Should You Buy a 2026 Ford Explorer?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is the best-selling vehicle in its segment so far in 2026, thanks to its comprehensive lineup and its competitive price. However, the owner experience may be tarnished by frequent visits to the local dealership.

There are more than a dozen mass-market branded, large three-row crossovers to choose from right now, so consumers have plenty of options according to their needs, budget and tastes. The 2026 Ford Explorer was the most popular one in Canada through the first quarter of the year, though Toyota sells more units by combining the two models it offers in the category.

What makes the Explorer appealing is its diverse lineup, which includes the off-road focused Tremor and the performance-oriented ST, along with more-affordable and more-luxurious variants. In fact, no other automaker offers competitive trim levels for both the Tremor and the ST—it’s either one or the other, or neither one in some cases.

Those competitors include the Chevrolet Traverse, the Dodge Durango, the GMC Acadia, the Honda Pilot, the Hyundai Palisade, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the Mazda CX-90, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Toyota Highlander, the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Volkswagen Atlas. We’d normally include the Kia Telluride in this list, but the 2027 model hasn’t arrived yet in Canada. The Subaru Ascent is still available in the United States, but for now, it’s no longer offered in Canada for import tariff reasons. The Kia EV9 is also a midsize three-row crossover, but it’s fully electric.

New for the 2026 model year, the Tremor variant indirectly replaces the Explorer Timberline that was offered over the 2021 to 2024 model years. It features an off-road suspension, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, front and rear underbody deflector plates, tow hooks, auxiliary off-road lights, extra ground clearance (221 mm), all-terrain tires as well as exterior styling details such as a unique grille, orange accenting as well as silver-painted bumper trim. The cabin also gets orange contrast stitching and seat embroideries. The Tremor lines up against specific off-road-focused rivals such as the Traverse Z71, the Acadia AT4, the Pilot TrailSport, the Palisade XRT Pro and the Pathfinder Rock Creek, but most of these are rugged in appearance, but don’t offer any true capability upgrades.

The 2026 Ford Explorer is equipped with a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine that develops 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard in Canada. Meanwhile, a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 is optional in the Tremor and standard in the ST, generating 385 horsepower and 415 pound-feet. It’s worth noting that Ford recently revised V6 engine’s horsepower rating, previously set at 400.

Here are the fuel economy numbers for the Explorer. The output numbers are calculated using 93-octane fuel, but according to the automaker, these engines can run fine on regular 87-octane gasoline.

Powertrain	City/Highway/Combined (L/100 km)
Turbo 2.3L I4	11.9 / 8.7 / 10.4
Turbo 2.3L I4 (Tremor)	12.1 / 10.1 / 11.2
Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6 (ST)	13.3 / 9.6 / 11.6
Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6 (Tremor)	13.8 / 10.6 / 12.4

 

During our test of the Explorer Tremor with the 2.3L engine, we managed an average of 10.7 L/100 km.

Standard features aboard the 2026 Ford Explorer Active include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, a power liftgate, roof rails, a trailering package, rear park sonar, a proximity key, three-zone automatic climate control, cloth seat upholstery, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch infotainment system touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot (data subscription required). It also rounds up a bunch of active safety features like auto high beams, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. A heated steering wheel, an 8-way power front passenger seat, a panoramic fixed glass roof, 20-inch wheels and remote engine start are some of the Active’s options..

The Explorer ST-Line stacks on 20-inch wheels, a surround-view camera system, front park sonar, remote engine start, automatic reverse braking, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, ActiveX simulated leather upholstery with cloth inserts, driver’s seat position memory, an 8-way power front passenger seat and a 10-speaker B&O sound system. Options include 21-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, ambient interior lighting, a panoramic fixed glass roof, heated second-row seats and Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous drive system.

The Explorer Tremor adds the features mentioned above, along with blacked-out headlights and taillights, roof rack side rails, ActiveX upholstery with Miko sueded accents and accent stitching, heated second-row captain’s chairs, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and ventilated front seats. It can also be optioned up with rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic fixed glass roof, ambient interior lighting, massaging front seats, power-folding third-row seatbacks, a 14-speaker B&O stereo and BlueCruise.

The Explorer Platinum upgrades to 20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, ambient interior lighting, ActiveX upholstery with leather interlaced diamond micro-perforated inserts, massaging front seats, a panoramic roof, a 14-speaker B&O sound system and power-folding third-row seats, while 21-inch wheels, premium leather seating and BlueCruise are optional. Finally, the Explorer ST gets about the same feature content as the Platinum, but adds a sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes, 21-inch wheels and a racier exterior appearance.

All trim levels except the Tremor are available with either a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs, for a capacity of six or seven passengers. The Tremor includes the captain’s chairs as standard.

In Canada, 2026 Ford Explorer pricing ranges from $54,895 to $82,439, which includes the $2,295 destination freight charge and $100 A/C tax. In the United States, the Explorer is priced from $40,955 to $71,965.

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Why You Should Buy a 2026 Ford Explorer

• The Explorer is above-average in the three-row midsize crossover segment regarding passenger space. Cargo space is also generous. It generally trails behind the category behemoths, namely the Traverse, the Acadia, the Pilot and the Grand Highlander.
• We love the Explorer’s ride quality, maybe a little less in the ST. Our Tremor tester was smooth and comfortable, city or highway.

