2025 Ford Explorer Platinum - Bottom Line Review

EXPLORERS SEEK UNCHARTED DESTINATIONS: In March of 1513, the Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon set sail from the isle of Puerto Rico to locate the islands of Beniny, reportedly to the northwest. Instead, Ponce de Leon, made landfall at somewhere between modern day St. Augustine and Melbourne Beach, Florida, more likely searching for gold than for the legendary Fountain of Youth. More than half a millenium later St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the contiguous United States.

When Ford Motor Company commissioned the [UN46] Explorer in 1991, the brand's first mid-size family sport utility vehicle set off on a more than 40 year trek, selling nearly eight and a half million units, likely surpassing the distance from Earth to Mars (as of this writing).

After a nine year platform sharing with a front-drive car (D4 Ford Taurus), in 2020 the Explorer made a rightful return to CD6 north-to-south drivetrain layout. With a wheelbase equal to the first generation F-Series based Ford Expedition, the sixth generation of Lewis & Clark SUV had matured to large family size. For a mid-cycle update, the 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum AWD enhances occupant quarters and enters the video gaming user interface age.

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WHAT: 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.0T AWD , a mid-cycle refresh of the sixth generation U625 full-sized sport utility vehicle, with 6 or 7 occupant capacity.

Power - Optional (in test vehicle):

• Intercooled twin-turbocharged 3.0L DOHC 24V DI gas V-6 w/ idle Start/ Stop = 400 hp / 415 lb-ft @3500 rpm
  • Power - Standard: intercooled turbocharged 2.3L DOHC 16V SEFI + DI gas I-4 w/ idle Start/ Stop = 300 hp / 310 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

Drivetrain:

• 10-spd. torque converter planetary automatic transaxle, rear wheel drive
  • Optional: viscous clutch all-wheel drive (in test vehicle)

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: On the outside, the 2025 Ford Explorer sees a pretty subtle refresh, confined to reshaped lighting housings, now including an inboard lateral finger in back, and hence a modified grille with larger lattice links, as well as a revised middle and lower fascia, including less convoluted corner folds.

Otherwise it retains the long front axle to dash proportioned, swept back windscreen, ascending beltline meets sloping roofline look, with full darkened body cladding. , code name U625, built on the current CD6 platform shared with the Lincoln Aviator. It replaces the 5th generation U502 series, itself based on the lamented late Ford Taurus D4 sedan.

• √ Tandem dual hood bulges; √ Back slanting widened hexagonal dark chainlink grille supporting upper swept back lighting; √ Bolder mid fascia chin with mid air-intake and flanking straked fog lamp brows; √ Dark clad lower air dam rising in center with housings;
• √ Dramatic rear rising belt line mirrored by tandem mid and lower body creases; Muscular fenders; √ Kinked C pillar followed by darkened privacy glass and darkened D-pillar for floating roof effect; √ Straked roof followed by twin bulge spoiler; √ Punched out mid liftgate; √ "C" LED "F" wrapping taillamps; √ Inverse "U" mid liftgate with prominent darkened grab bar; √ Dark clad lower rear fascia with wider tow connection housing and dual corner twin exhaust pipes.

WHY: Large family sized crossover SUV, now including the latest Android -based infotainment technology.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since late Spring 2024

WHERE: Ford new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

WHERE TO:

• Standard all-wheel drive = PTU to electronic coupling viscous clutch differential, rear ABS torque vectoring
• Nominal / maximum front to rear torque split = 0:100 / 50:50
• Terrain Management x 6 drive modes: Tow, Sport, Efficiency, Normal, Slippery, Trail
• ABS Hill descent control; 8.3" clearance = all-weather, cleared trail off-roader

HOW ROADWORTHY: The same twin-turbo bent six-cylinder, shared with the Explorer ST, exhales deeply and responsively once the throttle is tapped. While 300 pounds slimmer than the "sportier sibling," the final drive ratio is taller to save on fuel. Notably the 10-speed transmission loses SelectShift sequential manumatic operation and the steering wheel shift paddles are gone. Gear swaps remain crisp if less authoritative and the powerplant gets throaty well up to the 6200 soft redline.

• Weight distribution has improved from 54:46% to 51:49% front to rear
• Mass is pared about 3% from the 5th generation Explorer through martensitic steel, some aluminum (hood, carriers) and magnesium parts

2025 Ford Explorer damping favors tautness, remaining prone to abrupt rebound induced jitter. Aft biased all-wheel drive, with torque vectoring, reins in most chances to dance. While avoiding much body lean, a vestigial sensation of top heaviness remains. An electrically assisted helm winds meatily, without excessive heft, transmitting little about the surface. Exceptionally wide all-season 21" inch Pirelli Scorpions, fitted to the Platinum trim, enhance grip and, hence, turn-in. Ample platters at all four corners, squeezed by twin pistons in front, issue confident stops. A well encapsulated cabin nearly fools occupants that a meeker powerplant than the petrol V-6 lies beneath the bonnet.

