2022 Ford Explorer

Now in its sixth generation, the 2022 Ford Explorer continues to be a big seller for Ford, both with consumers and fleet customers, including police forces across North America. It’s ideal for families on the go that need room for seven, as well as the cargo and hauling capacity necessary for longer trips and vacations. Thanks to the broad range of available trims, as well as pricing that fits a variety of budgets, the Explorer can be tailor-made to fit the needs of any family.

For 2022, the Explorer is available in eight trims. The most affordable is the Base model, which is priced at $37,005 (including $1,495 destination charge), followed by the XLT, ST-Line (a new trim for 2022), Limited, off-road themed Timberline, performance-oriented ST, Platinum and the luxurious King Ranch ($57,125 including destination fee). All are available in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations, except for Timberline, which is 4WD only.

As a mid-size SUV, the Explorer competes in a crowded field, but it’s well-matched with much of the competition in terms of size, interior space, fuel economy and performance. When compared with a subset of the overall competition (Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride), the Explorer stands out in one notable area: engine options. While the competitive subset offers a single engine for all their trims, the Explorer is available with three different engines including a 400-horsepower V6. In contrast, the Traverse offers 310 horsepower, while the Palisade and Telluride both offer 291.

With the choice of a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine (standard on Base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited and Timberline models), a 318-horsepower 3.3-liter hybrid engine (optional on Limited models only) or a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 (standard on ST, Platinum and King Ranch models), the Explorer is both nimble and aggressive compared to most of its peers. All engine options are coupled to a ten-speed automatic transmission, which helps improve fuel economy figures.

Versatility is one of the Explorer’s core strengths. With all the seats in place, there’s plenty of room for five adults, two smaller individuals (in the third row) and 18.2 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. Fold the second and third rows flat, and you’ve got 87.8 cubic-feet of cargo space, plus a roof rack and the ability to tow as much as 5,600 pounds when properly equipped. What’s not to like? The interior doesn’t seem as fancy as the Palisade’s, and the Explorer can feel a little unrefined at times.

All models get Ford’s Co-Pilot360 safety package, which includes key safety features like blind spot warning, lane keeping assistance, automatic high beams, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment across the model lineup, if you want some of the more advanced tech features, as well as the safety features that are part of the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, the Limited trim is the one to look at.

Performance: 12/15

Available with the choice of three engine options, including a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four, a 318-horsepower 3.3-liter hybrid and a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, the Explorer is no slouch. Acceleration is excellent and there’s plenty of power on tap for maneuvers on and off the highway.

While rear-wheel drive is standard on the trims with the 2.3- and 3.3-liter engines, 4WD is optional and is standard equipment on the Timberline and trims equipped with the 3.0-liter V6. A ten-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board, although it’s modified for the hybrid model to accommodate the two power sources: electric and gas.

Handling is decent, and this mid-size SUV behaves as expected. The only gripe is with the transmission on the hybrid model, which seems confused at times, often holding on to gears longer than it should. Shifting is clunky from time to time when the powertrain switches between electric and gas modes. It’s possible that this is just a quirk of the hybrid model.

Maximum towing capacity, when properly equipped, is 5,600 lbs on all models equipped with four-wheel drive and the V6 engine. The Timberline does offer a little bit of extra off-road ability, particularly on slippery gravel, light snow and forest roads, but it isn’t ever going to challenge the Toyota 4Runner or Ford’s own Bronco off-road.

Fuel Economy: 10/15 

Fuel economy numbers for the Explorer are on par for the segment. According to the EPA, the average fuel economy numbers, across the entire Explorer lineup (all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive models combined) is 19 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined.

That’s very much in line with competitors like the Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The Traverse delivers 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined. The Palisade is rated at 19 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined. Kia’s Telluride has very similar numbers: 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15

The Explorer lacks an overall and frontal crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it gets five stars from NHTSA for the side crash rating and four stars for the rollover rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives it the highest safety rating possible: Top Safety Pick+.

Standard safety equipment includes front, side and knee airbags for front-row occupants, as well as safety canopy side-curtain airbags that cover all three rows and deploy during a rollover.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 safety package is standard on all models and includes blind spot warning with cross traffic alerts, lane keeping assistance, hill start assist, a rearview camera with built-in lens washer, automatic headlamps with automatic high beams, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection as well as post-impact braking.

