Summary

• With 227 currently listed for sale near Columbus, OH and an average price of $8,338.00, 21.6% of 2015 Ford Explorers for sale on CarGurus are rated as good or great deals.

• Favorably reviewed: Owners rated the 2015 Ford Explorer 4.41 / 5 stars.

• 64.3% of 2015 Explorer models on CarGurus are accident free.

Why it stands out

The 2015 Ford Explorer stands out as a family-oriented midsize SUV that had already moved well beyond its truck-based roots by this point. In the fifth generation, it was based on Ford’s D4 platform, which also underpinned several other Ford and Lincoln vehicles, and that architecture made the Explorer behave more like a front-wheel-drive sedan in most cases, with all-wheel drive available as a side benefit. Ford also gave this generation a more car-like character overall, and the result was a crossover that emphasized everyday usability over old-school ruggedness.

For 2015, the Explorer’s appeal came from its mix of space, features, and available powertrains. The model offered a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, and later fifth-generation Explorers could be had with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 twin-turbo. It also brought modern infotainment to the nameplate, along with available comforts such as heated and ventilated front seats and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. Safety equipment was a strong point too, with available features including blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and active parking assist.

At the same time, the 2015 Explorer was not without compromises. The source material notes that fifth-generation Explorers rarely ranked at the top of their class in any one area, and reliability was a recurring weakness, with this generation drawing average or below-average scores from reliability trackers. It was also not especially efficient, which helps explain why buyers often viewed it as a practical, versatile choice rather than a class leader.

Other model years to consider

• 2022 Ford Explorer

  • Average price: $28,295.00
  • Good/great deal percentage: 26.6%
  • User rating: 4.92 / 5
  • Total listings: 668

• 2021 Ford Explorer

  • Average price: $23,030.00
  • Good/great deal percentage: 23.8%
  • User rating: 5 / 5
  • Total listings: 642

• 2025 Ford Explorer

  • Average price: $41,216.00
  • Good/great deal percentage: 37.0%
  • User rating: 5 / 5
  • Total listings: 346

This analysis is based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.