The 2021 Ford Explorer has uncommonly good balance and poise for a midsize three-row SUV. It's not the roomiest, but its standard infotainment and safety tech offerings are competitive. Two things hold it back: subpar materials quality and high pricing.
New Sport Appearance package available on XLT trim
More affordable version of the Explorer ST debuts
Platinum trim is now available for the Hybrid model
New off-road-themed Timberline debuts midway through the model year
Part of the sixth Explorer generation introduced for 2020
What is the Explorer?
Ford redesigned the Explorer in 2020, and it's an understatement to say that it was vitally important for the automaker to get it right. In our evaluations, Ford left a lot of the Explorer's potential untapped while its chief rivals have made giant leaps forward.
For 2021, the XLT Sport appearance package will be reintroduced into the Explorer lineup. We expect a dark finish on exterior trim and badging as well as unique wheels. Perhaps it'll also add some interior flourishes.
If those are indeed the only changes for 2021, don't expect the Explorer to fare any better in Edmunds' rankings. If you're dead-set on getting a new Explorer, you probably won't miss anything by opting for a 2020 model. Keep checking back here for more information as we get closer to the on-sale date this summer.
Edmunds says
Despite coming off a full redesign in 2020, the Ford Explorer ranks a disappointing eighth place in current Edmunds rankings. It may benefit from an abundance of passenger and cargo space, but the price tends to skyrocket when you climb up through trim levels and add options. Sadly, the interior materials don't seem to match that price. We suggest checking out the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride and new Toyota Highlander before committing to a new Explorer.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford Explorer 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.95 per gallon for regular unleaded in Massachusetts.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Ford Explorer from 2008-2022.
$556/yr
vs. $485/yr for Average Midsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
1.07x/yr
vs. 1.18x/yr for Average Midsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
16.8%
vs. 13.5% for Average Midsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
2021 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
Hit 660 miles Feb 9th, check engine light comes on with every warning the truck could possibly give. Grinding noise, steering wheel shaking and lost all acceleration. Coasted to almost stop and truck abruptly stops and completely shuts off. Will not restart. Towed to dealer they couldn't find anything wrong. Hit 890 miles today and boom exact same issues. Recorded it this time. … Truck towed to different dealer due to where it broke down. Not happy
Great features but build quality is lacking
3 out of 5 stars
Sawgrass Road Ranger, 02/12/2021
2021 Ford Explorer Limited 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 10A)
As someone who has driven a 2020 Dodge Durango, GMC Acadia and the Ford Explorer over the past year, I got a pretty good comparison between the different models. The Ford Explorer just reached 30,000 miles around a month ago.
First the good. I think the Explorer handles nice, the Ecoboost 2.3L engine gives you enough power and the fuel economy was pretty good, I averaged around 26Mpg … on the highway cruising around 75Mph.
I think Ford is definitely ahead both GM and FCA in technology and features. The LED headlights were great, the Adaptive Cruise with Lane Keeping Assist keep the vehicle in the lane and a comfortable distance from cars ahead. I really like the Auto Hold feature which holds the brake pedal at stop lights, the kick to open tailgate I used quite a bit, the ambient lighting was a nice feature. Overall, the vehicle is definitely well thought out with nice technology features throughout.
Now for the bad. There is little mystery that Ford was having major quality control issues building this vehicle, with significant numbers requiring rework at their IL plant. This vehicle is a all new design and we all know cars are known to have issues in the first couple of years of a new model.
Mine was no exception. I had random gremlins pop up on the vehicle. Here is the list:
Auto Hold would fault out at random. It would then recover on its own with no explanation.
The backup camera started working intermittently, then mostly not working at all. The camera quality is definitely poor, especially at night. I could barely see my driveway at night when backing up when it was working. It was so snowy and grainy at night it was practically unusable.
The GPS on the car would randomly stop working. Looking at built in Navigation system, it was comical seeing that I was driving over water and out to see or into the Everglades. I just got used to seeing a GPS with a Red circle and a line through it at random.
I have always been neutral on the SYNC system Ford uses in their vehicles. It was never stellar but never bothered me much either. This one uses SYNC Version 3. This one however is painfully slow. I'm not talking about nit picky slow. I'm talking sloooooooow. Countless times I had started the car and left the parking lot, and was literally driving down the road, and the system was still booting up. It is obvious the system CPU is completely inadequate to run this system.
