2026 Ford Explorer® in Southeast Michigan
The 2026 Ford Explorer® lineup runs across six trims from the Active entry through the off-road Tremor® and the performance-tuned ST, with seating for up to seven passengers and up to 85.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Every Explorer® tows up to 5,000 pounds, runs an electronic 10-speed automatic transmission, and offers rear-wheel drive standard with Intelligent 4WD available.
- Overview
- Who It's For
- Models
- Capacity & Towing
- Technology & Safety
- Pricing
- How to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 Ford Explorer®?
The 2026 Ford Explorer® is a three-row mid-size SUV with a 119.1-inch wheelbase, 198.7 inches of overall length, and seating for up to seven passengers. Six trims span the lineup, from the Active 100A and Active at the entry through the sport-appearance ST-Line, the off-road Tremor®, the luxury-focused Platinum, and the performance-tuned ST. Every Explorer® runs an electronic 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard on five of the six trims and Intelligent 4WD available. The Tremor® is the exception, offered with Intelligent 4WD only. The broader Ford new-vehicle lineup is covered on the Ford Model Research page.
Who is the 2026 Ford Explorer® built for?
The 2026 Explorer® fits four buyers cleanly. The first is the family driver who needs three rows, real cargo space, and tri-zone climate control as a daily-use family SUV. The second is the off-road buyer drawn to the new Tremor® for its 8.7 inches of ground clearance, underbody protection, and Torsen® limited-slip rear axle. The third is the performance buyer who wants 385 horsepower from the 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 in an SUV body. The fourth is the luxury buyer choosing the Platinum for its heated, ventilated, and massaging front-row seats, 14-speaker B&O Sound System, and standard BlueCruise hands-free highway driving.
What models are available for the 2026 Ford Explorer®?
The 2026 Explorer® comes in six trims: Active 100A, Active, ST-Line, Tremor®, Platinum, and ST. Five of the six run the standard 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The ST runs an exclusive 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 with 385 horsepower and 415 lb-ft, and that V6 is also available on the Tremor®.
| Trim | Starting MSRP | Standard Engine | Standard Drivetrain | Defining Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer® Active 100A | Mid-$30Ks | 2.3L EcoBoost® | RWD | Value entry |
| Explorer® Active | Low-$40Ks | 2.3L EcoBoost® | RWD | Family-equipped Active |
| Explorer® ST-Line | Mid-$40Ks | 2.3L EcoBoost® | RWD | Sport appearance and tech |
| Explorer® Tremor® | High-$40Ks | 2.3L EcoBoost® | Intelligent 4WD | Off-road specialist |
| Explorer® Platinum | Low-$50Ks | 2.3L EcoBoost® | RWD | Luxury flagship |
| Explorer® ST | Mid-$50Ks | 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 | RWD | Performance specialist |
To see how the trims look across colors and configurations, the Ford Virtual Showroom is the next stop.
Explorer® Active 100A and Active
The Active 100A and Active are the entry trims of the 2026 Explorer® lineup. Both run the 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with rear-wheel drive standard and Intelligent 4WD available. The Active 100A starts the lineup at the lowest entry price, with selectable drive modes, the Class III Trailer Tow Package available, and Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ including adaptive cruise control as standard equipment. The Active steps up with heated front-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10-way power driver's seat, the power liftgate, and active noise cancellation.
Explorer® ST-Line
The ST-Line is the sport-appearance tier. It runs the 2.3L EcoBoost® with rear-wheel drive standard and Intelligent 4WD available. 20-inch Ebony Machined-Painted Aluminum wheels, blackout treatment on the headlamps and taillamps, the Explorer hood badge, and unique durable cloth-trimmed seats with red stitching set the visual treatment. The B&O Sound System with 10 speakers and a subwoofer comes standard, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front-row seats, and Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 with the 360-Degree Camera. BlueCruise is available.
Explorer® Tremor®
The Tremor® is the new off-road model in the 2026 Explorer® lineup. It's the most powerful off-road Explorer® ever made. The available 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 with 385 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque pairs with Intelligent 4WD as the only drivetrain option. A Torsen® limited-slip rear axle, off-road tuned suspension, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, a 24.1-degree approach angle, and underbody protection with front and rear deflector plates make up the off-road equipment package. 18-inch Ebony Black-Painted Aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, accent-color tow hooks, off-road auxiliary lights, and Tremor-specific badging finish the look.