HOW FAR: 23 combined miles per gallon; 505 miles range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 6 or 7 Occupant seating

• Tested 2025 Explorer Platinum equipped with two manual adjusting 2nd Row "Captain's Chairs" & walk-through to 3rd Row
• 3rd Row accommodates two adults up to 5'10"
• +/- Panoramic moonroof + power shade illuminates, but reduces headroom

• Wheelbase 119.1" = 0.7" < Dodge Durango R/T
• Row 2, Row 3 legroom =  +0.4", +0.7" vs. Dodge Durango R/T

HOW USEFUL: √ Comfort approach variable height power liftgate; √ Manual flat folding 2nd Row tilt, sliding "Captains' Chairs" w/ twin cargo bay release latches; √ Power remote cargo area 3rd Row seat fold & raise; √ Large sub-cargo floor cargo management w/ reversable hard cover; √ Long 1st & 2nd Row door pockets; √ Deep center armrest bin; √ 3rd Row wall storage

• Cargo Volume (max.) = 4% > Dodge Durango R/T
• Tow rating: 5600 lbs. = 36% < Dodge Durango R/T

HOW SAFE: Standard: Good to Acceptable IIHS scores (Top Safety Pick Plus - MY 2024); √ 10 airbags; √ Rear camera w/ predictive grid; √ Audible rear park assist; √ Roll mitigation; √ MyKey restrictive access

Ford Co-Pilot360: √ Blind Spot, rear cross traffic Warning; √ Post collision S.O.S. alert; √ Lane Departure Warning & Steer Prevention; √ Forward collision, pedestrian detection warning w/ avoidance braking; -1 Dim headlights

Available Enhanced Safety: (included in tester)

• Surround View camera w/ sonar proximity warning
• Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0: Full adaptive cruise control; Emergency evasive steering, Lane center steering, Rear cross traffic avoidance
  • BlueCruise 1.2 designated interchange access highway hands & pedal free, driver attention, driving (by subscription)
  • Intersection Assist 2.2
• Automatic high beam headlamps, rain sensing interval wipers

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: The 2020 Ford Explorer proved that Ford could do a properly modern, yet functional cabin. Yet, for all the fancy instrumentation, connectivity and creature comforts, some areas exuded areas with crude finish.

So for 2025, Ford poured on the plush cabin padding inside the Explorer. The ersatz wool for upper dash & door cards, is inspired by the Ford Mustang Mach-E EV crossover. Simulated turned metallic accents were tossed in. Vents have been blended within the middle dash metallic character band. In the quest of fewer, climate control button switches, with dedicated icons, have been incorporated into the infotainment screen. That freed up space for a connected family's worth center stack shelf for two wireless devices. Most importantly, the 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum showcases their new Digital Experience user interface and the reversion from portrait to landscape screen.

√ Leather seating - heated Rows 1 + 2, cooled Row 1; √ Wide berth, sport bolstered front bucket seats; √ 10-way power front seats, w/ 3-setting driver memory; √ Heated leather steering wheel with spoke integrated tactile redundant controls; √ Automatic 3-zone climate control; √ 2nd Row climate fan and seat heating controls; √ Large center console ribbed rotary metallic transmission position and Drive mode dials; √ Overhead console retracting sunglasses bin; √ Power folding side mirrors.

-1 Limited steering wheel reach adjustment; Short 2nd Row seat cushions

• Cool Gizmo(s): √ 12.3" Drive mode variable color TFT virtual gauge cluster, with mountain range welcome & new Google map duplication; √ Panoramic glass roof; √ Driver's and front passengers seat variable massage; √ 1st & 2nd Row variable color dash, center console & door panel ambient, and foot well, lighting
• Details Done Right: √ Contrast stitched quilted leather seating; √ Smooth soft touch dash and door padding; √ Aluminum center console and accents; √ Knurled metal rotary transmission selector; √ Illuminated 1st Row door sills
• Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Coarse grain below waist-height, aft cabin wall plastic cabin trim; Wiggling center console; Hard upper pillar surfaces; Steering wheel spoke controls lack distinction; Non-fluid door swing and secondary switch action

HOW CONNECTED:

√ Ford Digital Experience 13.2" landscape capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications - 10 device connections; √ GPS Cloud Navigation, 3-D map, voice guidance; √ SMS text messaging; √ USB-A x 1, USB-C x 7, 12V x 2 (includes cargo bay), 115V AC x 1 (2nd Row)

• 1st Ford infotainment user interface built around Android Automotive architecture
• Integrated with Google Maps, Google Assistant and includes Amazon Alexa assistant
• Cloud stored profiles for four (4) users
• 5 x faster processing, 14 x faster graphics, 4 x memory, 8 x storage vs. Ford My Sync Touch 4.0A
• 5G Wireless, O.T.A. updates
• Customizable widgets

+1 Concealed forward center console wireless device storage; Center stack wireless device shelf x 2, including Qi inductive charging x 1

HOW AUDIBLY: 14 speaker, 980 watt B&O Play premium streaming audio

• +1 Impressive surround-sound depth, brings gaming apps to life
• -1 Some high frequency artifacts are muddied

HOW "APP" -LICABLE:

√ wireless Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ FordPass mobile app & key

+1 extensive Google Assistant / Amazon Alexa voice command execution

• Vivaldi browser app (Google Chrome soon to be available)
• Extensive Google Play apps
  • Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, i-Heart
  • YouTube, Amazon Prime video (while parked)
  • Asphalt Nitro 2 gaming

By Subscription: √ Sirius XM 360L Traffic app (5 yrs. included); √ 5G Wi-Fi hot spot (by Verizon Wireless)

• +/- No more Travellink

HOW MUCH: $59,865 = 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum AWD suggested retail price + destination

WHAT'S MISSING: Cabin finish still not the best; Gentler rebound damping

ANY COMPETITION: Dodge Durango R/T: +1 naturally aspirated 5.7L OHV V-8; Mazda CX-90 Turbo: +1 cabin materials