2025 Explorer First Impression by Blwnsmoke

[blwnsmoke]

Thanks to Ford for having me out again this week to drive the new 25 Explorer. This included Bluecruise, Autocross and a little offroad fun.

Although impressions and descriptions of the above can't be posted till 6/23, I took more pictures and have some answers that a few were asking about.

One bolt vs two bolt. There were roughly 18 Explorers here and I got underneath several of them across the different trim thus. (Active, ST line, ST and Platinum). Every single one had ONE bolt.

Black trim gone on ST - @Sgt1411 wanted Ford to be asked about the lack of Black. In talking with the Explorer trim, they said that they did keep a lot of the black. The door trim as well as the headlights and taillights have a lot of black still in it but not blacked out. They did say that their biggest complaint so far as well as feedback is that people want the BLACK rims. Although no confirmation, it sounded like this is something in the works to bring back.

Revel Run

Here is the Active trim

ST trim - I only took a few as

Here is the Platinum trim with black roof option.

 

[blwnsmoke]

ST Line trim

A couple more ST pics with black roof option

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Dang, I think I got lucky with a 2022 with the 2-bolt. I don’t understand why Ford keeps producing STs with the 1-bolt. I myself am not a fan of the rim design even if it was black. 2020-22 21”s are probably my favorite wheels. Interior looks a little more upscale with more soft touch surfaces, maybe that’s why they’re going away from the black trim. Also, I love how the headlights are all blacked out instead of the chrome inside the current gen’s one.

 

[jpeckinp]

Are we still looking at a 4th qtr before dealers get these?

 

[blwnsmoke]

Are we still looking at a 4th qtr before dealers get these?

Unofficially hoping days.. not weeks for shipments to start.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Unofficially hoping days.. not weeks for shipments to start.

They’re already storing a lot waiting for quality checks so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was really soon.

 

[Rick]

Thanks for all the photos. The setting looks really nice.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it out there.

I am looking forward to your impressions of the new touchscreen.

 

[Pedro504]

Looks like the Touchscreen is used for almost every function.

 

[dcjdinwy]

Did I see somewhere that the Platinum still has massage seats? I thought they were removed.

 

[UGADawg96]

Did I see somewhere that the Platinum still has massage seats? I thought they were removed.

It does have massage seats. Check out redline reviews on youtube from the above event.

 

[Sgt1411]

Great write up and photos, and thanks for asking about the Black Out trim. That's exactly what I got for feedback when I told some of the marketing people about the lack of Black wheels. Some of the marketing people work on Explorer and PIU.

I would argue the ST headlights and taillights are not any different then the XLT or Platinum ones but that's anecdotal using my eyes looking at them on a dealer lot not knowing the engineering and the part numbers and if they differ.

The PAB had a conference call on Wednesday and the discussion came up around all the 25 model year vehicles sitting waiting to be released. We were told this is a software update to the vehicle not a hardware fix and they are literally going car to car in order to ship ASAP. The nice thing going forward is the 25MY will allow for all updates to be pushed OTA and there will be no need to go to the dealership for software.

While those demo vehicles are usually sent out to be made perfect before being released to a Press Event I'm very interested to see the QC on the ones being delivered to dealerships and then customers.

 

[blwnsmoke]

I'm a little late to the game for posting my Impression of the 2025 driving experience, I wanted to make sure to post it for those interested.

First, as everyone knows, the redesign is definitely questionable as far as exterior looks goes. It definitely looks better in person then in pictures.

I found the interior to be MUCH improved and the seats more supportive and comfortable.

I test drove both the 2.3 which is all new and the 3.0. I found the 2.3 to be very noisy when accelerating. Typical IMO of a 4 cylinder BUT I would think more sound deadening improvements are needed. The 3.0 sounds the same as my ST as far as noise goes. The ride quality seemed to be improved. We were riding quite fast down a lot of dirt roads that had bumps everywhere. The Explorer absorbed them very well and was surprised on how smooth of a ride it was.

Boy is it nice getting into a new vehicle. The roadnoise from my 2020 is FAR louder then the 2025. Obviously a new vehicle will always be quieter then a 5 year old vehicle with almost 100k. But that feeling of "boy this would be nice to have again" was definitely there.

