If there’s an icon in the world of SUV’s, you’d have to include the Ford Explorer. Earning a reputation as tough, capable and with a lot more swagger than a minivan, it’s been a solid citizen since the early 90’s.

Ford has made sure the Explorer remains a top player ever since, so when we had a chance to test one – especially featuring a 400 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 – we jumped at the chance. So, is one of the OG SUV’s still a player? Let’s find out!

Handsome and Sporty

The Explorer makes a bold first impression, especially in ST trim.

Up front, a massive black mesh insert grille serves up a prominent start, with a familiar Ford badge in the center and a tasteful red ST logo in the lower corner. Projector-style headlights and a blacked-out lower skid plate/grille bring added toughness, while E X P L O R E R spelled out in block letters give a Land Rover vibe.

The profile gives us a little Land Rover feeling as well, an elevated version of the traditional full-size SUV. Blacked out fender trim and lower door panels add some off-road cred, while the optional black roof visually makes the lines snugger. Adding to the cool factor are goodies like privacy glass, color-keyed door handles, and gorgeous 21-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels.

One item worth noting. That black roof that gives a cool two-tone color scheme is a really expensive option. $4,895 to be exact. It seems that it’s a special process that includes pulling the vehicle off the production line, but we’re not sure we’d pony up the dough for that. Does look very nice, though!

The rear continues the sporty theme with a spoiler above the rear window, E X P L O R E R spelled out in stealthy black on a gloss panel between the L-shaped taillights that reach across the width of the tailgate. Our favorite part of the rearview are the Quad tip dual exhaust pipes poking out beneath the rear bumper – hinting at the big power available with the ST’s twin-turbo V6.

And this Explorer is no wallflower either, with a bold and eye-catching Rapid Red Metallic paint that demands your attention, and shimmers in the light. This is one good looking truck!

Simple and Stylish

Thanks to a restyle last year, the interior looks and feels up to date. Open the door, and it feels expansive, with a wide swath of fabric that spans the width of the cabin and looks nicely upscale. All the trim looks high-end in a tasteful way, and it’s a far cry from the utilitarian Explorers of old!

Helping sell the new hotness is advanced tech. In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch, digital instrument cluster that’s configurable (we like the one that keeps the circular speedo and tach for a quick read), and a handsome 13.2-inch touchscreen in the center of the dash.

While almost everything including climate controls are on the screen, the system works extremely well, with no lag, and it’s super-intuitive – a couple minutes and you know where everything is. It’s a major step up from many other all-in-one systems we’ve seen from other manufacturers.  

A lot of the credit has to go to the Ford Digital Experience that’s based on the Android Auto operating system, that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also features Google Maps, Google Play store, to play games and videos, and it will even tell you bad jokes. Here’s one we heard – What’s the most musical part of a chicken? The drumstick! (ba-dum!) And we really appreciate that Ford still gives you a dedicated volume knob, and a couple separate buttons for things like the around view monitor and to turn off the auto start/stop function – things you don’t want to have to fish around for on screen.

Seating is ultra comfy, and we loved our testers heated, cooled and massaging front seats. The driver enjoys 3 individual segments of lumbar support to custom dial-in support. The seats are sporty with pronounced bolsters for the ST trim, and we like how they hold you in place – but larger folks may find them a little confining. Try before you buy. A finishing touch for the sporty vibe is accenting red stitching placed throughout the cabin.

Our tester had the second-row captain’s chairs, and they glide forward for access to the third row, or fold flat for convenient cargo space. The third row is super-snug, really only good for kids or Yoga-compliant small adults. Fine in a pinch. Luggage space is impressive in all permutations of folding down, and that makes the Explorer a capable adventure vehicle, or ideal for big box and home improvement stores.  

Powerful Performance

While most of the above is true for all the Explorer models, it’s the performance-tuned ST goodies that get our hearts racing. And we’d point out that the ST logo has some real performance credibility, with models like the Focus ST and Fiesta ST being awesome performance models in their respective segments.

Base Explorer models feature a 2.3-liter, turbo 4 cylinder with 300 horsepower, that should be a good blend of zip and sip. But those who like some real grins should step right up to the ST with a turbo 3.0-liter V6, pumping out an impressive 400 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. of torque. Our tester was rear wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available.

Hooked up to a quick shifting 10-speed automatic, and clicking the drive mode over to Sport turned our ST into a rocket, with a sophisticated burble, and added engine sound that lets you hear that EcoBoost V6 sing as it pulls hard to the redline. 0-60 in just about 5 seconds is quick, and it puts a smile on your face when you give it some boot. With that amount of power, we found the 25 mpg EPA highway rating to be a strong number – and easily attainable, if you can keep yourself out of the turbo zone. (Which we couldn’t!)

Even more impressive to us was the chassis. This is a big vehicle, but the tight, sport-tuned suspension makes it feel much smaller on the move, and the more you hustle around the Explorer ST, the more it seems to like it. OK, the ride is a little firm, but we think it’s an acceptable tradeoff for the wonderful handling.

We were also impressed how rock solid the vehicle felt – not a squeak or a rattle or a shake. Steering feel is nicely weighted, and the brakes feel up to the task of enjoying all that power. Considering the Explorer’s mission is life is to be a solid citizen, family-hauling SUV, the work done to make the ST an enthusiast’s vehicle is really impressive.

Another tech treat comes with the available Ford BlueCruise system that can even allow complete hands-free driving in the right conditions. OK, we still hover over the wheel (it takes time to earn our trust), but the system is truly impressive, even if it takes some of the joy out of driving the ST itself. In the mess of day-to-day traffic in SoCal, it was a great stress reducer, that’s for sure.

Should you Ford ahead and get one?

Pricing is another strong point for the Explorer. The entry-level model starts at $39,260. For a full-size, 3-row SUV with a modern interior and a legacy of toughness, that’s excellent value.

Our rear-wheel-drive ST tester is the enthusiasts choice and starts at $54,770. Options included Rapid Red paint ($495) Sun and Sound Package ($2,995), Black Painted Roof ($4,895) Keyless Entry Keypad ($455), Connection Package ($745) and Sirius XM for 3 years ($300). Add in $1,695 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $66,350.

Competitors would include the all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade – a bit more luxury than performance, and the 287 hp V6 is more of a 4-cylinder Explorer competitor, but at just under $52,000 we think it’s an exceptional value in a 3-row SUV. We also like the Honda Pilot, also featuring a normally aspirated V6, and coming in around $54,990 another strong value – but the ST will show its taillights to either.

If you really want to talk driver’s SUVs, the BMW X7 has a 375 horse, turbo V6 and divine road manners, but starting at $78,000 and easily pushed up to the $90k mark with lots of options, you see what kind of bargain the Explorer ST is in the performance stakes.

Loads of 3-row SUV goodness, a storming 400-horsepower V6, responsive handling, a newly-refined interior and advanced tech make the 2026 Explorer ST a great family vehicle that will put a big smile on any driver’s face!