The performance SUV segment continues to grow strong. This is a testament to the fact that customers like having a vehicle that looks unassuming, can haul the entire family, and still embarrass sports cars on the motorway. The Ford Explorer ST is one such car. It was the first big SUV to get the Ford Performance treatment, bringing the badge to new heights (figuratively and literally speaking) after the smaller Focus, Fiesta, and Edge models. In fact, Ford claims one in every five Explorers sold is an ST, further highlighting the demand there is for this kind of car. It’s a pretty good all-around car too, offering plenty of go, but also loads of equipment and comfort.
0-60 mph In 5.2 Seconds In A Three-Row SUV Is No Joke
The 2020 Ford Explorer rides on the automaker's CD6 platform. The unibody SUV has independent suspension all around, with MacPherson struts up front with a 32-millimeter anti-roll bar, and a multilink setup at the rear with a 22-milimeter anti-roll bar. Power comes from a longitudinally mounted 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine that delivers up to 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. It is paired to a 10-speed automatic with SelectShift paddle shifters. Off-roading and track enthusiasts won’t like to know that it puts the power down through a 3.58 final drive, non-limited-slip rear axle. Towing is also not the main reason you should consider the ST. Its towing capacity of up to 5,600 pounds, but it's 300 pounds more than the standard model. The main reason you will want to spring for the ST is the acceleration. Its curb weight is 4,700 pounds, but it can still reach 60 mph in around 5.2 seconds and go all the way to 143 mph.
In September 2022, Ford launched a performance calibration kit that increases torque across the entire rev range when using 93 octane fuel. The tune also improves throttle response and transmission performance. Maximum power increases by 30 horsepower and torque by 52 pound-feet, giving the SUV a total of 430 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque. We don’t know yet how much faster that makes the ST, but it would be pretty cool if the new package was enough to make it crack the 5.0-second mark to 60 mph.
The Exterior Is Understated, But Still Menacing
From the outside, the blacked-out front grille with the ST badge lets you know this is a true ST, while the quad-tailpipes hint at what’s under the hood. The Explorer ST measures 199.3 inches in length, which is half an inch longer than other Explorer models due to its unique front fascia. It measures 70.2 inches; 0.3 inches taller than the standard models, which is somewhat baffling considering its performance intentions. Ford could probably get it to handle better if it sat a little lower, decreasing the center of gravity which is the number one enemy of high-sitting SUVs in the first place. It would look sportier, too. Granted, lowering a MacPherson strut is not always beneficial (something to do with roll centers and camber gain in roll), but surely there is some margin Ford could have played around with.
Standard wheels are 20-inch machined aluminum wrapped in 255/55 R20 rubber. Black seven-spoke 21-inch wheels wrapped in 275/45 R21 tires are available with the ST Street and ST High-Performance packs. These packs also add red-painted brake calipers and “high-performance brakes”, although there’s no official word on what exactly that means and how it differs from the “normal” brake kit. Bizarrely, there’s also no word on the difference between the $995 ST Street Pack and the $1,595 ST High-Performance pack. Some reports claim the only addition from the High-Performance package is uprated brake linings, while others claim that it also comes with sportier brake pad compounds. Either way, spend the extra cash at your own risk.
Ford Offers Cheaper Options If You Don't Need All The Performance
The 2022 model year brought some changes for the ST. Previously offered only with four-wheel-drive, Ford made a rear-wheel-drive-only version available in 2022, for those who like the performance of the ST but don’t “need” the extra traction. It comes with the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 minus the extra drive to the front wheels and is a bit cheaper than before. All-wheel-drive is still available, though it’s now a $2,000 option. Pricing starts at $49,505 for the base rear-wheel-drive ST, but that quickly increases with options. A fully specced interior, all-wheel-drive model with the High-Performance package, moonroof, and Premium Technology package will set you back over $60,000.
There’s also a new ST-Line trim in the lineup, which offers a lower cost of entry for drivers who like the more aggressive and sportier look of the ST but don’t want all the performance. It sits between the base XLT and the Limited models. The trim features an ST-inspired appearance and technology, but retains the standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 300 horsepower. At $46,005 it is just $3,500 cheaper though, so you could make the argument that this “poser ST” is not really worth the money.
What’s Next For The Explorer?
An update for the Ford Explorer could be on the cards. Leaks of the Chinese-market 2023 Explorer show a cleaner front fascia, new LED taillights, and a revised interior, with a much bigger screen spanning almost the entirety of the dash. There doesn’t seem to be any major update planned for the 2023 model year Explorer in the U.S., hinting that these changes could hit American shores for a possible 2024 refresh. But, could a newer, more powerful version be on its way? The existence of the ST trim level leaves open the possibility of an even meaner RS version. In the Explorer, that could mean installing the larger 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. The dual-injected mill makes 450 horsepower in the F-150 Raptor, which would already be an improvement, but crucially, offers upwards of 650 horsepower in the Ford GT. A 500-and-something horsepower Explorer would slot nicely at the top of the range and bring performance on par with some of the German high-performance SUVs, at a fraction of the price. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any hint of something like this becoming a reality so far. But one can still dream, right?