2021 Ford Explorer

Whether you want a sporty SUV with fine-tuned suspension, a luxurious one to take the family on a road trip, or one to haul the kids to and from their after-school events, you have six trims to choose from. The trims include the base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, ST, and the top-tier Premium. All trims have striking lines, slick LED headlights and taillights, and roof rails giving the Explorer an aerodynamic shape.

The Explorer comes with plenty of power under the hood. Starting with the base, XLT, and Limited, you get a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine pushing out 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The sporty ST and luxurious Premium have a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid carries a 3.3-liter V-6 engine paired with an electric motor that delivers 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. To complete the powertrain, you'll find a 10-speed automatic transmission on all the trims.

The Explorer comes with plenty of traction and stability with the standard rear-wheel drive or the available intelligent four-wheel-drive system that's ideal for tackling rugged off-road trails. With four-wheel drive, you also get a terrain management system featuring seven driving modes that adjust the powertrain to changing terrain and weather situations. All trims come standard with trailer sway control that help you stabilize your Explorer when towing a boat or trailer. Add the proper trailering equipment and your Explorer has a towing capacity of 5,600 pounds.

The three rows of seats that can hold up to seven people come with cloth upholstery on the lower trims and as you move up the tiers, you get leather upholstery with special touches such as heated, cooled, and ventilated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and tri-zone automatic climate control.

For those sitting in the third row, it's easy to get inside the Explorer because the second-row seats slide effortlessly forward. The available hands-free liftgate, which comes standard on select trims, allows you to easily load your groceries and supplies, and you have plenty of room with a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

Ford's SYNC 4 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration features an 8-inch or optional 12-inch touch screen. Listen to your audio through the 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, and download the FordPass Connect app to access features on your Explorer remotely. The app also gives you an in-cabin 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot.

Your Explorer comes equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot360 driver-assist features that include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The standard side-wind stabilization system helps you control the Explorer if a gust of wind hits, which is extremely helpful when towing a trailer.