Auto-journalist circles seem to be buzzing about the Ford Explorer ST. “It’s like a sports sedan,” they say. “Rear drive and 400 horsepower, what’s not to love?”
“What’s not to love?” indeed. It does sound like it could be a good time, so I quickly contacted Ford to get one of my own. But when my loaner arrived, I was a bit confused. The first thing I noticed was the word “Line” sitting next to that fender-mounted ST badge. And usually adding a “-line” badge to a vehicle means that it’s just the pretend version of the fun one.
So I’ll admit it: I had a brief flash of disappointment when this 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line first arrived. But then I thought about it for a minute: do I really need a 4500-ish-pound three-row SUV to be an exceptional canyon carver? Or do I just need it to haul my family around in comfort? I think we all know the answer to that one.
Still Looks Sporty
The current CD6-chassis Explorer came out in 2019 which, to me, feels like yesterday but was… six whole years ago?! That’s an eternity in the car world, so for the 2025 model year, Ford updated the grille, front and rear lighting, and other small details feel to help refresh this SUV. The interior got an update as well, but we’ll touch on that in a bit.
Badge details aside, this Explorer ST-Line looks a lot like its more powerful ST sibling. It can be had in the same Vapor Blue Metallic hero color. It can also be equipped with the same 21-inch alloy wheels, though 20-inch rollers come standard. Red brake calipers can be seen behind said wheels—and we all know that red=sporty. And the blacked-out accents further hint at this SUV’s more (wannabe) athletic nature.
No matter the trim, though, the Explorer is one handsome SUV. Its design is fuss-free and just works—it’s boxy in all the right places and feels purposeful in its stance. It’s more truck than millennial minivan, and it looks like a machine that’s ready to get to work—even if said work is just loading up a tricycle or two.
A Tech-Heavy Interior
Save for the dash, the 2025 Explorer is largely the same as the “old” 2024 model. That’s not exactly a bad thing as its three rows of seating are quite comfortable. Granted, every CD6 Explorer to ever come my way has had three-zone climate control, 2nd-row captain’s chairs and a power-folding third-row seat, and each one of these features has allowed the Explorer to comfortably handle anything—or anyone—I threw at it. But if you want to get technical, this ’25 model gets new soft-touch materials on the door panels, and now every seat—in every row—gets its own USB-C charging port.
I’m stoked that this Explorer ST-Line gets cloth seats throughout. With every new vehicle featuring seats wrapped either in real cow hide or “synthetic” (plastic) faux leather, it’s nice coming into a ride that won’t burn or freeze me the minute I sit down. But if things get too cold, both the first- and second-row seating gets multi-stage heating.
Now on to the major interior change: the dash. Similar to Ford’s new Mustang, all primary features are controlled via a 13.2-inch touchscreen display. The challenge here in the Explorer is that many of the permanent icons are small and located at the bottom of the screen. It takes focus to accurately hit the icon you want—and that’s not where your focus should be while barreling down the freeway at 80 mph. Your choice of Google Assistant or Alexa Built-In enables you to use voice commands to control everything, but accuracy of voice controls aside, I’m not into performing a monologue to simply adjust temperature and vent controls.
But if you’re the type who loves tech more than driving, you’re probably fine diving into these familiar voice-controlled user interfaces. And engaging the standard BlueCruise functionality will give you the mental bandwidth to (slyly) focus more on screen duties while the Explorer drives itself.
It’s quick enough
The centerpiece of the big-dog Explorer ST is, perhaps, its powertrain: a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that sends its 400 horsepower to the rear wheels via a paddle-shifted 10-speed transmission. The Explorer ST-Line, on the other hand, gets a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-banger rated at 300 horsepower, and its 10-speed transmission offers no manual control.
But honestly? For what the Explorer is—and what it is, is a large three-row SUV—it’s got plenty of hustle. Power is delivered with the punch and responsiveness of a much larger engine, though it is quite thirsty in stop-and-go city driving. But it pulls like a freight train on the freeway, and once settled at a steady cruising speed, readily hits that EPA-estimated 25 mpg. The Explorer ST-Line does feel artificially stiff on occasion, and Orange County’s oddly paved freeways make its all-season tires squeal. But the overall ride is smooth, compliant and quiet, making this SUV a nice place to spend time in while devouring miles.
Final Thoughts
Is the Ford Explorer ST-Line the sports-inspired RWD platform that’s got journalists buzzing? Of course not. But if corner-carving fun is what you’re after, go buy a Mustang. Or better yet—a Miata. But if you need a big SUV that’s big on practicality, it’s hard to go wrong with the badge that built the segment.
Justin Kaehler has been covering all things automotive for 20 years, and has been an active part of the car scene for much longer than that. Though he’s grown to love all cars, he’s still particularly fond of the ’80s and ’90s Japanese metal he grew up on. And for those of you who grew up playing The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift game for the PS2 and PSP, yes, he’s also that JDM Justin.