Explorer | St. Louis, MO
Whether the Ford Explorer fits your family routine.
The Explorer sits in an interesting spot in Ford’s lineup, bigger than a compact SUV but not as large as the Expedition, which makes it easy to overlook if you’re not sure exactly which size category you need. Here is a straightforward look at who it fits.
Quick answer: The Explorer suits families who want genuine three row seating and everyday practicality without the size and towing focus of a full size SUV. Families who need heavy towing or full third row cargo space regularly are usually better served by the Expedition instead.
Seating
Three rows available
Size
Midsize SUV
Compare
Edge and Expedition
In this post
- How Does the Third Row Feel to Use?
- What Happens to Cargo Space With All Three Rows in Use?
- How Much Towing Capability Does It Have?
- What Technology Matters Day to Day?
- What Trim Level Fits Most Families?
- How Does It Perform on Safety Ratings?
- Is It Worth the Jump From a Two Row SUV?
- Seeing One in Person
How Does the Third Row Feel to Use?
It’s usable for kids and reasonably comfortable for adults on shorter trips, which puts it a step above SUVs where the third row is more of a occasional-use afterthought. For families who use the third row every few weeks instead of once a year, this is where the Explorer earns its size over a two row SUV.
What Happens to Cargo Space With All Three Rows in Use?
This is the honest tradeoff compared to the Expedition. With all three rows up, cargo space behind the third row is usable but noticeably tighter than the Expedition offers in the same configuration. For a family that regularly fills all three rows and still needs real cargo room behind them, that’s worth test-driving both models back to back before deciding.
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Does It Drive Differently Than a Full Size SUV?
Noticeably, yes. The Explorer handles more like a large car than a truck-based SUV, which matters for daily parking, tighter turns, and general maneuverability around the city. Families moving up from a smaller SUV tend to find this transition easier than jumping straight to a full size SUV like the Expedition.
How Much Towing Capability Does It Have?
It is enough for most weekend recreational towing without stepping into the territory where a full size SUV becomes the more sensible choice.
Properly equipped, the Explorer can tow a moderate trailer, enough for a small camper or a boat on the lighter end, but it’s not built for the heavier towing the Expedition or a full size truck handles. If regular heavy towing is part of your plans, that’s the clearest signal to look at a bigger vehicle instead.
St. Louis driver tip: Test it with school pickup, a soccer complex parking lot and a drive down I-44. Sit in the third row yourself.
What Technology Matters Day to Day?
The features that earn their keep are usually the quiet ones running in the background every drive, not the ones that make for an impressive showroom demonstration.
Driver assistance features like blind spot monitoring and a strong backup camera system get used every single drive, which matters more for daily satisfaction than screen size or headline tech features that sound impressive but rarely get touched after the first week of ownership.
What Trim Level Fits Most Families?
A mid-level trim typically covers the driver assistance features most families rely on daily, blind spot monitoring and a strong backup camera among them, without the added cost of top-trim luxury features that see less regular use. Families who tow occasionally or want extra technology may find a step-up trim worth the difference, but it’s worth weighing that cost against how often those specific features would get used in your household.
How Does It Perform on Safety Ratings?
Safety ratings change with each model year and testing update, so the most reliable check is the current rating from IIHS and NHTSA for the exact model year you are considering. Available driver assistance features add another layer of protection beyond the structural rating itself. For a family cross-shopping SUVs primarily on safety, it’s worth comparing current model year ratings directly rather than relying on an older year’s results, since testing standards and vehicle updates both shift over time.
Is It Worth the Jump From a Two Row SUV?
If your family occasionally needs a third seat for a carpool or a visiting relative, a two row SUV with a very occasional workaround may still serve you fine. If that third row need comes up regularly enough that you’re currently turning down rides or splitting into two vehicles, the Explorer solves a real, recurring problem rather than a hypothetical one.
