2026 Ford Explorer Trim Levels with Prices, Photos, & Specs
Now in its fourth decade as a class-defining mid-size SUV, the iconic Ford Explorer continues to demonstrate a grounded, yet innovative, approach to crafting a vehicle that is equally comfortable on trails and highways. It’s long been among the most adaptable vehicles on the road, and with six different available trim levels, along with several customization packages, there’s sure to be an Explorer to meet your needs. To get you started, Joe Rizza Ford has created this handy guide to the Ford Explorer’s trim levels to help drivers in Orland Park, Bolingbrook, and all across the Chicago area learn about what this classic model has to offer.
Active 100A
Key Features
- Starting at $38,465 MSRP*
- 2.3L EcoBoost® engine
- Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ driver assistance tools
- Six selectable drive modes
- Class III towing package
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability
Right from the entry-level Active 100A trim, the Ford Explorer delivers the sort of power and versatility that make it ideal for adventures ranging from family vacations to daily commutes. Under the hood, it carries a robust 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine with auto start-stop technology and a 10-speed transmission, which produces 300 horsepower and a 5,000-pound towing capacity, enough for a motorboat or ATVs (a Class III towing package is included). Inside, the essentials are all present, including tri-zone climate control, and a 13.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ wireless compatibility. The Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ package, a suite of driver-assist technology including adaptive cruise control and lane centering, is also standard.
Active
Key Features
- Starting at $40,585 MSRP*
- 13.2-inch center display with Ford Digital Experience
- Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ driver assistance tools
- Heated front row seats and available heated steering wheel
- Active noise cancellation
- Power liftgate
The details are what separate the Explorer Active from the Active 100A. That starts right from the rear of the vehicle, where a standard power liftgate replaces a manually-operated version, as well as from the roof, which includes standard roof rails and available crossbars ready to help haul cargo or equipment to your next excursion. The upgrades extend along the length of the vehicle through features like sideview mirrors with standard power and heated glass, including security approach lamps. The interior wasn’t neglected either, as standard noise cancellation, an available heated steering wheel, and standard first-row heated seats ensure a comfortable ride as you get away from the everyday.
ST-Line
Key Features
- Starting at $45,155 MSRP*
- Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 with 360-degree camera
- B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® with 10 speakers, including subwoofer
- 20-inch Ebony-painted machined aluminum wheels
- Available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving
- Unique durable cloth-trimmed seats with red stitching
An extended “Explorer” badge across the front hood announces your arrival in the Ford Explorer ST-Line, though the upgrades at this level extend beyond the visual. It’s the first trim that includes Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 as standard, a package that builds on the driver-assistance tools of Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ and adds in things like intersection assist, reverse brake assist, wrong-way alert, and a 360-degree camera. Other standard goodies include remote start and rear auxiliary climate control functionality, while second row heated seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror are options. The available ST-Line Street Pack adds 21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels, upgraded performance brakes, and red-painted brake calipers to give the vehicle a high-end performance look.
Tremor®
Key Features
- Starting at $48,965 MSRP*
- Available 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine
- Torsen® limited-slip rear axle
- Off-road tuned suspension with increased ride height
- Underbody protection — front and rear deflector plates
- Tremor badging, accents, and grille
The newest addition to the Ford Explorer family, the Tremor is loaded and ready for journeys away from the beaten path. Naturally, that includes plenty of specialized off-road assets: underbody protection, including front and rear deflector plates, standard intelligent 4WD with six selectable drive modes and hill descent control, a Torsen® limited-slip rear axle, and an off-road tuned suspension with an increased ride height. That’s not to say that anything was sacrificed in terms of comfort, as the Tremor’s highlights also include an available 980-watt B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen®, with 14 speakers, with a subwoofer. Throughout the vehicle, special Tremor badges and graphics, orange exterior details, and accent stitching on the seats will let everyone know that you’ve been there and back.
Platinum™
Key Features
- Starting at $50,965 MSRP*
- B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® with 14 speakers, including subwoofer
- BlueCruise hands-free highway driving equipped
- Heated, ventilated, massaging front-row seats with leather inserts
- Available panoramic fixed glass roof with power sunshade
- Ambient lighting
The Ford Explorer Platinum is designed for people who appreciate the finest in luxury and comfort. For starters, there is the seating: leather with Miko® micro-perforated inserts and accent stitching is standard, as are both heating and ventilation in the front row, and heating in the second row. A few feet above those seats is an available panoramic fixed glass roof, keeping the cabin bathed in natural light during the day, and a view of the stars at night. The 980-watt, 14-speaker B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® is standard at this trim level, as are a bevy of USB ports in all three rows and a 110V/150W AC power outlet, just in case those aren’t enough. All the while, active noise cancellation helps keep the Platinum’s ride buttery smooth.
ST
Key Features
- Starting at $54,905 MSRP*
- 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine
- Sport-tuned suspension
- Heated and ventilated front-row seats with active motion
- 21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels
- PowerFold® third-row seats
At the top of the range, the Ford Explorer ST is a culmination of the best that the model has to offer. It’s the only trim level with a standard 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, meaning that it’s also the only trim level where 385 horsepower and 415 LB-FT of torque is standard. That sort of power is complemented nicely by the available and ST-exclusive Sun and Sound Package which, as the name suggests, includes a panoramic fixed glass roof with a power shade and the upper-tier 14-speaker B&O® Sound System. It also includes multicontour seats in the front with active motion, a built-in massage system that uses targeted inflating air chambers to reduce muscle fatigue and improve blood flow.
* Current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for base vehicle. Excludes destination/delivery fee plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. Optional equipment not included.