The Ford Explorer has been one of the most popular three-row SUVs since it hit the market in the 1990s. You might know that the '90s saw a boom for SUVs, but the Explorer proved to stand the test of time and be more than just a trend. Anyone looking for a comfortable and large passenger vehicle with configurable rear rows and great safety features has turned to the Explorer for a long time. However, the Explorer is much more than your family carpool vehicle or soccer practice minibus. It comes in several dynamic trims to appeal to drivers of various tastes, styles, and habits.
Today, we look at the 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line, the sporty version of the Explorer with striking style details inside and out. It's the perfect Explorer trim for anyone who appreciates a little track-ready style and a cool-looking interior and wants the timeless perks of the Explorer, like a large cabin, solid towing figures, convenient storage compartments, and impressive technology. Let's get to know the 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line.
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Starting with performance, you will feel confident on the road whether you travel the same routes every day or explore new destinations thanks to the great driver assist and safety features. One of these is Ford's popular BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology. BlueCruise can take over steering, braking, and accelerating. It can even handle hands-free lane changing. You can either activate the hands-free lane change function or, when using cruise control, the vehicle can automatically do it if it senses that a vehicle is moving slowly in front of you.
If you spend a lot of time on the road, then you know how tiring it can be to manually command a vehicle. BlueCruise lets you relax a bit while the SUV handles monotonous maneuvers for you. However, it does have a Driver Alert system to make sure you keep your eyes on the road. If the system senses you looking away from the road, it will give you several alerts, reminding you to focus back on the road.
The Ford ST-Line also has the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite. This gets you a Pre-Collision Assist system and Reverse Brake Assist, which together can activate Automatic Emergency Braking to help you avoid collisions when moving forward or moving in reverse. Blind Spot Assist monitors your blind spot and will alert you if someone is approaching this tricky area when you intend to change lanes.
A 360-degree camera gives you a comprehensive view of what's happening around your vehicle. You'll see this footage appear on the large touchscreen, and you can easily see different camera angles there, too. There is also Intersection Assist, which can engage Automatic Emergency Braking to avoid collisions when turning in an intersection. Finally, if you or a passenger are exiting the vehicle on a side where another vehicle is approaching, the Exit Warning will notify you so that you remain in the SUV until it is safe to leave.
As for power, the ST-Line has the 2.3L EcoBoost engine kicking out 300 hp. You can tow 5,000 lbs in this model, which should make it more than ready to help you bring campers and boats to your adventures. The Explorer ST-Line is also ready to tackle a range of terrain. That's because it has six selectable drive modes, which are part of the Terrain Management System. These modes include Normal, which is great for everyday conditions; Eco, which maximizes fuel efficiency; Sport, which boosts accelerator response for a thrilling feel; Tow/Haul, which improves power when trailering heavy loads; Slippery, which improves traction on icy or snow-covered roads, and Trail, which improves wheel spin in off-road situations.
The Explorer has always been and always will be a vehicle that puts passenger and driver comfort first. That is very evident in the ST-Line. This model gets durable ActiveX seating material, which looks upscale and resembles leather but is actually easier to clean and more durable. Plus, it has vibrant red stitching for this trim. As the driver, you will sit in a 10-way power adjustable seat, so finding the perfect position for long commutes should be a breeze. Your front-seat passenger will enjoy an eight-way power adjustable seat. The first and second rows get heated seats to provide a cozy, full-body warmth on cold days. And, of course, the second and third rows have easy-to-fold, configurable seats that let you adjust cargo space as you see fit.
You'll also find impressive technology inside, including a 13.2-inch color LCD touchscreen along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility so that you can connect your device to the large screen without the use of USB cords. However, if you do want to use your USB cord, the first two rows have several USB ports.
Access to a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot lets you and your passengers stay connected on the go. So whether you have kids who need to handle online homework assignments during road trips or adult passengers who need to respond to work emails, everyone can log in to the platforms they need from the Explorer. If you take your music listening seriously, you'll appreciate the Bang and Olufsen 10-speaker sound system in this model, complete with a subwoofer for an immersive listening experience.
Finally, we get to the exterior. But just because we cover these features last certainly does not make them the least. In fact, the sporty exterior style details of the ST-Line are what draws many drivers to this model. You're going to find tons of blacked-out features, including an available black-painted roof, a black mesh grille, a molded black rear bumper step pad, and black skid plate elements in the front and rear. The roof rack side rails are also black, as are the mirror caps. All in all, these blacked-out components give the Explorer ST-Line a distinctly urban look that's ready for city environments. As you approach your Ford Explorer ST-Line, you'll notice striking signature lighting, too.
As far as exterior function goes, the side view mirrors offer an available power-folding feature and have heated glass to melt away ice and condensation on cold days. The available LED turn signal indicators should be easy to see by surrounding traffic, while the side mirrors also have an available memory function. So when you set them to your preferred position, they will recall that position each time you turn on the ignition.
Moving to the back of this trim, you will get a power liftgate. So once you push the button to open your trunk, you will not need to put in any further effort to get that liftgate all the way up. You have the option to add rain-sensing wipers in the front of this model, which turn on and off automatically in response to rain and adjust the intensity in response to how heavy the downpour is.