The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package (available on XLT trim and up) adds a number of features to the basic safety package, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keeping assistance and evasive steering assist.

Comfort & Room: 10/15

While the interior is comfortable and roomy, leg room for all three rows is a bit of a mixed bag. For instance, with 43 inches of legroom up front, the Explorer is better than the Telluride (41.4 inches) or the Traverse (41.0 inches). Second-row passengers enjoy 39 inches of legroom in the Explorer, but both the Telluride (41.4) and Palisade (42.4) offer more, while the Traverse only has 38.4 inches. 

Third-row passengers get 32.3 inches of legroom in the Explorer, which is better than the Telluride and the Palisade (both offer 31.4 inches), but less than the Traverse (33.5) or the massive third row of the Volkswagen Atlas (33.7). Furthermore, third-row passengers have to deal with rather hard cushions in the Explorer, which makes longer trips a pain (literally) to endure.

The driver and front passenger enjoy very comfortable and supportive seats, as do the outboard second-row passengers. The middle seat in the second row is uncomfortable and seems to be made of a harder material.

Leather seats (heated and ventilated for the front row; heated for second row) are standard on the Limited trim and up. Base and XLT models get cloth.

Infotainment: 11/15

The Base model comes with a 4.2-inch screen that’s part of the instrument cluster and includes an onboard message center, outside temperature display and trip computer. The center stack has an 8-inch touchscreen that serves multiple purposes and works well with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are standard equipment. Two USB ports are available in the first row.

The XLT trim gets a larger 6.5-inch instrument display, which grows to an impressive 12.3-inch unit in the ST model. ST buyers can also opt for a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the center stack.

While the touchscreen can be used to control the heating and cooling system, as well as audio functions, there are also physical knobs and buttons. That makes it much easier to make adjustments without having to dig down into menus on the screen.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

Cargo space is excellent in the Explorer. With 87.8 cubic-feet of space behind the first row, 47.9 behind the second, and 18.2 behind the third, the Explorer offers more cargo space than Kia’s Telluride or the Hyundai Palisade. However, Chevrolet’s Traverse (admittedly closer to a full-size SUV than a midsize one) puts the competition to shame with an impressive 98.2 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the first row, 57.8 behind the second, and 23 behind the third. 

Both the second and third rows fold flat in the Explorer, which makes for a flat cargo floor. 

The passenger compartment includes numerous storage bins and compartments for smaller items like purses, wallets, phones and the like. The storage bin in the center console is large and comes with a tray for coins and other easily-lost items.

Style & Design: 7/10

The Explorer has been a part of the American landscape for many years. It’s a big seller for Ford, and it’s popular with both consumers and police departments alike. Don’t expect to turn heads while driving the Explorer, unless you’re mistaken for local law enforcement. It’s a nice vehicle, but with so many on the roads, it blends into the background.

Although it’s well-built and solid, it’s not designed to coddle the occupants or pamper them with the kind of luxurious amenities you’d expect in a more expensive high-end SUV. This is a workhorse that delivers on the promise of practicality and capability. It will get seven passengers to where they need to be, and they’ll be able to bring all the stuff they need for their journey, thanks to the cargo capacity and towing ability of the Explorer.

Is the 2022 Ford Explorer Worth it? Which Explorer is the Best Value? 

The Explorer is available in eight different trims, which means there’s something for every budget, need and desire. While the Base model starts at an attractive $37,005 (including a $1,495 destination charge), it lacks a lot of the creature comforts and amenities most drivers want in a vehicle today.

At the other end of the spectrum is the King Ranch model, which comes with a sticker price of $57,125, including the destination fee, but you’re paying for a lot of luxury items that are nice, but not really necessary to get the most out of this vehicle.

The sweet spot is the Limited model, which sells for $50,565, including destination. At this level you’re out of cloth seats and into leather, and that leather is both heated and ventilated. Plus, you’re taking advantage of included niceties like the Bang & Olufsen sound system with 12 speakers, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view camera and the added safety features that are part of the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Ford Explorer? 

Insurance costs for the Explorer are slightly higher than for the competition. According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $2,129. The Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, costs an average of $2,085 to insure, the Hyundai Palisade an average of $2,035, and the Kia Telluride $1,980. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, see our car insurance calculator.