A couple of generations have grown up and ventured off into the real world since Ford first produced the Explorer, a midsize SUV before there was such a segment. 

Now surrounded by a steadily increasing posse of competing vehicles, the Explorer takes a bold step ahead with the 2025 Limited model.

With the huge palette of available colors, our test-drive from the media press fleet in Chicago came in black, which may seem unimaginative until you get close up in the sunlight and notice the millions of metallic highlights that bring the so-called black to life in a way that is both sporty and traditionally classical.

You first notice the classy stance of the Explorer when you walk around the outside, and spot the new grille, with its open-ice-cube-tray pattern, and the smoothly integrated LED headlights and foglights. 
Walk around to the rear, and you don’t necessarily note that it seems larger, which it is, but you are impressed with the bright silver identification of the Platinum trim level on the rear hatch, as well as the dual exhaust pipes protruding from under either side.

Those appear to mean business, and in this world of impressive new families of high-tech 4-cyinder engines, you soon become appreciative that this Explorer Limited is powered by Ford’s 3.0-liter V6, turbocharged up to deliver 405 horsepower and 430 foot-pounds of torque. 

Obviously, you don’t need that much power to operate an Explorer, but Ford makes that engine for the Lincoln Aviator, the Bronco Raptor and the Ranger Raptor, so it might as well make a few more and offer it as the optional upgrade in the new Explorer for 2025.

The old top-layer Explorer used to be the Limited, but in the new line, the Platinum is the top-shelf model, so why not give it the added dose of power over the base 2.3-EcoBoost 4?

We drove the Explorer up and down Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior, and we also took it for a run into Wisconsin, to Ashland, where we had a nice lunch, and then up to Bayfield, for our usual walk-around to the shops and harbor area. We also hit one of several ice cream shops, where I discovered the place was making its own peach sorbet, which demanded at least a one-scoop sample. Outstanding.

After that, it was time to head down Hwy. 13 for Big Top Chautauqua, the tent concert hall at the base of a ski hill. Reader owner Bob Boone had arranged a special section for some Reader writers, and we saw an exceptional concert by Graham Nash, who handled two sets with his great band, and gave an overflow crowd memorable versions of some old Crosby, Stills and Nash — and Young — songs. “Helplessly Hoping,” “4+20,” “Teach Your Children,” “Find the Cost of Freedom,” “Chicago” and “This House” were among the spellbinding numbers. It took four encores for Nash to exhaust his audience.

Back on the road, south on 13 to Washburn, then west on Hwy. 2 all the way to the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, we cruised easily, which was another big benefit of the smooth 3.0 engine. And we recorded an overall average of 25.8 miles per gallon for the week, including the long trip on Wisconsin’s well-maintained rural highway system.

With all the safety features and driver aids, the Explorer Limited  price tag zoomed up to $67,555, for the 2025 edition. Among its features is the driving mode switch, which allows you to select Normal, Eco or Sport, electronically adjusting suspension and steering.

Setting the upgraded audio system’s sound and selections was easy, too, but we had our quarrels with the climate control. We seemed to be constantly adjusting for being too warm or too chilly, and it took several days to realize that every time you stopped and shut off the engine, when you got back in, the system had turned on its air-conditioning. 

We happen to be among those who can get along without AC in most cases, finding that often merely opening the vents to outside air is sufficient. But with recent smoke-filled skies form Canadian wildfires, and surprisingly hot temperatures even up here in Northern Minnesota, we were using the air quite a bit. That doesn’t mean we wanted it on every time we started up.

One subtle little feature we appreciated was the center console. Normally, the area just ahead of the cupholders winds up being where you might stash your cell phone, sunglasses, pens, note pads and all other stuff you tend to bring along. There is now almost universally a wireless charger pad up there, too, and you seem to have to move stuff to get at it. 

Not with the new Explorer. They’ve built a little partial shelf the juts out from under the center stack’s information screen, with a little padded wall around it, and the wireless charger located there.
You’ve got the familiar storage cubicle still underneath it, so you’re not tempted to clutter up the charger with stuff. Well done, Ford.

Ford is eliminating some models of its vehicles, and continuing on with the others, but the Explorer isn’t going anywhere. With its new look, and three-row capacity to haul seven, the Explorer has boldly laid out a claim to continue its SUV for everybody concept, and the Explorer Limited might be he best of the batch.