2025 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews
Pricing
Active (Most Popular) - $41,745 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$38,65217 for sale near you
Prices based on sales in SC thru 8/18/25
Final assembly in USA
First impressions- 1 month
TomD, 02/21/2025
2025 Ford Explorer ST 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A)
15 of 20 people found this review helpful
This is the first Ford vehicle I have ever owned since I began driving in 1974. I've owned 12 cars/SUV's with an even mix of domestic and foreign brands. Ford products just never appealed to me and their reputation for questionable quality and reliability put me off until now. I cross shopped this with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot but the unavailability of GH's and a myriad of owner reported issues on the Piloteer forum put the Explorer at the top of my list. This review is for the ST level performance trim with the "sun & sound" package which includes the pano moonroof, 14 speaker B&O stereo, and massaging front seats so it is fully loaded. The SUV was special ordered by a customer of my local dealership, but the 70 something year old gent was overwhelmed by all of the tech and electronic gadgetry and he returned it the next day where it had sat on the lot since last August. I wanted a Platinum with the 3.0L V-6 but the dealer wanted to move this ST and offered me a substantial discount that I couldn't refuse. Moving into the Explorer from a 2019 Mazda CX-9 GT was an adjustment, the seating position is higher up and the aesthetic is more muscular than the elegant CX-9. The ST lives up to the Ford Performance hype with a 400 HP twin turbo charged V-6 turning in a 0-60 mph time around 5.0 seconds flat; there's a reason police departments buy these things. The ST has a sport tuned suspension so the ride is notably not as plush as the luxury Platinum trim that I test drove but it handles better as you'd expect. Overall it is quiet and very comfortable. If you're used to an Android phone or tablet then the center screen powered by Google will make you feel at home. Some will miss having physical buttons for HVAC control but it doesn't bother me. Like many I have come to enjoy having assistance/safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping/centering, blind spot monitoring, parking assist and the like. The rear and 360° cameras are quite good and handy for tight parking situations. This SUV has the Ford "Blue Cruise" hands free system and I have to say it works very well while being kind of creepy really. The bad news is that Blue Cruise comes only as a trial and after a month it is subscription based; initially it was $799/year but I read somewhere that Ford has slashed that cost in half but I'm still not paying for it as I don't drive much. Other "connected" services also become subscription based after a 3-month trial which allows you to keep the on-board modem operating and Google maps and other services working for $179/year (I think). Or, you can just use the wireless Android Auto/Apple Car Play with your phone. Time will tell how this Explorer works for me, my last domestic brand vehicle was a nightmare that I traded after three unreliable years. I owned a Toyota and Mazda since then and both were completely trouble free. I bought this SUV with some trepidation so I'm hoping that it won't let me down. I'll post updates here as things develop, good, bad, or ugly.
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Car is possessed!!!
Upset Ford owner , 04/23/2025
2025 Ford Explorer Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
9 of 12 people found this review helpful
Bought my 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum in December of 2024. Three days after I got it my troubles started. Computer screen went black and did funky stuff. Passenger mirror may or may not unfold when car is started. Radio comes on automatically when car is started even though it had been turned off prior to getting out the day before. Radio has had a glitch in it and won’t come on. Radio screen will show one song playing but is actually playing another. Have been completely locked out of the car. Finally got drivers door to open with key after several tries. After this happened I couldn’t get the other doors to open by pulling on the door handle or by using the FOB. Had gunshot sounds comes from the radio. Storage cubby doesn’t always want to open. Have had to pry it open at times. These things happen randomly. Come and go!! Dealership says it shows no codes when they check it out. There is definitely a problem with this vehicle. Want Ford to buy it back but they are trying their best not to!!! I’m not happy with this vehicle or Ford at this point. When I got completely locked out of my vehicle I was scared to drive it so I parked it until this latest appointment. It was parked for 22 days before driving it to dealership for last present appointment.I don’t feel comfortable driving this vehicle because I don’t know what the next surprise will be or when it will happen. Car is in the shop right now. Has been in the shop 3 times for a total of 19 days so far!!! So, my advice is to stay completely away from the Ford Explorer!!!! I’m making payments on a vehicle I’m not comfortable driving!!! Sad!!! Note…My particular 2025 Explorer Platinum has the 6 cylinder. It wasn’t one of the choices so I chose the 4 cylinder.
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Rugged Exterior Design
Truck Guy 59, 01/01/2025
updated 02/18/2025
2025 Ford Explorer Active 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Love our new Explorer. Great tech, comfortable, drive and price. Biggest dislike is excessive wind noise in drivers side over 55mph.
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My second love!
James Dorsey, 08/26/2024
updated 01/13/2025
2025 Ford Explorer Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
First, I purchased the Platinum with the 2.3L engine, however, it is not listed where for this review, can not explain why that is so. I was told to used this model. I am pleased overall, but some of the interior work was not up to par. Have to take it back to have fixed. I have only driven a few miles. Note: I wish the Explorer had a cargo security cover and a heads-up display like some of its competitors!! UPDATE: Ford should upgrade the hood support, the current single medal support rod is not what one would like on a 60,000-dollar car. Not sure why Ford decided that this would save money. Very bad decision!
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Unsafe Unreliable Features
PJ Gordon, 07/14/2025
2025 Ford Explorer Platinum 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The vehicle is beautiful. Great massage seats. However, the dashboard and touchscreen black out or freeze while driving, starting up or parked. Started after one month. Now it's up to 4-5 times a week. I've had this car 3 months. Long term there are potential problems. It's not resolved and Ford is overwhelmed with the amount of vehicles with the same issues. It will take 4-5 weeks to fix and no loaner vehicle has been offered. All buyers should be aware.
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