Design
Beauty that's more than skin-deep.
The power and driving dynamics of Explorer come wrapped in an eye-catching design that boasts authentic comfort and style. And because it was built for our modern active lives, you can also expect an interior space for the kids, the dog, the sports equipment, camping gear and just about everything else you may need on the road to adventure.
Redesigned Exterior
The new 2018 Explorer has been purposefully designed to give it a fresh new look. The first thing you'll notice is its dynamic new grille and distinct front and rear LED signature lighting. Step inside, and you'll discover a refined interior with rich new colors. Plus, you can choose from five all-new wheel options to suit your style. So whether your adventures take you on- or off-road, Explorer has a presence that demands attention.
Refined Interior
A remarkable interior combines detail, design, carefully selected materials and accessibility, all at your fingertips. And that's exactly how we built Explorer.
Explorer Platinum
Take your adventures to a luxurious new level. Just open the twin-panel moonroof, turn up the 500-watt Audio System from Sony® and relax in Platinum's perforated and quilted premium Nirvana leather seats. Now imagine all of this inside a smart, finely crafted exterior, featuring high-and low-beam LED headlamps to light the way. Just one more thing-it's all standard.
Explorer Sport
Brandishing the "Explorer" badge on its hood, a unique blackout treatment on the headlamps and taillamps, a quad tip exhaust and 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with painted pockets, this vehicle displays the bold craftsmanship of Explorer Sport. Then, to add a heavy dose of performance, there's the powerful 3.5L EcoBoost® engine, sport-tuned suspension and Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System.
Signature Lighting
There are other advantages to looking good. LED lighting is more durable and longer-lasting than filament-based systems and up to 50 percent more energy-efficient. Also helping you too see clearer are Explorer's fog lamps that help illuminate the road in misty or foggy conditions.
Seating for Up to Seven
The available PowerFold third-row seat folds flat at the touch of a button for additional cargo room and a level load floor. In the upright position, it comfortably seats two passengers. Standard on Limited, Sport and Platinum.
Performance
With Available Breathtaking Experiences
It's time to gear up and get in the game. Explorer has the power and plenty more dynamic features designed to help you play hard and get out there far beyond the roads more traveled.
3.5L EcoBoost® Engine
The 3.5L EcoBoost® combines turbocharging and direct injection. It generates best-in-class 365 V6 horsepower plus 350 lb.-ft. of torque. This EcoBoost® is standard in the Explorer Sport and Platinum, which also feature standard Intelligent 4WD with the Terrain Management System plus Hill Descent Control™.
2.3L EcoBoost® Engine
A powerful 2.3L EcoBoost® engine delivers 280 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. And it's available with 4WD and the Class II Trailer Tow Package.
3.5L Ti-VCT V6 Engine
The 3.5L Ti-VCT (twin independent variable camshaft timing) V6 delivers 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. With its variable control of valve cam timing, Ti-VCT can optimize performance across the entire low, mid and high ranges of the power band to match the driving conditions.
Towing and Trailer Sway Control
Building on AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, the standard trailer sway control selectively brakes and adjusts engine power to maintain trailer control. The result is stability and control, even when towing large loads. When properly equipped the Explorer can tow up to 5,000 lbs. The Class III Trailer Tow Package, required for towing, is available for the 3.5L TiVCT engine, and comes standard with the 3.5L EcoBoost® engine.
Curve Control
Curve Control will slow you down as much as 10 mph in approximately one second when it senses that you're going too fast for a particular curve. Employing throttle reduction and four-wheel braking, it's always active in helping you maintain control around curves. Also, it functions on dry or wet pavement and is particularly useful when you're entering or exiting freeway off- or on-ramps too fast. Curve Control, standard on all Explorer models, is an enhancement to AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™.
Terrain Management System
Come snow, gravel, sand or grass, you'll be ready. The Terrain Management System has four settings for you to choose from depending on the road or path you travel.
Capability
Do what you want to do. And then some.
What do we mean by capable? Spacious seating, excellent cargo room, roof rail, and impressive towing to take you wherever and whenever adventure calls. Explorer also comes with the hands-free foot-activated liftgate, Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System, Hill Descent Control™, and a 180-degree camera with Split-View and Washer.
Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System
The Terrain Management System is included with the available Intelligent 4WD System on Explorer, and lets you shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain. So whether the journey takes you through mud, sand, gravel, grass or snow, you can get through it and carry on with confidence and control.
Towing
The Explorer can tow up to 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped. The Class III Trailer Tow Package, required for towing, is available for the 3.5L TiVCT engine, and comes standard with the 3.5L EcoBoost® engine. It includes an engine oil cooler, wiring harness and tow hitch. The trailer sway control feature, integrated with standard AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, detects trailer sway, automatically adjusts engine speed and applies braking to help counter it.
180-Degree Camera
The Front 180-Degree Camera with Split-View and Washer allows you to see 180 degrees in front of your vehicle. It also comes with a built-in washer to keep the lens debris and dirt free.
Spacious Seating
The Explorer can carry up to seven passengers. The second row features a 60/40 split-fold-flat bench and available bucket seats and console, while the third row has a 50/50 split folding seat with generous passenger space.
Cargo Space
Explorer delivers when you need configurable cargo space. With the second and third-row seats in the upright position, you have maximum seating plus 21 cubic feet of cargo space. With just the third-row seats folded, there is 43.8 cubic feet of total storage capacity. And with both the second- and third-row seats folded flat, Explorer provides up to 81.7 cubic feet of cargo space. What's more, there's a storage area in the floor for smaller items. For cargo space on demand, there is the available PowerFold third-row seat, and the 50/50 split-folding seat folds flat at the touch of a button.
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
The hands-free, foot-activated liftgate makes it easy to access trunk space even when your hands are full.
Technology
Explorer makes it so easy.
The available Ford Safe & Smart Package has features that that do everything from alerting you to unintentional lane drifting to allowing you to set cruise control and select the speed and distance you want to maintain from the vehicle in front of you. It can also alert you to a potential collision with the vehicle ahead. EXPLORER can also help keep you connected from almost anywhere with available SYNC® 3 as well as available SYNC® Connect powered by the FordPass App.
Ford Safe & Smart Package
After using the driver-convenience features in the Ford Safe and Smart Package, you'll never know how you got along without them.
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Auto high-beam headlamps
- BLIS® with cross-traffic alert to help you see what's in your blind spot
- Lane-Keeping System helps detect and alert you to vehicle drift
- Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support
SYNC® 3
SYNC® 3 is our easy-to-use, responsive voice-activated technology. Discover the system's quick reactions to your conversational voice commands. Experience the smartphone-like touchscreen with impressive responsiveness. You'll also find a sleek user-friendly interface to help you connect to and control your smartphone. Locate your favorite restaurants with simple destination entry via the optional navigation. SYNC® 3 is fast, smart and easy to use.
Sony® Premium Audio
Sony® Premium Audio delivers sound quality that can be appreciated by musical novices and experts alike. The 12-speaker system comes standard on Explorer Limited and Sport packages. And for those who like to be really in tune, there's the Premium 500-Watt Sound from Sony® with Clear Phase and Live Acoustics, that helps to reduce distortion and enhance sound presence. Standard on Explorer Platinum and available on Sport.
Enhanced Active Park Assist
Available enhanced active park assist gives Explorer the ability to help make parking easy. Utilizing the vehicle's 12 ultrasonic sensors, Explorer will scan for suitable parking spaces, and will assist in backing the vehicle into the spot. All you have to do is shift, accelerate and brake - because Explorer will take care of the parking. This convenient feature also includes park out assist, reverse perpendicular parking plus forward and side sensing systems.
