The Ford Explorer has long been a leader in the ultra-competitive three-row SUV segment, blazing a new path and setting a high bar that can be difficult for some of its competitors to match. The Explorer can be largely credited with the modern SUV craze, bringing the format to the masses when it first hit dealerships all the way back in 1991. If you’re hunting for a Ford Explorer for sale, you’ll notice that 2025 brings a lot of changes for the storied SUV. Ford has reduced the SUV’s trim ladder down to four models, simplifying the buying process while retaining all those features that have made the Explorer such a popular choice over the last three decades.
The Explorer has also been treated to some thoroughly modern upgrades, with Ford introducing its BlueCruise hands-free driving system and a new infotainment software platform for the latest model year. While these are both exciting additions, they scratch the surface of all the 2025 model offers. Read on as we review some of the top features of the Ford Explorer and see why this year’s version might just be the best we’ve seen.
The Innovative BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving Technology
Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving technology allows you to sit back, relax, and let the Explorer do all the work. It’s a boon to any long road trip or drivers who are tired of the frustrating stop-and-go traffic that can pop up during the daily rush hour; BlueCruise can handle braking, accelerating, and even steering. That doesn’t mean drivers can check out entirely; the system is built with a driver-attention feature that ensures you’re keeping your eyes on the road and are ready to take over at a moment’s notice, but it still represents a major improvement over the semi-autonomous driving features of the past.
The 2025 Explorer is running the latest BlueCruise 1.2 software, an updated version that enables Lane Change Assist, In-Lane Repositioning, and Adaptive Cruise Control. From navigating sharp curves and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles to automatically braking and detecting potential hazards, BlueCruise provides an intriguing peek into the future of driving technology. Ford’s BlueCruise has been included on a select number of models in 2022 and now makes its way into the 2025 Explorer. Available on the ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trims, this Level 2 hands-free driving system is compatible with over 130,000 miles of road across the US and Canada.
The ST Trim
With two brawny engines to choose from, the 2025 Ford Explorer can easily be customized to your unique driving needs. In the market for a reliable, well-rounded family vehicle that maximizes fuel economy? The Explorer’s turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is here to serve. Powering the Active, ST-Line, and Limited trims, the base engine offers 300 hp while minimizing your time at the pump with an EPA-estimated 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
For those seeking something even more thrilling there’s the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. Limited to the sporty ST trim, this engine turns the Explorer into a true high-performance SUV with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque to its name. Boasting a top speed of 146 mph, a zero-to-60-mph time of just 5.2 seconds, and a host of performance-minded upgrades, the ST is the Explorer at its most athletic. The ST also features a flat-bottom steering wheel and a sport-tuned suspension that improves the Explorer’s handling by giving it a lower center of gravity, not to mention available 4WD and a range of exclusive styling touches. From quad chrome exhaust tips and 21-inch magnetite-painted aluminum wheels to a black-painted roof, twin-panel moonroof, and a distinctive Ford Performance hood graphic, there’s no mistaking the ST for any other Explorer trim.
ActiveX Upholstery
When selecting their next car, truck or SUV, buyers don’t tend to spend too much time weighing different upholstery options. Given the fact that the average driver will spend almost 300 hours behind the wheel each year, that could be a major oversight. The right upholstery can make all the difference when it comes to comfort with the wrong choice potentially impacting the entire driving experience. That’s where Ford’s ActiveX seating comes in.
Available on every 2025 Explorer trim, ActiveX is a high-end synthetic seating material that mimics the look and feel of premium leather upholstery without any of the downsides. The 2025 Explorer ST and ST-Line both come standard with ActiveX seats done up in an alluring Black Onyx colorway, with the ST seeing the addition of ultra-soft Miko seating surfaces.
ActiveX might look like leather, but Ford says it’s actually more durable and better at resisting temperature fluctuations, which means no more scalding your legs on white-hot seats or shivering your way to comfort on a cold winter warming. The material is easier to clean and, unlike leather, isn’t as prone to fading, cracking, or tearing. ActiveX is also a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious driver. Derived entirely from recycled plastic bottles, the material offers all the advantages of traditional leather upholstery while eschewing the use of any animal products. Add all these advantages together and it’s easy to see why ActiveX and other forms of synthetic upholstery are becoming a popular replacement for the leather seats of old.
The Ford Digital Experience
Infotainment tech is quickly becoming one of the biggest make-or-break factors in today’s auto drivers. Drivers expect their vehicles to be packed with advanced communication, entertainment, and convenience features while providing a seamless connection to their favorite apps and streaming services. While some automakers have fallen behind the curve when it comes to offering this sort of technology, Ford is a notable exception. The company’s Sync infotainment system has been elevating the driving experience since 2007, but is now making way for an all-new, Google-based platform dubbed the Ford Digital Experience (FDE).
The 2025 Explorer serves as the launch pad for this new FDE software, turning the midsize SUV into one of the brand’s most up-to-date models by providing an unprecedented level of customization. In the era of the smartphone, consumers expect every screen to provide a bespoke digital experience. The FDE does exactly that, creating a custom profile for each driver and integrating popular apps like Google Maps, Spotify, Audible, and more right into the standard (and expansive) 13.2-inch display. Riders can also use voice commands to control the system hands-free and connect to their phones via Apple CarPLay and Android Auto, but it’s FDE’s ability to act as a screening room on wheels that really sets it apart from the competition.
When the Explorer is in park, users can access the wide world of streaming services, catching up on the latest TV shows and movies from YouTube, Prime Video, and more thanks to the SUV’s 5G Wi-Fi hotspot. Can’t agree on what to watch? The hotspot can also be used to connect up to 10 devices to the lightning-fast connection, giving each passenger the opportunity to access their preferred media. If you’re in the mood for a little web surfing and don’t want to tax your smartphone’s data plan, the 5G connection can be used to access the Explorer’s Vivaldi Browser app or Google Chrome.
Ford even provides an available Bluetooth-connected keyboard to make navigating the browser just a little easier, but it’s the ability to sync to a Bluetooth gaming controller that really caught our attention this time around. FDE allows Explorer passengers to play a number of titles from the Google Play store right on the 13.2-inch infotainment display. This includes some Ford exclusives like Asphalt Nitro 2, a high-octane racing game that’ll help keep your driving skills sharp even when you’re parked.
There’s a Lot to Love About Ford’s Newest Explorer
There are lots of reasons to consider a Ford Explorer when you’re in the market for a new family-friendly SUV, but we’ve only had time to share a few of our favorites. In addition to the hands-free BlueCruise driving system, high-performance ST trim, ActiveX seating, and the brand new Ford Digital Experience software, drivers and critics have also been won over by the Explorer’s revamped styling, eight USB ports, 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo and the roomy three-row interior with comfortable seating for up to seven passengers.
The 2025 Explorer might not bear many similarities to the 2024 model despite being part of the same generation, but it’s just that sort of adaptability that’s kept the SUV feeling fresh for well over 30 years. Ford’s commitment to innovation means models like the Explorer are always improving, leveraging the latest and greatest in automotive tech and styling to make each year’s cars, trucks, and SUVs better than the last.
