Used 2021 Ford Explorer for Sale nearMadison, WI

Compare 2021 Ford Explorer Trims

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

• Starting at $15,841
• Best MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Most Popular: XLT 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 the AWD price premium. It's a great value option.

• Avg. market price: $20,388 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 1,856 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLT RWD listings

XLT AWD — "Who It's For"

The XLT AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive capability without stepping up to a higher price point. It's the most popular trim in the lineup.

• Avg. market price: $22,855 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 7,858 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 need a rugged vehicle for utility purposes without the frills. It's the most budget-friendly option.

• Avg. market price: $15,841 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 16 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 690 listings
• View Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Limited RWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a balance of luxury and practicality without going for the top-tier trims.

• Avg. market price: $21,542 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 21 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 630 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.

• Avg. market price: $25,320 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 622 listings
• View Timberline AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features combined with all-wheel drive capability.

• Avg. market price: $23,270 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,782 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 a high-performance SUV with sporty features.

• Avg. market price: $29,870 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 24 hwy
• Inventory: 2,868 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 experience in an SUV.

• Avg. market price: $29,322 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 24 hwy
• Inventory: 1,583 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Platinum AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — XLT AWD

With 7,858 active listings, the XLT AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse XLT AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Police Interceptor Utility AWD

At $15,841 avg market price — below the lineup median of $23,062 — 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 efficiency in the lineup with 21/28 MPG.

Browse XLT RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 17, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Ford Explorer cost?

Prices have softened 10.65% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 8,096 listings available, which suggests solid inventory availability.

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 spacious interior, powerful engine, and high-tech features. The review summary also points to a strong balance of performance, comfort, and luxury features, with the Explorer’s roomy cabin standing out as a recurring plus.

On the downside, the expert review notes cheap-feeling interior materials and says advanced safety features are not standard. In practical terms, that means you should pay close attention to trim and equipment level if you want the best version of this SUV for your needs.

The Explorer fits you best if you want a family-focused three-row SUV with broad capability and a lot of available equipment. Good and great deals account for 34.1% of listings, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Ford Explorer reliable?

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

The owner summary points to a vehicle that feels dependable in daily use, with praise centered on comfort, performance, and features that owners can count on. The expert review also emphasizes the Explorer’s broad capability and family-friendly packaging, which supports the case for steady long-term ownership.

Ford’s maintenance messaging also highlights a first scheduled maintenance visit that is on the house. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the concept and more about finding a well-kept example with the right service history.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.1% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a vehicle history report on any candidate and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on condition, equipment level, and whether the vehicle has the features you want, since some helpful safety and comfort items are tied to higher trims.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base model comes with cloth upholstery and a simpler equipment set, 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; the Platinum sits at the top of the range.
• Powertrain: The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the Limited Hybrid uses a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft. Higher trims use a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 with 365 hp and 380 lb-ft, and the ST raises output to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft.
• 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. 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, but you need at least the Limited trim for that suite.
• 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, and up to 14 speakers.
• Fuel efficiency: With the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and rear-wheel drive, the Explorer returns 24 mpg combined, 28 mpg city, and 21 mpg highway. All-wheel drive drops those figures by 1 mpg across the board, while the ST posts 19 mpg combined, 16 mpg city, and 23 mpg highway. The Limited Hybrid is the most efficient at 27 mpg combined, 27 mpg city, and 28 mpg highway.

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 least expensive way into the Explorer, and it already gives you three rows, an 8-inch touchscreen, wired smartphone integration, and the full Co-Pilot360 safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest entry price and can live without the nicer cabin materials and extra convenience features.
• 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 without jumping too far up the price ladder. If you want a more polished daily driver without going luxury, this is the trim to target.
• Limited: This is the trim to choose if you want leather upholstery and access to the more helpful Co-Pilot360 Assist+ safety features. It’s the right middle ground if comfort and driver assistance matter more to you than outright performance.
• Limited Hybrid: Choose this if you want the best fuel economy in the lineup and still want a well-equipped family SUV. It suits buyers who value efficiency and broad usability over sportier acceleration.
• Explorer ST: This is the performance-oriented choice, with the strongest engine output and the most engaging driving experience in the range. It’s the one to buy if you care most about power and don’t mind the worst fuel economy.
• Platinum: This is the top luxury-oriented trim, with leather standard and the highest-end positioning in the lineup. Buy it if you want the most upscale Explorer experience and are comfortable paying for it.

The safety package is strong across the lineup, but the more advanced driver-assistance features are reserved for the Limited and above.

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

This is a moderate market, so you can shop selectively without expecting deep bargain-bin pricing.

• Deal availability: 34.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 8,096 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.65% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 80.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,961, 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 $23,961 sits slightly below last year's $26,818.

That decline suggests the market has moved in buyers’ favor, which can make it harder for a future seller to command a premium unless the vehicle is especially clean or well equipped. If you buy now, you’re entering at a lower price point than last year’s average, which can help cushion depreciation over time.

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 headlight availability.

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

Every Explorer comes with Ford Co-Pilot360, which includes 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. If you want the more advanced Co-Pilot360 Assist+ features, you need to move up to at least the Limited trim.

The main caveat is that some of the most helpful safety technology is not standard on every version, so trim choice matters if safety equipment is a priority.

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:

• 34.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.1% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.65% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It combines multiple powertrain options with strong handling and a spacious third row.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $22,075, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $23,961 average.
• It brings an all-new chassis, more technology, and hybrid and high-performance powertrains.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $28,021, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $23,961 average.
• It broadens trim and powertrain choices while adding more luxury-oriented options.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the right pick if you want a well-rounded Explorer with strong safety, broad trim coverage, and a softer used-car price than last year. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money, but the 2021 is the better balance of value, equipment, and buyer demand.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.