Ford Escape Hybrid vs Ford Explorer

2026 Ford Explorer
2026 Ford Explorer
$38,465MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
$33,890MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Explorer
$38,465MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
$33,890MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

1991-Present

Years produced

2005-2012

MSRP

$38,465

MSRP

$33,890

Listings

9816

Listings

4902

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.5 out of 10

Expert reviews

Pros

  • Comfortable

  • Optional twin-turbo V6

  • Impressive safety ratings

Cons

  • Bland styling

  • Nondescript interior

  • Gets expensive with options

Reviews Summary

The Explorer was one of the first truly family-friendly SUVs, and continues in that role today as a midsize three-row crossover competing against the likes of the Chevrolet Traverse, the Honda Pilot, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the Toyota Highlander. The current-generation Explorer has been around since the 2020 model year, and the big news for 2026 is a Tremor model that replaces the Timberline as the most off-road-capable Explorer. The available BlueCruise driver-assist system also gets an update.

Verdict: Ford’s SUV stalwart still gets the job done, but lacks personality unless you go for the ST or Tremor models.

Reviews Summary

No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.3L 300 hp I4

Engine

2.5L 192 hp I4 Hybrid

Drive Train

RWD

Drive Train

AWD

Seating Capacity

7

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

300 hp @ 5500 rpm

Horsepower

EV Battery Capacity

EV Battery Capacity

1.1 kWh

MPG City

20

MPG City

42

MPG Highway

29

MPG Highway

36
2026 Ford Explorer
2026 Ford Explorer
$38,465MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
$33,890MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Explorer
$38,465MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
$33,890MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
1991-Present
2005-2012
MSRP
$38,465
$33,890
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.2

4.4

Expert reviews

7.5 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Comfortable

  • Optional twin-turbo V6

  • Impressive safety ratings

Cons

  • Bland styling

  • Nondescript interior

  • Gets expensive with options

Summary

The Explorer was one of the first truly family-friendly SUVs, and continues in that role today as a midsize three-row crossover competing against the likes of the Chevrolet Traverse, the Honda Pilot, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the Toyota Highlander. The current-generation Explorer has been around since the 2020 model year, and the big news for 2026 is a Tremor model that replaces the Timberline as the most off-road-capable Explorer. The available BlueCruise driver-assist system also gets an update.

Verdict: Ford’s SUV stalwart still gets the job done, but lacks personality unless you go for the ST or Tremor models.

Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.3L 300 hp I4
2.5L 192 hp I4 Hybrid
Drive Train
RWD
AWD
Seating Capacity
7
5
Horsepower
300 hp @ 5500 rpm
EV Battery Capacity
1.1 kWh
MPG City
20
42
MPG Highway
29
36
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2024 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Acura MDX2024 Acura MDX vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Kia EV6 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Lincoln Aviator2024 Lexus GX vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Honda Odyssey vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Buick Enclave2024 Lincoln Navigator vs 2024 Ford Explorer2024 Buick Enclave vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Lincoln Navigator2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Toyota Sienna2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 52023 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Volvo XC902023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Kia EV62023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Toyota Sienna2023 Kia EV6 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Ford Explorer2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Nissan Rogue2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Acura MDX2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 MINI Countryman2023 Acura MDX vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Lexus GX vs 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid2023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Volvo XC902023 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Honda Odyssey2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid2023 Honda Odyssey vs 2024 Ford Explorer2023 Buick Enclave vs 2023 Ford Explorer2023 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Ford Explorer2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Ford Explorer2022 Ford Escape Hybrid vs 2023 MINI Countryman2022 Acura MDX vs 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 MINI Countryman vs 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Lincoln Aviator vs 2023 Ford Explorer2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Ford Explorer2022 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Ford Explorer2022 Acura MDX vs 2022 Ford Explorer2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Ford Explorer2022 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica2022 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Ford Explorer2022 Ford Escape Hybrid vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Honda Odyssey2022 Acura MDX vs 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator2022 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Volkswagen ID.42022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Lexus GX vs 2023 Ford Explorer2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Ford Explorer2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid2022 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Buick Enclave2022 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Toyota Sienna2022 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2022 Ford Explorer2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid