Ford Explorer Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Trim, Engine and Drivetrain

The Explorer suits families who need a third row some of the time, want room for luggage most of the time, and may tow a small trailer or drive in snow. Two decisions matter most when you buy one: whether the seating layout really works for your household, and which engine and drivetrain you need. Trim comes after those.

Which version

Seats and space

Ford describes the Explorer as having available seating for up to seven. On the 2027 model page, the specifications show seven seats for Active, ST-Line and Platinum, and six for Tremor. The difference between six and seven is usually the second row: two separate chairs or a three-person bench. Chairs make it easier to reach the third row; a bench carries one more person.

Seating layouts can vary with options, so confirm the layout on the actual vehicle. Do not rely on a listing's trim name alone.

Engines

Ford's 2027 page lists two engines:

The four-cylinder is the mainstream choice. The V6 is for buyers who want stronger performance and accept the higher fuel use that normally comes with it. Compare the two for your model year and drivetrain at fueleconomy.gov, since the figures differ by configuration. Ford's current Explorer page does not list a hybrid.

Drivetrain

This is the detail people most often get wrong. Ford's page shows Active, ST-Line, Platinum and ST as rear-wheel drive with Intelligent 4WD available, and Tremor with Intelligent 4WD. So two Explorers of the same trim on the same lot can have different drivetrains, and different prices. If you want four-wheel drive, confirm it on the window sticker.

Trims

• Active is the entry trim. It has the standard engine and the core equipment. Check the feature list against your must-haves, especially for driver-assistance items you care about.
• ST-Line adds sportier styling with the standard four-cylinder engine. It is the look of the ST without the V6.
• Tremor is the off-road-oriented trim, with four-wheel drive and the V6 available.
• Platinum is the luxury-leaning trim, with the V6 available.
• ST is the performance trim, listed with the V6.

Where the value sits depends on your list. If you need four-wheel drive and a usable third row and little else, an entry trim with 4WD may cover it. If you want the V6, your choice narrows to three trims. How to choose a trim level walks through the method.

New or used

Ford announced an updated Explorer for the 2025 model year. Its newsroom describes changes focused on the interior, technology and exterior styling, with a 2025 lineup of Active, ST-Line, ST and Platinum. That gives you one practical boundary when shopping used: a 2025-or-newer Explorer has the updated cabin and screens, and an earlier one does not. Trim names also differ by year, so a trim on sale today may not exist on older used examples, and older trims you see in listings may no longer be sold new.

We could not confirm from Ford's newsroom, during our check, the exact model year the current generation began. To find it, search Ford's newsroom for the model year you are considering, or look the model up at NHTSA and IIHS, where a change in the rating or body description between two years usually marks a redesign. It matters because the first year of a new design and the last year of an old one are different vehicles at similar prices.

We do not publish reliability verdicts or lists of common problems. Check the specific vehicle:

• Recalls: run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Open recalls are repaired free by a Ford dealer. See checking recalls before you buy.
• Complaints: read NHTSA owner complaints for that model year and look for repeated themes.
• Crash ratings: check the exact year at iihs.org/ratings. Ratings and headlight scores can vary by year and trim.

If you are weighing a nearly new used Explorer against a new one or a certified one, new vs used vs CPO lays out the trade-offs.

What to check on this SUV specifically

These follow from what an Explorer is: a three-row family vehicle that may tow and may have four-wheel drive.

• Third row, for real. Put the people who will sit there in it. Check headroom, knee room and how easy it is to climb in with a child seat fitted in the second row.
• Every seat mechanism. Fold and raise each second- and third-row seat. Test any power-fold buttons several times. These get heavy use in family vehicles.
• Cargo with the third row up. Bring your stroller or bags. Space behind a raised third row is limited in most three-row SUVs.
• Child-seat anchors. Count the lower anchor positions and top tethers and check they match your needs.
• Rear climate and vents. Sit in the back with the air conditioning running. Confirm the rear controls work.
• Four-wheel drive. If fitted, try the drive modes. Listen for clunks or binding in tight, slow turns. Check that all four tyres match in brand and wear, which matters on four-wheel-drive vehicles.
• Towing equipment. If you plan to tow, look for a factory hitch and wiring and confirm the rating for that exact vehicle in the owner's manual. If a used one has a hitch, ask what it towed.
• Driver-assistance features. Test each one the listing claims. Some connected or hands-free driving features on modern vehicles depend on a subscription or trial, so ask what is active and for how long.
• Interior wear. Family vehicles show their history in the second row: stained carpets, broken seatback pockets, sticky switches.

On the test drive, include a highway stretch, a rough road and a parking manoeuvre. How to test drive a car has a route plan.

How to shop it with live prices

Open the Explorer market page. The live prices on this page show today's median asking price, the range, and the trims dealers actually have in stock with a median for each.

1. Find your trim in the table and see how common it is. Scarce trims give you fewer cars to play off against each other.
2. Match the drivetrain. Compare rear-wheel-drive cars with rear-wheel-drive cars. A price gap between two listings of the same trim is often just 4WD or a package.
3. Look at price history and days listed. Long-listed vehicles with repeated price drops are where a dealer is most open to an offer.
4. Ask for the out-the-door price in writing from each dealer. Out-the-door price explains what should be in it.

Next steps

Settle your seat layout, engine and drivetrain. Pick the lowest trim that covers your must-haves. Shortlist three matching vehicles from the live prices on this page, run each VIN for recalls, and request written out-the-door quotes before you visit a showroom.