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Refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer Debuts As Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia Rival

Ford has unveiled the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer, debuting new tech and a redesigned cabin space, as well as a few nips and tucks to the exterior. The  updated 2025 Ford Explorer will rival the Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia. Deliveries are expected to kick off in the second quarter of the 2024 calendar year.

The front end of the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer.

Outside, the 2025 Ford Explorer presents a few small changes to the front fascia, all-LED lighting front to back, and a black-painted roof option for Platinum, ST, and ST-Line models. The lift gate was updated as well, while each trim levels includes a unique grille design. Customers also have seven wheel options to choose from, with sizing up to 21 inches in diameter.

The updated cabin space now features new interior colorways, new material options, and silver mesh accents. The dash has been pushed forward to provide front-seated passengers with more room, while an available wireless device charging pad is integrated in a tray below the touchscreen. USB chargers are positioned in all three rows. In addition to new interior colorways, there’s also seven new ambient lighting options.

The infotainment spec includes a horizontally oriented 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster, with the Ford Digital Experience infotainment system on hand to make it all work. Google Assistant and Alex Built-in are both included. Additionally, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trims offer the Ford BlueCruise hands-free driving system, which can handle braking, acceleration, and steering when active.

Under the hood, the powertrain lineup no longer includes a hybrid option. Rather, engine options are limited to the turbocharged 2.3L I4 EcoBoost, equipped as standard on Active, Platinum, and ST-Line trims, and the twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 EcoBoost, equipped as standard on ST and offered as optional for Platinum. The V6 doles out 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains connect to a 10-speed automatic transmission, while RWD is standard, with AWD optional.

Order banks for the 2025 Ford Explorer are open now. Pricing starts at $41,220, including destination and delivery. Deliveries are expected by Q2 of this year.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Ford got some things right. It will be hitting lots around the same time as Traverse/Acadia but is correctly a 2025 not at 2024 like what GM is doing. Also GM should takes notes if the car is available for order a build and price tool on the website is very helpful for consumers. Still waiting from GM there.
    Interior is improved but the Acadia still much better. Exterior refresh might as well have been skipped, nothing new and special there.

    Reply
  2. Chevy loyalist here – and 2022 Traverse owner. i wouldn’t go Ford, but the RWD-biased platform makes this vehicle superior to a Traverse in my opinion. I’ve not driven one, so I could be wrong. I know I’d prefer the traverse be RWD-biased than the front-drive platform it is…

    Reply
    1. Yes, you should go drive an Explorer. You’ll quickly realize how much better your Traverse is.

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      1. I have no need to drive one, because I will never buy one. When I’m ready for a RWD-biased platform, I will get a Tahoe.

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      2. As a salesperson at a gmc dealership GM will screw up our acadia launch just like they’ve done with the canyon. Can’t wait to tell customers you might get it this year.

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    2. Why? What benefit will RWD in a family CUV provide? The Traverse is superior in most everyway except Ford has a 400hp performance version that is a poor excuse trying to mimic the Germans. FWD is where it is at for these vehicle, now Ford has the costs of a unique platform going RWD.

      Reply
      1. Driving dynamics. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, then you have no need for rwd-biased platform.

        But to your point, for most people it’s not a deal breaker. I’d never trade our Traverse for an Explorer.

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        1. The AWD platform handles very well. No one is carving corners to that extreame in these things.

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        2. RWD platform not even noticeable in these platforms when you have AWD. On a sports sedan, of course. Weight distribution is negligible difference on these SUVs.

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          1. It’s not about the traction, it’s about the structure and ride bias. It makes a lot of difference in any platform. But maybe to your point, for what these vehicles are intended for, it’s not a big deal.

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            1. Don’t get me wrong. I drive a cts-v. my wife has the 2018 Enclave AWD. It handles great, has the dual clutch rear diff. Yes it’s a transverse V6 but you don’t notice in a huge vehicle and the increased interior room and increased efficiency on highway is where it’s at that when discussing family crossovers. I’ve driven RWD competitors and the enclave felt the sharpest yet.

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      2. I think the Ecoboost V6 with 400 HP and 415 pound-feet of torque is a great option to have. Almost everyone on this forum was crying against dropping the 3.6 V6 option on the new Traverse. Give credit where credit is due.

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  3. They fixed the biggest cosmetic issue I had, that being the big headlights making it look ‘bug-eyed’. Still not exactly my favorite front-end design though.

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  4. Interior still looks dated. Most people won’t know the difference between this and a 2021

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    1. Most people WILL notice that big ugly vertically oriented tablet is gone – so yep most people will see the difference.

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      1. Except that the tablet was only in a small percentage of the highest optioned trims

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        1. And the new horizontal tablet is standard on every trim – so yep people will notice. Anyhow who cares.

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  5. While the vertical tablet is gone, the dash reminds of a larger Escape dash and that’s not so good. The interior of the ’24 Traverse/Acadia seems light years ahead of this. The Explorer screams “we’re pinching every penny”. Typical Ford lately.

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    1. They have to keep them as simple as possible because Ford continues to have serious quality issues. Their recall/rework costs are enough to put a smaller auto company out of business.

      Reply
    2. Since they put it on a unique platform going RWD they have to, no cost savings to share. That was a horrible mistake, they didn’t read their customer group on that one and the Traverse out does it in most every single category excluding the 400hp ST version which does a poor job emulating the Germans.

      Reply
  6. Will the hybrid option be discontinued for the Interceptor Utility or whatever they call the police car that is an Explorer?

    They seem quite popular as police cruisers.

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  7. Not bad from Ford. I see they are done with the horizontal tablet screen. Should continue to do well in sales. Still I think the new Traverse is more in line with what customers want.

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  8. Look like a police vehicle modified for general public use….

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  9. The interior is a step up from the current interior, but the Chinese version is better

    Reply
  10. I’ve bagged on the Traverse plenty, but after messing with Ford’s configurator for this, the Traverse is the easy winner. Ford continues to force inane gimmicks like the “street package” just to add AWD to anything but the base model. Hard pass.

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  11. What about transmission problems Ford is famous for.

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  12. Neither the Traverse or Explorer are of any value to anyone who needs a beach(sand) capable vehicle. There are surf fisherman and offroad types who already know this.

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  13. Wow… there was NO effort put into that interior. Headlamps and taillights look last gen.

    Reply
  14. New Explorer’s are ugly looking. They do have the “ST” model that is a ROCKET. Would love it if GM would offer a twin turbo 3.6L “SS” model to compete with it. They would get my money

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  15. Whoever said explorer over traverse is crazy lol. The explorer is a 3 row crossover with little to no space or 3rd row room. A wanna be Durango could never be better than a full size crossover with room that closely matches expedition

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  16. With 400 hp I guess it would make a nice law enforcement vehicle.

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  17. Does the front grille swing up so you can cook hot dogs? Cool advertising idea: “A grill in a grille for hot doggin it”

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  18. Wow that interior….the infotainment screen looks as if someone just slapped a tablet on the dash. Cheap looking!!

    Reply
  19. Thoughts on Traverse’s new Turbocharged 2.5L Engine?

    I ‘ve read reports and reviews that Chevy Traverse historically had issues with their Engine and Transmission. Can anyone elaborate? How does GM plan to improve and sustain quality build and durability in those areas?

    Reply

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