Seeing One in Person
Bring the whole family along if you can, since how comfortable everyone feels in their own seat matters more than any spec on paper. A quick test drive with everyone in their usual spot tells you more in twenty minutes than reading another review would in an hour. Ask the people in the third row how they feel too, since their comfort on a twenty minute loop is a reasonable preview of how they’ll feel after an hour on the highway.
Specs only tell part of the story with a vehicle like this. Bring your own gear, your own kids, and your own sense of how often that third row gets used, and our team can walk through current inventory and financing together.
The Explorer is the better fit for families who have outgrown a smaller SUV but don’t need the full scale of the Expedition, a middle ground that covers more households than people initially assume once they sit down and map out how the vehicle would be used week to week rather than just on the rare trip that needs every seat and every inch of cargo space.
There is no wrong answer between the Explorer and a smaller or larger SUV. There is only the answer that fits how your specific family uses a vehicle week after week, which is worth figuring out before you fall in love with a specific trim or color.
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Seating and Family Fit
Is the third row comfortable for older kids and teenagers?
It handles older kids reasonably well for typical trip lengths, though very long drives are more comfortable in the first two rows, which is common across this size category.
How many child seats can realistically fit across the second and third rows?
It depends on the specific seats and their width, but two child seats across the second row with room to spare, and a third in some configurations, is realistic for most families. Our team can help check specific seat compatibility during a visit.
Can the Explorer be configured with second-row captain’s chairs instead of a bench?
Yes, captain’s chairs are available as a second-row option on select trims, which trades a small amount of center seating capacity for easier access to the third row and a more defined space for each second-row passenger.
Size and Space
How does the Explorer compare to the Expedition for a family of five?
A family of five without regular third row cargo needs is often well served by the Explorer’s smaller footprint. Families needing more cargo space behind a full third row tend to prefer the Expedition.
Does the Explorer have a fold-flat second row for hauling cargo instead of passengers?
Yes, both the second and third rows fold flat, which opens up a long, usable cargo area when passenger seating isn’t needed for a particular trip.
What’s the ground clearance like for light winter or unpaved driving?
Ground clearance is reasonable for light winter conditions and unpaved roads, though it is not built for serious off-road use the way a Bronco is. For most St. Louis winter driving and the occasional gravel road, it handles comfortably.
Performance and Trims
What’s a realistic towing setup for the Explorer?
It depends on the specific trailer and its loaded weight, so bringing that detail to our sales team lets us match the right configuration to what you plan to tow.
Does the Explorer have a specific trim built for performance, like the ST?
Yes, the ST trim is tuned for a more performance-focused driving experience, with upgraded power and handling compared to standard trims, while still retaining the three row practicality of the rest of the lineup.
Is all-wheel drive standard on the Explorer, or an upgrade?
Availability varies by trim, so confirming whether all-wheel drive is standard or an available upgrade on the specific trim being considered is worth doing before assuming it is included.
Features and Technology
Does the Explorer come in a hybrid configuration?
Availability varies by model year and trim, so our sales team can confirm what’s currently available on the lot or through order, along with expected timing if you’d like to wait for a specific build.
Does the Explorer offer a hands-free power liftgate?
A hands-free power liftgate is available on select trims, which is a convenient feature for anyone regularly loading cargo with hands full, and worth checking for on the specific trim being considered.
Is the infotainment screen large by current standards?
Available screen size varies by trim, with higher trims typically offering a larger display. Comparing the specific trim being considered against current expectations is the most accurate way to judge this.
Buying and Value
Can I trade in my current SUV toward an Explorer?
Yes, our trade value tool gives you a starting estimate, and our team will finalize it once we see the vehicle in person, usually within a few minutes of arriving.
How does Explorer pricing compare to a loaded two-row SUV?
A well-equipped two-row SUV and an Explorer can land in a similar price range depending on trim, so the real comparison usually comes down to whether the third row and added size are worth that configuration to a specific family rather than price alone.
Does Explorer resale value hold up compared to similar three row SUVs?
Resale value depends on trim, mileage, and condition at the time of sale, so it varies more by specific vehicle than by model alone. Regular maintenance and documented service history tend to help resale value across any vehicle.
