2026 Ford Explorer

The 2026 Explorer gets a meaningful refresh with the headline being the new Tremor off-road trim — a lifted, 385-horsepower version with skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a Torsen limited-slip rear axle. It's the most capable Explorer Ford has ever built, and it's a clear response to the off-road trend that's sweeping the SUV market. The Explorer's secret weapon has always been its rear-wheel-drive platform, shared with the Lincoln Aviator. In a sea of front-drive-based crossovers, the Explorer drives with a tautness and balance that most three-row SUVs can't match. The 300-hp turbo-four handles daily duty fine, but the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 in ST and Tremor trims transforms the Explorer into something genuinely quick. The catch is that the Explorer's reliability record has been spotty — RepairPal gives it 3.5/5, and three recalls have already been issued for the 2026 model year. The infotainment system, while visually impressive with its 13.2-inch screen, occasionally lags in ways that shouldn't happen at this price point. Ford charges a premium over the Chevy Traverse, and buyers should honestly ask whether the driving dynamics justify the reliability trade-off.