The cabin steps up to second-row captain's chairs that drop seating to six instead of the seven offered on most other trims. Heated first- and second-row seats come standard, along with the stitched Tremor logo on the seatbacks, front- and second-row floor liners, and the B&O Sound System with 10 speakers and a subwoofer. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 with the 360-Degree Camera is standard, and BlueCruise is available.
Explorer® Platinum
The Platinum is the luxury tier of the lineup. The 2.3L EcoBoost® powers the Platinum with rear-wheel drive standard and Intelligent 4WD available. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front-row seats with leather inserts come standard, along with available leather-trimmed seats and the available panoramic fixed glass roof with power sunshade. The 14-speaker B&O Sound System with subwoofer is exclusive to the Platinum. Adaptive headlamps, ambient lighting, 20-inch Luster Nickel-Painted Aluminum wheels, and PowerFold® third-row seats round out the standard equipment. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving comes standard with a 1-year and 90-day plan included.
Explorer® ST
The ST is the performance trim. The 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 with 385 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque is standard, and the engine pairs with a sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes with red-painted brake calipers, a quad-tipped exhaust, and 21-inch Magnetite-Painted Aluminum wheels. Heated and ventilated front-row seats with red accent stitching, the B&O Sound System with 10 speakers and a subwoofer, ambient lighting, and PowerFold® third-row seats are all standard. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving comes standard. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 with the 360-Degree Camera is standard.
What can the 2026 Ford Explorer® carry and tow?
The 2026 Explorer® tows up to 5,000 pounds across all six trims. Maximum cargo space behind the first row reaches 85.8 cubic feet on the Active 100A, Active, and ST-Line, and 85.3 cubic feet on the Tremor®, Platinum, and ST. Maximum seating is seven passengers across most of the lineup, with the Tremor® dropping to six because of its second-row captain's chairs.
The cargo configurations work in three stages. With all three rows up, you have 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third row opens 46 cubic feet of space. Folding both the second and third rows brings the maximum cargo volume into play. The Platinum and ST come with PowerFold® third-row seats standard, which makes the transition from passenger mode to cargo mode quicker without manually folding seatbacks. The Class III Trailer Tow Package is available across the lineup for buyers who plan to tow a small trailer or boat for weekend use.
What technology and safety features come with the 2026 Explorer®?
Every 2026 Explorer® includes a 13.2-inch center display, Ford Digital Experience, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability, tri-zone electronic automatic temperature control, and a cabin particulate air filter. The Ford Connectivity Package brings unlimited Wi-Fi hotspot service, streaming, games, and karaoke while parked. The Ford App handles vehicle access and connected services from a phone.
Driver-assist coverage scales with trim. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ with adaptive cruise control comes standard on the Active 100A and Active. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 with the 360-Degree Camera comes standard on the ST-Line, Tremor®, Platinum, and ST. Front parking sensors come with the same trim distribution. Auto Hold is standard across the lineup.
BlueCruise is Ford's hands-free highway driving feature. On approved sections of divided highway, it manages acceleration, braking, and steering while a driver-monitoring camera tracks the driver's attention to the road. BlueCruise is available on the ST-Line and Tremor® and standard on the Platinum (with a 1-year and 90-day plan included) and the ST.
Active safety runs universally across all six trims. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, dual-stage front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, the Safety Canopy® side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor, the SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, individual tire pressure monitoring, the Belt-Minder® reminder, and the SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System are all standard.
What does the 2026 Ford Explorer® cost in Michigan?
The 2026 Explorer® lineup runs from a starting MSRP of about $38,000 on the Active 100A up to $55,000 on the ST. The Active opens around $41,000, the ST-Line near $45,000, the Tremor® lands at about $49,000, and the Platinum settles near $51,000. Final pricing depends on configuration, destination charge, taxes, registration, and any current Specials or eligibility programs.
Lease and finance Specials are updated monthly at Dorian Ford. Both pages below cover whatever 2026 Explorer® offers are active right now.