Audio - I played around with Ford's audio system as I was curious with the redesign if it really is improved. I'll say as an audio fanatic, I'm not sure where the 1,000+ watts really are. The subwoofer is improved over the 20-24MYs but still left a lot to be desired. The rest of the speakers did sound more clear and was enjoyable overall. If I owned it as a family SUV, I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade the system like I do with my 2020. The huge screen is a MAJOR improvement over the verticle screen in our 20-24MY. The apps and functionality worked flawlessly with no lag. WAZE was a joy to use finally!!

BLUECRUISE - This was my first time experiencing it. The Bluecruise IMO performed flawlessly. I found BC to work far better then the normal cruise control with lane centering. I find the Explorer to basically ping pong back and forth when going down the highway always trying to stay center but can never just get there. BC was so much smoother. There was none of this swaying/ping ponging back and forth. You set it, it activates when it sees it is safe and you just go straight and it's smooth.



I noticed when a sharp curve was approaching, BC told me to put my hands on the steering wheel thoughout the curve and then the warning went away. Clearly a safety issue knowing that it's a sharp curve and wanted you to be prepared to take over if needed.

The changing of lanes automatically by just activating the blinker worked very well too. I am not sure how Tesla operates as I've never driven one but will say that if you are using BC in the slower lane with cars in front of you and you want to get into the faster lane to pass with cars constantly coming as well in that lane, BC will not move over and it will not accelerate to get you to merge appropriately. You will have to take over to get in. This obviously is a safety issue of not getting too close to the car in front of you and also not moving over in tighter spots... but if you don't, you will be stuck in that lane.

Here was a perfect example of trying to get into the left lane and knowing the Explorer wouldn't do it for safety. This is not a knock on BC at all, again it was flawless and extremely impressive. But what may be a limitation due to safety.




One other thing that I found annoying is that when I drive in a more performance orientated position with my arm over the top of the wheel as shown here, it blocks the sensors from being able to see your eyes and triggers warnings to pay attention. The warnings came on also after roughly 5 seconds of not looking at the road which is to be expected.

I never did the ST experience when we bought our ST so Ford's treat to us bringing us to a small coned autocross track was quite awesome. Although the videos show you driving slower then you actually are, there was a ton of squealing and a ton of smoke coming from those tires on the corners. It was quite fun to push these STs around the corners.



I want to thank Ford, Matt Duffield and his team for the invite and Explorer experience.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Great write up and photos, and thanks for asking about the Black Out trim. That's exactly what I got for feedback when I told some of the marketing people about the lack of Black wheels. Some of the marketing people work on Explorer and PIU.

I would argue the ST headlights and taillights are not any different then the XLT or Platinum ones but that's anecdotal using my eyes looking at them on a dealer lot not knowing the engineering and the part numbers and if they differ.

The PAB had a conference call on Wednesday and the discussion came up around all the 25 model year vehicles sitting waiting to be released. We were told this is a software update to the vehicle not a hardware fix and they are literally going car to car in order to ship ASAP. The nice thing going forward is the 25MY will allow for all updates to be pushed OTA and there will be no need to go to the dealership for software.

While those demo vehicles are usually sent out to be made perfect before being released to a Press Event I'm very interested to see the QC on the ones being delivered to dealerships and then customers.

So the ST taillights are darker then the non ST trims. Here are a few pics with the difference circled. Hopefully they bring back a black rim option.

ST

Others

Deliveries have started so that's a good thing. Hopefullly as you said, QC is improved for this launch.

 

[Sgt1411]

Thats a good tail light comparison, I was clearly looking at the wrong part of the taillight housing when trying to determine tinting.

I was really interested in the stereo and potential improvements, I love the honesty, probably what I would assess as well if I had a listen. I sat in a 24 Escalade Sport with the AKG Stereo last week, never heard sound like that in my life.

The first few deliveries to customers on this forum will be interesting as they assess QC on the 25MY.

The best part of that review was the fact you have never driven a Tesla, me either, my family and co workers have strict instructions that if they see me driving a Tesla they are to have me apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken forthwith to a medical practitioner for assessment.