The Ford Explorer has been a massively popular SUV since it launched in the 1990s. The Explorer has always been a trendsetter in both features and performance, but Ford's engineers could not have imagined what the future would hold three decades down the line.
To only call the 2024 Ford Explorer ahead of the curve would be a disservice to both new and returning drivers alike, given how much it pushes itself beyond its predecessor and its competitors. This model is everything you could want from an SUV and then some.
The 2024 Explorer carries the legacy of its nameplate in all the ways fans know and love, with excellent performance, optimized dimensions, and impeccable technology. Everything this Explorer does right is enough to keep the momentum moving for the Blue Oval’s beloved three-row SUV.
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The 2024 Ford Explorer has an excellent interior and is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate its maximum seating capacity of between six and seven passengers, with a total passenger volume of 152.7 cu.ft. In the front row are 40.7 inches of headroom and 43.0 inches of legroom, along with 61.8 inches of shoulder room and 59.2 inches of hip room. The second row of the 2024 Explorer can sit up to three people with the proper bench installed, and this row gets 40.5 inches of headroom, 39.0 inches of legroom, 61.9 inches of shoulder room, and 59.1 inches of hip room. The third row, which can also seat up to three people, gets 38.9 inches of headroom and 32.2 inches of legroom, followed by 54.6 and 40.9 inches of shoulder and hip room, respectively.
Having three rows of seating means there are three different ways you can customize the cargo space in your cabin when you need it most. For example, if you need the Explorer’s spacious interior for a trip, you can fold down one or both rows to make the best of it, while for another trip, you may be bringing along extra passengers, so you can keep the seats up at the cost of some cargo space. With both rows behind you folded down, the 2024 Explorer has a total of 87.8 cu.ft. of space; with only the front and middle rows vertical, the 2024 Explorer preserves 47.9 cu.ft. of space. With every seat left up, cargo space is left at 18.2 cu.ft. Based on these numbers, folding down only the third row increases cargo space by 163%, but if you fold down both back rows, cargo space rises by 382%.
The measurements outside the vehicle reveal a large and wide SUV, so you’re getting your money’s worth if size is your thing. The 2024 Explorer has a wheelbase of 119.0 inches with 66.9 inches for both the front and rear track widths. With the base trim, you can expect at least 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and with your side mirrors folded, the SUV is 78.9 inches wide. If you buy the 2024 Ford Explorer Timberline, the ground clearance is slightly increased to 8.66 inches. As for length and height, the 2024 Explorer is 198.8 inches (16.6 feet) long and 70.2 inches (5.8 feet) tall.
The 2024 Explorer runs on a turbocharged powertrain, but you have a choice between two such engines: a 2.3L I-4 and a 3.0L V6. Both powertrain options have one thing in common: a ten-speed automatic transmission. The base engine—the 2.3L Turbo I-4—produces 300 hp, 310 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 lbs. With the substitute 3.0L Turbo V6, the 2024 Explorer gets a boost to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque; stepping up guarantees 33% more horsepower, 34% more torque, and a 6% increase in towing capacity (to 5,600 lbs).
The 2024 Explorer holds up with fuel efficiency, regardless of whether you have the turbocharged I-4 or V6 engine, along with whichever drivetrain you have: RWD or AWD. The base 2024 Explorer will net you the former engine and RWD, which means you’ll get EPA-estimated ratings of 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. Not replacing the I-4 engine with the V6 but replacing RWD with AWD isn’t enough to drastically drop ratings, with only a slight dip to 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. With the V6 engine operating under RWD, the 2024 Explorer earns its EPA-estimated ratings of 18 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Choosing AWD with the V6 will retain your city figure at 18 MPG but reduce your highway figure to 24 MPG.
Ford has created many ways to keep up continuously excellent performance when driving the 2024 Explorer, even in non-ideal conditions. For example, driving on the freeway while it’s severely windy outside is dangerous and can easily push your vehicle around and prevent you from traveling straight; thus, this SUV has side-wind stabilization, which will help you keep still better when traveling in these conditions. For those of you drawn to adventure, the Ford Explorer has you covered, too, with a Terrain Management System that lets you pick a drive mode depending on what terrain you’re currently driving on; these are Normal, Trail, Slippery, Sport, Tow/Haul, Eco, and Deep Snow/Sand if your 2024 Explorer is a 4x4 model.
The best trim with 4x4 capabilities that an adventurous driver should consider is the Timberline. With the Timberline, you not only get more than half a dozen drive modes and its 4WD capabilities, but it’s also coupled with all-terrain tires, dedicated rear shocks with struts in the front, and skid plates—among other necessities—to create the perfect off-roading experience. You can utilize paddle shifters located behind your steering wheel if you want to change gears yourself rather than allowing the ten-speed automatic transmission to do it for you.
Ford’s 2024 lineup isn’t shy about its intelligent and often ground-breaking tech, and the 2024 Explorer is no exception. Here, Ford has gone all-in on tech, with a notable change being the rearrangement of how infotainment centers are presented, making the 10.1-inch infotainment center the new standard for every trim. With this stunning touchscreen, drivers have a media hub they can count on for everything from on-board navigation to music selection and communication. Infotainment centers—like the one found in the 2024 Explorer—also play a large role in how Ford’s engineers have begun tackling safety features in the modern day.
The 10.1-inch screen in the 2024 Explorer is positioned in a vertical “portrait” orientation; this works perfectly in both its design and usability thanks to a far taller viewpoint that allows for more necessary information to be displayed, like a further view down the road on your on-board navigation with more of the map being visible, along with more screen room to allow for large and easy to read text and icons and easy to reach buttons. Best of all, both the volume and radio tuner are physical knobs that don’t require any interplay with the infotainment center’s touchscreen to control; the same goes for climate controls for the cabin and front-row chairs, because nobody wants to mess around with a touchscreen to turn on their heated seats in the winter.
Because the infotainment center inside the 2024 Explorer is a SYNC 3 media center, it comes equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also have access to your Amazon account via Alexa support built directly into the infotainment center; this means you can access your owned Amazon music library, re-order your sundries, or simply ask what the weather is looking like an hour from now. Your smartphone can be charged wirelessly with an optional wireless charging pad, which is a cradle that sits below your radio: you slide your phone down on its side, and it’ll charge while remaining in place.
The 2024 Ford Explorer comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 for free. With this exclusive safety suite, your SUV will come standard with high-end safety features like automatic high beams, a Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and even the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert. Also coming with your 2024 Explorer are rear parking sensors (which warn you if you’re not allowing yourself enough distance between an obstruction) and a rear-view camera that’s heavily utilized with the rear parking sensors, which is one of the ways your 10.1-inch infotainment center plays its hand in your overall safety.
At The Faricy Boys Ford, we’re a team that treats everybody with the same enthusiasm and professionalism on their first visit as we do on their second or third visits. You'll want to come back after you’ve made your purchase because the savings don’t end there; the excellent service you experience will happen again with our other hard-working teams like our certified Ford technicians, our service scheduling center, and our finance center, where you can discuss down payments, loans, leases, trade-ins, and more. We’re the last dealership you’ll need to visit if you live in the greater area of Cañon City, so come visit us today and enjoy yourself as you browse our incredible selection of new and used Ford vehicles.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