A handful of eligibility-based programs can layer onto a 2026 Explorer® purchase. A/X/Z Plan pricing is offered through a Ford program for eligible Ford Motor Company employees, retirees, and partner-company employees, with the qualification rules detailed on the A/X/Z Plan page. Military service members, first responders, and current college students or recent graduates each qualify for their own program with its own rules. Profit-sharing offers run periodically when Ford Motor Company employees are eligible. We confirm which programs apply before any offer is finalized.
How do I buy or lease a 2026 Ford Explorer® at Dorian Ford?
Three paths lead to a 2026 Explorer® at Dorian Ford: shop our in-stock inventory, custom-order a configuration through the Ford build tool, or schedule a test drive first.
Pre-approval at Dorian Ford runs as a soft credit pull, so it doesn't affect your score. Knowing the numbers ahead of time gives you a realistic picture before any paperwork starts.
Get Pre-Approved
If the configuration you want isn't on the lot, the Ford build tool puts
together a custom order to your spec.
Custom Order
Tool
Test drives are scheduled in advance, so the specific Explorer® you want to drive
is ready when you arrive.
Schedule a Test Drive
Trade evaluations can be handled online for a starting estimate or in person for
a final number.
Trade-In Value
Dorian Ford has been family-owned on Gratiot Avenue since 1964. The 2026
Explorer® you eventually drive home should match how your family actually uses
an SUV. Helping you find that match is what we do, with transparent pricing and
no pressure on the timing.
What else should I know about the 2026 Ford Explorer®?
The questions below cover details shoppers often want to confirm before choosing a trim or scheduling a test drive at Dorian Ford.
The 2026 Explorer® tows up to 5,000 pounds across all six trims. The towing capacity is consistent whether you're in the Active 100A entry trim or the performance ST. The Class III Trailer Tow Package is available on the Active 100A.
Maximum seating is seven passengers on the Active 100A, Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST. The Tremor® seats six, with second-row captain's chairs in place of the bench seat used on the other five trims.
Yes. Intelligent 4WD is available as an option on the Active 100A, Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST, all of which come with rear-wheel drive standard. The Tremor® comes with Intelligent 4WD as standard equipment and is not offered with rear-wheel drive only.
The biggest update is the new Explorer® Tremor®, the most powerful off-road Explorer® in the lineup. The Tremor® offers the available 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 with 385 horsepower, a Torsen® limited-slip rear axle, off-road tuned suspension with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, underbody protection with front and rear deflector plates, all-terrain tires, off-road auxiliary lights, and Tremor-specific badging.
The 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 makes 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, comes standard on five of the six trims, and works for everyday driving and most light towing. The 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 makes 385 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, comes standard on the ST and is available on the Tremor®, and pairs with a 20.2-gallon fuel tank instead of the 18.6 gallons on the I-4. Both engines achieve their maximum ratings on premium fuel.
BlueCruise is Ford's hands-free highway driving feature. On approved sections of divided highway, it manages acceleration, braking, and steering while a driver-monitoring camera tracks the driver's attention to the road. BlueCruise is optional on the ST-Line and Tremor® and standard on the Platinum (with a 1-year and 90-day plan included) and the ST.
The Explorer® offers 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet behind the first row on the Active 100A, Active, and ST-Line. The Tremor®, Platinum, and ST max out at 85.3 cubic feet behind the first row.
The Tremor® is the off-road model and the ST is the performance model. Both can run the 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 with 385 horsepower. The Tremor® comes with Intelligent 4WD only, off-road tuned suspension, 18-inch all-terrain tires, underbody protection, and a Torsen® limited-slip rear axle. The ST comes with sport-tuned suspension, 21-inch Magnetite-Painted Aluminum wheels, performance brakes with red-painted calipers, and a quad-tipped exhaust. The ST starts at $54,905; the Tremor® starts at $48,965.
Yes, on the Platinum trim. The available panoramic fixed glass roof with power sunshade is offered specifically on the Explorer® Platinum.
The 2026 Explorer® carries a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Safety restraint coverage runs 5 years or 60,000 miles. Corrosion perforation coverage runs 5 years with unlimited mileage. Roadside assistance runs 5 years or 60,000 miles.
