Used 2021 Ford Explorer for Sale nearDetroit, MI

Compare 2021 Ford Explorer Trims in Detroit, MI

The 2021 Ford Explorer offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to performance-oriented models, catering to various needs and preferences.

• Starting at $10,911
• Best MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Most Popular: ST AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

XLT RWD — "Who It's For"

The XLT RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped SUV without breaking the bank. It offers great value with essential features.

• Avg. market price: $12,995 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 54 listings
• View XLT RWD listings

XLT AWD — "Who It's For"

The XLT AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive and a sporty feel without stepping up to a higher price point. It balances features and performance well.

• Avg. market price: $21,592 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 277 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLT AWD listings

Police Interceptor Utility AWD — "Who It's For"

The Police Interceptor Utility AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a rugged SUV at a budget-friendly price. It's designed for utility without the frills.

• Avg. market price: $10,911 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 16 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 69 listings
• View Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Limited RWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a standard SUV experience with added luxury features. It’s a solid choice for families.

• Avg. market price: $18,790 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 22 listings
• View Limited RWD listings

Timberline AWD — "Who It's For"

The Timberline AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty SUV with off-road capabilities. It combines ruggedness with modern features.

• Avg. market price: $20,816 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 44 listings
• View Timberline AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury and all-weather capability. It offers a refined experience with ample space.

• Avg. market price: $20,425 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 156 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Limited AWD listings

ST AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST AWD is the pick for shoppers who want high performance and sporty features. It’s the most popular trim, appealing to those who crave power.

• Avg. market price: $26,918 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 24 hwy
• Inventory: 286 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST AWD listings

Platinum AWD — "Who It's For"

The Platinum AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate luxury SUV experience. It combines premium features with all-wheel drive capability.

• Avg. market price: $20,816 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 24 hwy
• Inventory: 141 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Platinum AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — ST AWD

With 286 active listings, the ST AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup, offering performance and features that appeal to many buyers.

Browse ST AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Police Interceptor Utility AWD

At $10,911 avg market price — below the lineup median of $20,620 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — XLT RWD

The XLT RWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 21 city / 28 hwy MPG/MPGe.

Browse XLT RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Ford Explorer cost?

Prices have softened 11.21% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 7,843 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Ford Explorer a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Ford Explorer earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise the balance of performance, comfort, and luxury features, along with the spacious interior, powerful engine, and high-tech features. The Explorer’s use-case appeal is strongest if you want a capable, roomy three-row SUV with strong driving manners and family-friendly space.

The trade-offs are the cheap-feeling interior materials and the fact that advanced safety features are not standard. Even so, the market still shows 33.9% of listings as good or great deals, which points to solid shopping opportunities.

Is the 2021 Ford Explorer reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a vehicle that many owners find dependable, with praise centered on its balance of performance, comfort, and high-tech features. The expert review also emphasizes that the Explorer is built around a broad range of powertrains and a durable three-row SUV formula, which supports confidence in everyday use.

Ford’s base equipment includes a strong safety and driver-assistance foundation, and the Explorer’s overall ownership experience is helped by its broad market presence and plentiful parts/service familiarity. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that higher-mileage examples may show wear in the interior and may have been maintained inconsistently.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Ford Explorer?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the vehicle history report carefully, because accident-free status does not guarantee perfect maintenance or repair quality. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on interior wear, electronics, and how well the drivetrain and brakes feel on a test drive. Since the Explorer’s value depends heavily on trim and equipment, make sure the condition matches the asking price.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Explorer is offered in six trim levels: base trim, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, Explorer ST, and Platinum. The base model uses cloth upholstery, while the XLT adds a power front passenger seat, nicer finishes, and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen; the Limited brings leather upholstery, and the ST and Platinum also include leather.
• Powertrain: The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and the lineup also includes a V6 hybrid drivetrain plus a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 in higher trims. The ST is the most engaging version, while towing capacity ranges from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds depending on configuration.
• Safety package: Every Explorer includes Ford Co-Pilot360 with auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and alert, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing front wipers, and speed sign recognition, and it is reserved for at least the Limited trim.
• Infotainment: The standard setup is an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Ford’s Sync 3 system with voice recognition, a 4G WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims add a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen system, HD radio, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, up to 14 speakers, and a wireless charging pad from the Limited trim up.
• Fuel efficiency: With the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and rear-wheel drive, the Explorer returns 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, while the ST drops to 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The Limited Hybrid is the efficiency leader at 27 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Ford Explorer trim should I buy?

