time best-selling SUV. We have refined almost every part of the new Explorer – focusing on a redesigned interior, additional technology like BlueCruise hands-free highway driving and special editions like the 400 horsepower Explorer ST. It’s the right combination of delivering what the next generation of customers want and love in a large SUV.” Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue.

So let’s take a closer look at what makes the 2025 Ford Explorer a big step forward for America’s best-selling SUV.

1. Enhanced Level of Comfort

Preproduction model of the 2025 Ford Explorer. Available spring 2024.

The 2025 Ford Explorer is raising the bar for comfort with a completely redesigned interior. New fine details, surfaces, and colors deliver eye-catching awe from the silver mesh accents, wrap-and-stitch soft-touch surfaces on the center console, door panels, and redesigned dash. ActiveX durable and premium synthetic seating material is also an available option.

The dashboard has been pushed forward to give front-row passengers more legroom in an open and spacious cabin. Below the touchscreen is an integrated tray that features a wireless phone charging pad, as well as USB connections to charge mobile devices in all three rows.

“The new Explorer starts with a great foundation. Customers told us they love the way it drives and the choice of rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. So, we focused on improving other areas including redesigning the interior with new materials, textures and colors to make sitting inside Explorer as enjoyable as driving one.” – Kelley Clark, Explorer chief engineer

The 2025 Ford Explorer brings new standard interior color schemes across the lineup:

Platinum

Mojave Dusk leather instrument panel, door panels and console with matched accent stitching
Mojave Dusk leather seats with matched accent stitching

Black Onyx instrument panel, door panels and console with red accent stitching
Black Onyx ActiveX® seats with Miko suede inserts and red accent stitching

ST-Line

Black Onyx instrument panel, door panels and console with red accent stitching
Black Onyx ActiveX® seats with cloth inserts and red accent stitching

Active

Ultra Dark Space Gray instrument panel, door panels and console with Harvest Bronze accent stitching
Dark Gray soft-touch seats with Black Onyx inserts and Harvest Bronze accent stitching

2. Superior Driving Experience

The 2025 Ford Explorer will be the first factory-production model to include the new Ford Digital Experience, which allows customers to access their digital life from inside the SUV. The interface is purposefully designed to allow riders to personalize their profiles through content and apps, elevating their time behind the wheel, wether they are driving or parked.

The 13.2-inch touchscreen is integrated with several Google applications like Google Maps, which has its navigation screen displayed on both the screen itself and the 12.3-inch digital cluster. Users can also access Google Assistant and Alexa for hands-free voice commands for in-vehicle controls like internal temperature, search info, finding and setting destinations, and requesting specific broadcasts and radio stations. It is also useful when making calls, sending texts, scheduling meetings, and even controlling devices that are connected at home.

There is a healthy helping of downloadable entertainment apps available to stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM. These apps can also be accessed whether a smartphone is connected to the vehicle or not.

When the Explorer is in park there is an impressive number of entertainment features available such as:

Watch videos and stream movies and TV shows on YouTube, Prime Video, and more
Browse the web via the Vivaldi Browser app, Google Chrome (coming soon), as well as through an optional Bluetooth-connected keyboard
Play video games on the touchscreen by selecting from a growing list of games available on Google Play, such as the Ford-exclusive version of Asphalt Nitro 2. Users can also connect a Bluetooth gaming controller for a more hands-on experience

The Ford Digital Experience platform is designed to take on more apps and services in the future through over-the-air software updates to improve one’s riding experience. In addition, it is equipped with 5G wireless technology that, when paired with a Ford Premium Connectivity plan, provide immediate internet access. Customers will also have the option of activating a Wi-Fi hot spot that allows online access to up to 10 mobile devices.

3. BlueCruise Hands-Free Highway Driving

As a more exclusive feature, the Ford BlueCruise hardware will only be available on select trims of the 2025 Ford Explorer. By enabling BlueCruise, customers will be able to enjoy a hands-free driving experience for those long road trips on the highway, or when navigating stop-and-go traffic.

Through the use of artificial intelligence, this semi-autonomous driver assistance system is capable of braking, accelerating, and steering entirely on its own. However, it is strongly recommended that users continue to keep their eyes on the road at all times.

Lane Change Assist is another feature that comes with BlueCruise, which allows the driver to switch lanes by simply tapping the turn signal when the path is clear. This is followed by In-Lane Repositioning, which gives the SUV more space by subtly shifting away from other vehicles in adjacent lanes.

4. Bolder Exterior Design

The 2025 Explorer aims to be a bolder and more pronounced version of itself with additional options for future customers to personalize their ride. The front of the SUV features a larger grille, sleek LED headlamps, front skid plate, and lower, wider air curtains that lower the vehicle’s visual focal point.

In addition, the Platinum, ST, and ST-Line trims feature a blacked-out roof option.

The liftgate also continues the Explorer’s redesign, with LED taillamps extending from the corners to the horizontal nameplate that stretches across the liftgate.

Of course, the 2025 Explorer lineup will feature a unique grille exclusive to each specific model:

Platinum: Unique wing design, satin chrome and Ebony grille
ST: Honeycomb gloss black grille with black mesh insert and ST badging
ST-Line: Honeycomb gloss black grille with black mesh insert
Active: Saw-tooth design, black mesh grille with chrome bars

There are also seven wheel options available for the 2025 Explorer, including:

18-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum – standard on Active
20-inch Carbonized Gray-painted aluminum – available on Active
20-inch Ebony machined, painted aluminum – standard on ST-Line
21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum – standard on ST, available on ST-Line
20-inch Luster Nickel-painted aluminum – standard on Platinum, available on Active
20-inch polished aluminum – available on Platinum
21-inch dark alloy polished aluminum – available on Platinum

5. Engine Options and Extra Features

Each of the four 2025 Ford Explorer trims will also come with two available engine options: the 2.3-liter EcoBoost and the 400 horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost. In addition, each model will have their own factory features ranging from wheel size and style, as well as the choice of 2WD and 4WD.

Platinum

2.3-liter EcoBoost® standard
400 horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost available
Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
20-inch luster nickel-painted aluminum wheels standard

400 hp 3.0-liter EcoBoost®
Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels standard

ST-Line

2.3-liter EcoBoost®
Real-wheel standard; four-wheel drive available
20-inch Ebony machine-painted aluminum wheels standard

Active

2.3-liter EcoBoost®
Real-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
18-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum wheels standard

The order books for the 2025 Ford Explorer are officially open with a starting MSRP of $41,220, including destination and delivery charges. Customers can expect these vehicles to arrive at dealerships in Q2 of 2024.