First Drive: 2025 Ford Explorer Adds a New “Digital Experience”

Since it made its debut nearly 35 years ago, The Ford Explorer has had a profound impact on the American auto industry, helping convince millions of motorists to move from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. Now, the automaker is rolling out a big update and while the 2025 Ford Explorer does get some design updates, much of the focus is on the new “Ford Digital Experience.” Headlight.News has this review.

It’s been 35 years since the Ford Explorer made its debut. It was far from the first SUV on the market. Indeed, the automaker had scored a solid hit with the earlier Bronco line, and Jeep was already offering the Wrangler and other options. But Explorer changed the game, providing a rugged, go-anywhere option loaded with features more in tune with American families than rugged outdoorsmen.

U.S. motorists fell in love, Ford selling more than 140 thousand in 1990, Explorer’s first year on the market. A decade later, U.S. volume hit a record 445,157. Since then there’ve been good years and bad, but it remains the best-selling SUV ever.

Now in its sixth generation, Explorer went through a major update for 2020, It’s now getting a mid-cycle update. As expected, there are a number of modest design tweaks, both inside and out. But there are other notable changes that make the 2025 Ford Explorer worth a closer look. For one thing, a number of desirable features are now offered as standard fare, even on the base “Active” trim package. That includes the new Google-based “Ford Digital Experience,” which adds features like gaming and even the ability to conduct WebEx meetings in your car.

Overview

For 2025, Ford is simplifying the Explorer line-up, dropping the Limited, King Ranch and Timberline trims – though our sources suggest a more rugged off-road-oriented package is in the works.

Design changes are relatively modest, with a new front end and separate grille designs for each of the remaining four trim packages: Active, ST, ST-Line and Platinum. The headlights are sleeker and more high-tech, as are the taillights. Inside, there’s a new, horizontally focused instrument panel that underscores the SUV’s width. The cabin is dominated, however, by the 2025 Explorer’s twin digital displays, a a 13.2-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch gauge cluster.

While the powertrain line-up carries over, the big news comes in the form of an assortment of new technology, starting with an updated package of advanced driver assistance systems. And the new infotainment system is based around the Google built-in operating system. Much of the new tech comes standard for 2025, including the necessary equipment for Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise system –though you’ll need to subscribe to use it beyond a 90-day trial period.

On the road

Headlight.News didn’t have to travel far to get a first-hand feel for the 2025 Ford Explorer. I picked up a Platinum package done up in “Carbonized Grey Metallic” paint at the Revel Equestrian Center in Chelsea, Michigan and quickly took it out on a run on some of my favorite roads – through aptly named Hell, Michigan.

My Explorer was equipped with Ford’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6, paired with a 10-speed automatic, sending power to the rear wheels. It’s a peppy package making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque – enough to launch the three-row SUV from 0-60 in just under 5 seconds – if everything sets up right. I found the engine a bit overwhelming for the rear-drive layout, occasionally squealing the tires on some pavement.

But the overall ride was solid and composed. The new Explorer showed only moderate levels of body roll, no matter how fast I pushed it through Hell’s tight curves and broken pavement. Steering was precise and offered good road feel.

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The back woods

Later in the day, I swapped out my Platinum model for the sportier Explorer ST-Line – here powered by the 2.3-liter EcoBoost-four making: 300 hp and 310 lb-ft. As with the Inline-Six, it’s paired with a 10-speed automatic and buyers have the option of either rear or all-wheel-drive. My tester was AWD.

That was a definite plus as I headed into the back woods behind the Revel Equestrian Center. Southeast Michigan has been hammered by storms in recent weeks, including one dumping a couple inches of rain the night before my drive. So, while the short off-road circuit didn’t offer the sort of rocks, fallen trees and other obstacles you might experience in a place like Moab, it required both muscle, grip and patience to flog through newly formed mud and ruts. Explorer handled everything I could throw at it with nary a slip.

Give at least some of the credit to the SUV’s terrain response control which, with the twist of a dial optimizes a variety of vehicle functions – including steering, throttle response and shifting – for individual driving conditions.

That proved equally useful later, when I took an Explorer ST with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost out for some fun on an autocross circuit. That might seem an odd place to put the SUV through its paces but it proved far nimbler than expected. And ST buyers will be pleased to know that Ford will offer them a driving program that will include some autocross time.

