2021 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is a stalwart of the midsize SUV segment. It’s been on sale for thirty years now, and entered its sixth generation for the 2020 model year. It carries over to 2021 mostly unchanged with only modest updates, including such as new standard features (the near-base XLT gets heated seats and the top-shelf Platinum trim gets a cargo organizer), a new Sport Appearance Package for the XLT trim with 20-inch wheels and the new leather-clad King Ranch trim slots in just above the Limited.

A whopping six trims are on offer for the 2021 model year, along with four powertrain choices and several standalone options and options packages. Trims include: Base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, King Ranch, ST, and Platinum. The Base, XLT and Limited trims come with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four that produces 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. EcoBoost is Ford’s naming convention for its fuel-minded turbocharged engine.

Buyers that are equally into cars as they are in need of a family hauler will prefer the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 on the Platinum that delivers 365 horsepower. The sportier ST uses the same engine tuned for 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid uses a 3.3-liter V6 coupled with an electric motor for a combined output of 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is available across the lineup. All models use a 10-speed automatic transmission and have a terrain management system with seven selectable drive modes.

All 2021 Explorer models have more than enough power to get the hefty SUV moving (curb weight ranges between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds), but the spicy ST trim is on another level entirely. Its 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque generate enough go-power for the Explorer to run from zero to 60 mph in just over five seconds, a feat typically reserved for exotic cars such as the Acura NSX not all that long ago. Ford’s EcoBoost engines have a distinct turbo sound, but the Explorer ST’s turbos produce a more satisfactory whoosh as they spool up.

On the road, the Explorer equipped with the 2.3-liter four-cylinder is firm and confident but has trouble on the rough surfaces such as potholes and unmaintained roads (this powertrain is standard on the base, XLT and Limited trims). 

Using the selectable drive modes will help optimize ride quality off road or in inclement weather. The 21-inch wheels that are standard on the Platinum trim and available on the ST neither improve or destroy the ride. The 18-inch wheels on the base and XLT trim and 20-inchers on everything else will be more manageable. All models remain stable in the corners and don’t exhibit an abundance of body roll or movement. The ST trim’s sport-tuned independent front and rear suspension and intelligent four-wheel drive help the SUV claw its way through corners with surprising agility.

The wide range of powertrain options make the Explorer’s fuel economy ratings equally as broad. The base 2.3-liter engine and RWD yield fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined; adding 4WD drops those ratings by 1 mpg in each category. The 3.0-liter V6 and rear-drive combo achieves 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined, and 4WD knocks the highway and combined numbers down slightly to 24 and 20, respectively. As expected, the Limited Hybrid variant fares the best in fuel economy testing: It’s rated at 27 mpg in city driving, 28 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg combined with RWD and 23 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with 4WD.

Inside, the Explorer is simple and usable. It looks good on the surface, but it does suffer from the use of cheap-looking materials. Up front, the deep, cushy bucket seats are comfortable around town and on longer road trips. Seats heaters and ventilation are available and can be added to the optional second-row captain’s chairs. Because it’s so uncomplicated, the Explorer’s cabin feels larger than its stats. There’s plenty of head (40.5 inches) and legroom (39 inches) in the front two rows, even when the vehicle is equipped with the optional twin-panel moonroof. If opting for the standard bench, it’s surprisingly comfortable compared with segment rivals. Bonus: the bench’s middle seat is actually usable, thanks to a generous amount of hip room (59.1 inches). The third row legroom isn’t the worst (32.2 inches) but it does not meet the bar set by the Volkswagen Atlas, which provides rear passengers with almost 34 inches of legroom.

Cargo space behind the third row is 18.2 cubic-feet and sits in the No. 3 position among the frontrunners in this category. The Atlas, again, is on the podium with 20.6 cubic-feet of stowage. Chevrolet’s Traverse, which is an oversized midsize entry that stretches 204.3 inches in length (versus the Explorer’s near 199 inches), offers 23 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row. With the rear seats folded flat, storage expands to 47.8 cubic-feet.

Ford’s Sync3 infotainment system is one of the best on the market because its menus are intuitive and clearly labeled, and the system is simple enough to use while driving without being too distracting. It works cohesively with the Explorer’s available 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen (an 8-inch touchscreen is standard), but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard across the lineup which requires little learning curve. A six-speaker audio system is standard, and higher trim levels get a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen system.

The 2021 Ford Explorer landed a Top Safety Pick + award from the Insurance Institute for  Highway Safety. That rating includes “Good” scores in all crashworthiness categories and “Superior” cores for crash prevention systems. Every Explorer gets Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assist features that includes forward collision warnings, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warnings and lane keep assist. Opting for Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, road sign recognition and evasive steering assist. A 360-degree camera system also is available.

The Ford Explorer offers a wide variety of powertrains and customization options, but ultimately can’t match up to its competition from Korea and Europe. At the Explorer’s price point, it’s hard to make a strong argument that it’s “worth” the upcharge, when there are so many great options that effectively bundle a high-end cabin experience, a dynamic ride quality and more standard features for the same or less money overall.