Bluetooth system. Since travel a lot on the road, I transition in and out of the car on the phone a lot. The Bluetooth on this car would most of the time pick up the call and transfer it to the car system, but you had no audio. You would have to disconnect and then reconnect the call most of the time. It was clunky, unreliable and frustrating. Compare than to the GM cars I have driven, and the Bluetooth transfers calls seamlessly, every time.
And now the worst part. The 10 speed transmission on the Explorer is brand new and untested. I thought it was a bit busy but mostly competent, although a tad sluggish and reluctant to up shift in Normal mode. Its main function in life is to keep the fuel economy respectable, and it accomplishes that. It has one major problem however. It is notoriously unreliable.
The transmission on my car started making grinding and howling noises around 27,000 miles. Mostly in the lower gears, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The problem got progressively worse over the next 3000 miles. At around 30,000 miles on a chilly day (upper 30's), the car gave me a Transmission Fault and refused to go into gear. It eventually recovered after I let the engine run and drove with its usual noises. I drove it another 300 miles or so and it got progressively worse until it sounded like metal crunching and was dropping out of gear and slipping. It basically had a complete transmission failure at 30,000 miles.
Since this vehicle was a company issue and I would have swapped it out at around 36k miles, I ended up switching early to another vehicle.
So, I just wanted share my experience with it here. I drive mostly highway miles and the miles reflected about a year worth of driving. My personal opinion is that the transmission would have lasted fewer miles in typical city driving and I never towed anything with the vehicle and it mostly carried only myself on board, so minimal passenger load.
I hope Ford figures out the issues, especially the transmission problem. Until they do, I can't recommend anyone buying this vehicle or owning it out of warranty. These transmission issues are common and well known.
Hope this helps for anyone considering putting this vehicle on their shopping list.
Lots of BUGS, but generally a Good truck.
3 out of 5 stars
M King, 04/29/2021
2021 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 10A)
High level takeaway- it’s fine. Comfortable, plenty of power when you need it, lots of room for a family of 5 road tripping and the hybrid system gets decent mileage. It’s not “fun” to drive, but it’s comfortable and confident on the road.
With more than 2,500 miles in 2 months the average mpg has settled at 25mpg of both highway and local driving. I drive in the eco mode 90% of the … time. The hybrid function feels clunky compared to the standard turbo 4 or the 6. Not a big deal, and it’s nice when the engine shuts down for a few miles of the low speed/low rpm driving.
Cons - I returned the truck 3 times in the first 3 weeks I had it. It spent 18 of its first 30 days at the dealership. They finally figured out the amp was bad and cutting all audio (gps, radio, phone, etc). The electronics have issues occasionally- I’ve learned to never plug in my phone until the onboard computer has warmed up - and just stop working. It’s like an old PC that you have to pull over, shut down, wait and then restart.
Pro- The seats are very comfortable, lots of room fir the kids and adults can sit in back without a problem. Storage is better than our MDX, even though they are similar in size.
Conclusion- I wouldn’t buy it again, but it will be good for a couple of years and then I will happily trade in for a plug in hybrid. And if they don’t have the bugs of those worked out yet, I’d just go with the turbo 4 Limited or platinum.
In Love with my Explorer Hybrid
5 out of 5 stars
Doug G., 08/23/2021
2021 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 10A)
Shopping for a good SUV I've always held Explorer near the top of my list from past experience — and because no one (other than the VW Atlas) seems to give the driver enough basic space. Explorer's do.
What I didn't expect was to fall in love with the Hybrid. This car is smooth, quiet, fuel efficient, runs like a dream, well built, and all around great. That means I get really mad when … I see the reviews which didn't like it. Seems that the reviewers are one dimensional — where EVERYTHING is about the highest possible gas mileage.
I am particularly confused by all the reviewer argument about noise. Perhaps it's our hybrid version in particular. But this is the quietest care I've ever driven including some Cadillacs.
What I wanted was a great car with roominess and style and solid gas mileage without having to accept lackluster HP like in the Toyota lines. This SUV delivers it. Drove 300 miles yesterday with about half on backcountry roads and half at 70 mph on the freeway. Net MPG: 28.1.
Personally, I recommend — and it's time to ignore the professional reviewers. They seem to be stuck in a rut.
As an update on 2/24/2023... we have also added winter tires and used the vehicle for a great deal of snow driving — over passes and the like. It is incredibly sure-footed. Our pleasure with the SUV continue.
Update: 8/2024. Continue to fund the Explorer an exceptional car to own and drive. Even my wife loves driving it (and her car is a BMW X3).
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