Plenty of new standard features

There are a number of other reasons to like the 2025 Explorer update. Ford is adding an assortment of new, standard features, starting with a Class III trailer hitch.

Among 14 added standard features, buyers also will get on all models:

• Heated seats, including a 10-way power driver’s seat;
• Auto Brake Assist;
• Active Cruise Control with stop-and-go capabilities;
• A power liftgate;
• LED headlights;
• A base Bang & Olufson audio system, with upper trims getting a 14-speaker, 980-watt version;
• A wireless front charging pad and a place for a second phone; and
• 8 USB ports available for passengers in all three rows.

Do note that Ford has removed a few features found on older versions of Explorer due to a lack of consumer interest. The most notable to go: digital parking assist.

BlueCruise and the Ford Digital Experience

The 2025 Ford Explorer also will come with the automaker’s CoPilot 360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems. It includes BlueCruise which permits drivers to take hands off the wheel on more than 130,000 miles of U.S. roadways – though they need to continue to be at the ready to retake control if necessary.

The updated BlueCrise version 1.2 allows a motorist to simply tap the turn signal stalk to overtake slower traffic. And, when passing a large truck, the system will move over slightly in its lane to give a better safety margin. Explorer buyers can opt for a monthly or a 1-year subscription to BlueCruise, though many might first take Ford up on a 90-day free trial.

Like key competitors, such as Toyota, Ford is moving beyond the basic voice and touch controls in the outgoing SUV, introducing a much more robust operating system dubbed the Ford Digital Experience.

Using Google technology it can handle a much wider range of plain English commands, triggered simply by saying, “Hey, Google.” And, significantly, it also integrates Amazon’s Alexa, as well as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The display is brighter and crisper thanks to a five times more powerful processor and a 14-fold increase in graphics capabilities.

More importantly, the Ford Digital Experience is designed to better integrate a driver’s digital world into the Explorer. It makes it easy to keep using apps and features while behind the wheel, even without firing up Apple CarPlay or Android Auto since the new Google-based system adds an assortment of its own apps and features. You’ll be able to play games, stream video or even use the WebEx videoconferencing software – with limits on functionality when driving, of course.

Towing and fuel economy

All versions of the 2025 Ford Explorer are rated to two up to 5,000 pounds. The optional towing package makes the process of maneuvering a trailer significantly easier and should be given serious consideration.

As for fuel economy, the base 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine musters 20 mpg in the EPA’s city cycle, 27 on the highway and 23 combined with all-wheel-drive, and 20/29/24 with rear-wheel-drive. The 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine cuts that to 18/25/21 for both RWD and AWD options.

That’s more or less mid-pack, based on what we’ve seen so far for competing 2025 models. The big exception is the new Toyota Grand Highlander’s hybrid option which musters 36 mpg city, 32 highway and 34 combined. It’s not nearly as much fun to push around as either Ford engine but it’s likely to get some attention from buyers looking for maximum mileage.

Pricing and availability

Ford has built about 8 million Explorers over the past 35 years, with 3.5 million of them still on the road, the automaker claims.

As has been the case for a number of years, the 2025 Ford Explorer will continue rolling out of the automaker’s Chicago Assembly Plant. The order banks are now open, with deliveries expected to start before summer is over.

Pricing for the Explorer Active starts at $41,350. The ST-Line model I drove came in at $54,035, while the Platinum tester was $57,875 – both including options and $1,595 in delivery fees.

Final word

There are some nits to pick. I’d prefer to have conventional controls for more functions, notably climate control, though the Google-based system is easier to understand and operate compared to the old Ford Sync package.

The three-row package offers reasonable space for cargo and plenty of leg, shoulder and headroom for those in the front and middle rows. The back bench remains a bit of a penalty box.

While the exterior design translates into one of the more handsome models in its segment, the refinement of the interior still could use more work.

But, on the whole, Ford has done a good job of taking what was already an impressive SUV and making it even better. And the added standard features make the 2025 Explorer an even better value. I’d be surprised if the new model doesn’t gain some sales traction in a hotly competitive segment that includes such serious alternatives as the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and newly updated Toyota Grand Highlander.