• The Explorer is fun to drive, even with the base 2.3L engine. It makes plenty of power to make the commute enjoyable. The more-powerful V6 in the Tremor and ST is even more entertaining, and ranks among the most powerful in the segment. They’re accompanied by artificial engine sounds flowing through the sound system speakers, which owners can either love or hate, and it can’t be simply deactivated, but we didn’t find it intrusive or annoying. Fuel economy with the base engine is among the lowest of the segment, excluding hybrid powertrains.
• The crossover is competitively priced, starting at $55k, while several rivals step in at several thousand dollars more. The Tremor rings in at $62,595, undercutting trail-focused rivals such the Acadia AT4, the Pilot TrailSport and the Palisade XRT Pro, though the Pathfinder Rock Creek and the Traverse Z71 are priced a little lower, but the Tremor is better-equipped for heading off the beaten path. The Explorer ST costs much less than the Durango GT HEMI while being much more efficient. The only gripe we have here is the black roof option available on the Platinum and the ST, which costs an eye-watering $6,300.

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Why You Shouldn’t Buy A 2026 Ford Explorer

• Recalls don’t necessarily reflect a vehicle’s overall reliability. However, in the Explorer’s case, they may tarnish the owner experience. As these lines are being written, there are six recalls for the 2026 Explorer, compared to three for the 2026 Palisade, one for the 2026 Traverse and Acadia, one for the 2026 Grand Highlander, and none for the rest of the segment players. Having to do frequent trips to the dealer isn’t fun, especially if the vehicle will be grounded for a while until parts come in the fix is applied.
• As mentioned above, we like the ST’s performance and handling, but it gets a stiffer ride in urban driving because of its sport suspension and low-profile tires.

• Third-row space is adequate, but getting in and out of that area is tough, due to a narrow passageway. The seat cushions in the rearmost row are low to the floor, meaning adults are sitting with their knees high up, which isn’t all that comfortable over long trips. The front-seat cushions are a little short as well, which has been an Explorer shortcoming ever since the fifth generation arrived for the 2011 model year.
• The climate controls aren’t the most easy to use, especially while driving. They’re all found on the touchscreen, the button zones are small, and some features require a multi-step operation, such as choosing which air vents we want activated. On the other hand, the infotainment system itself is user-friendly.

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Should You Buy a 2026 Ford Explorer?

The base Explorer Active is pretty well equipped and priced right, so that’s a good thing. It also benefits from a powerful engine that also happens to be quite fuel-efficient, so that’s also good. Riding on 18-inch wheels, it offers good ride comfort as well. The Tremor is fine for light off-roading, and as a performance-focused variant, the Explorer ST does the job nicely without costing too much either.

On the other hand, Ford has been struggling with the build quality of its vehicles, and even though it keeps mentioning that their products have improved in that regard lately, the recalls and dealer service bulletins unfortunately say otherwise. Overall, the Explorer is a versatile vehicle with a few flaws, and the fact that owners might need to appreciate the local dealership’s coffee and snack vending machine.

Specifications
	2026 Ford Explorer	2026 Hyundai Palisade	2026 Chevrolet Traverse	2026 Honda Pilot	2026 Nissan Pathfinder	2026 Toyota Grand Highlander	2026 Volkswagen Atlas
Price Range ($CAD)	$54,895 to $82,439	$56,698 to $70,198	$54,998 to $71,593	$58,849 to $70,249	$58,169 to $64,619	$55,064 to $70,059	$55,245 to $65,995
Engines	- Turbo 2.3L I4 - Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6	- 3.5L V6 - Turbo 2.5L I4 HEV	- Turbo 2.5L I4	- 3.5L V6	- 3.5L V6	- Turbo 2.4L I4 - 2.5L I4 HEV - Turbo 2.4L I4 HEV	- Turbo 2.0L I4
Output (hp)	300 to 385	287 to 329	328	285	284 to 295	265 to 362	269
Torque (lb-ft)	310 to 415	260 to 339	326	262	259 to 270	177 (gas engine only) to 400	273
Combined Fuel Economy (L/100 km)	10.4 to 12.4	8.1 to 12.7	11.1	11.0 to 11.8	10.8 to 11.2	7.0 to 10.7	10.7 to 11.1
Wheelbase (mm)	3,025	2,970	3,072	2,891	2,901	2,949	2,980
Length (mm)	5,047 to 5,048	5,060 to 5,090	5,194 to 5,200	5,083 to 5,091	5,022 to 5,050	5,114	5,097
Width (mm)	2,004	1,980	2,021 to 2,031	2,090	1,979	1,989	1,990
Height (mm)	1,767 to 1,798	1,805 to 1,830	1,767 to 1,795	1,801 to 1,829	1,801 to 1,872	1,781	1,787
Headroom 1st/2nd/3rd Rows (mm)	987 to 1,035 / 971 to 1,028 / 988	1,019 / 1,005 / 957	1,033 to 1,082 / 970 to 1,015 / 972 to 979	993 to 1,029 / 996 to 1,021 / 998	1,044 to 1,074 / 975 to 1,006 / 960	1,016 to 1,054 / 978 to 1,021 / 945	1,019 to 1,049 / 1,004 to 1,027 / 972
Legroom 1st/2nd/3rd Rows (mm)	1,089 to 1,093 / 986 to 1,000 / 807	1,052 / 1,092 / 815	1,125 / 1,053 / 816	1,041 / 1,036 / 826	1,125 / 902 / 711	1,059 / 1,003 / 851	1,058 / 955 / 856
Cargo Volume Behind 3rd/2nd/1st Rows (L)	461 / 1,302 / 2,416 to 2,431	540 / 1,310 / 2,455	649 / 1,603 / 2,764	618 to 635 / 1,685 to 1,702 / 3,166 to 3,219	470 / 1,274 / 2,280	583 / 1,640 / 2,761	583 / 1,572 / 2,735
Max Towing Capacity (kg)	2,268	2,268	2,268	2,268	2,722	2,268	2,268