The 2021 Ford Explorer is offered in 6 trim levels: base trim, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, Explorer ST, and Platinum.

Here's the short version:

• base trim: This is the value entry point, and it already gives you three rows, an 8-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the full Ford Co-Pilot360 safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the Explorer without giving up core safety and tech.
• XLT: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds a power front passenger seat, nicer finishes, and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen while staying below the leather-upholstery trims. If you want a more polished cabin without jumping too far up the price ladder, this is the sweet spot.
• Limited: This is the trim to target if you want leather upholstery and more premium tech, including the 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio. It also unlocks the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, which adds more advanced driver-assistance features.
• Limited Hybrid: Choose this if efficiency matters more than outright performance, since it pairs the hybrid drivetrain with the same upscale Limited-level equipment. It is the right fit if you want a more economical Explorer without giving up the nicer cabin.
• Explorer ST: This is the performance-oriented choice, with the strongest engine output and the most engaging driving experience in the lineup. It suits you best if you care more about acceleration and driving feel than maximum fuel economy.
• Platinum: This is the luxury-focused top trim, with leather and the most upscale presentation in the lineup. It makes sense if you want the most premium Explorer experience and are willing to pay for it.

Ford reserves some of the more helpful driver-assistance features for the Limited trim and above.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Ford Explorer?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 7,843 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.21% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,104, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Ford Explorer's resale value?

The current average of $23,104 sits slightly below last year's $26,019.

That decline suggests the Explorer has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future sellers if prices stabilize. If you buy well and keep the vehicle in strong condition, you may be starting from a more favorable value position than buyers who paid closer to last year’s average. The current market also shows enough inventory to keep pricing competitive, so condition and trim will matter a lot when you eventually resell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Ford Explorer safe?

The 2021 Ford Explorer is rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it earns Good scores on all of its crash tests plus an Acceptable rating for adaptive headlights.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Every Explorer includes Ford Co-Pilot360 with auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and alert, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing front wipers, and speed sign recognition.

The main caveat is that some of the more helpful driver-assistance features are not standard on every trim, so you may need to move up the lineup to get the full suite.

Should I buy a 2021 Ford Explorer or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.21% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It combines multiple powertrain options with a spacious third row and strong safety ratings.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $21,255, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $23,104 average.
• It brings an all-new chassis and more technology.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $27,010, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $23,104 average.
• It broadens trim choices and adds useful packaging flexibility.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the best all-around pick if you want a well-rounded Explorer with strong safety, broad trim choice, and a softer used-market price than last year. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 can save you money, while the 2022 makes sense if you want to spend more for a newer-priced example.

How does the 2021 Ford Explorer compare to the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Ford Explorer:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Great handling, Spacious third row.
• Cons: Interior materials feel cheap, Advanced safety features are not standard.

2021 Chevrolet Traverse:

• Pros: Powerful engine, Comfortable, Spacious.
• Cons: Poor handling, Interior materials feel cheap, Poor value for money.

Our experts score the 2021 Ford Explorer 7.5/10 and the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse 6.7/10. The Explorer is the better choice if you want stronger handling and more powertrain variety. The Traverse counters with a powerful engine and a comfortable ride, but its poor handling and weaker value case hold it back. If you care most about driving feel and trim flexibility, the Explorer has the edge.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.