New & Used 2026 Ford Explorer for Sale nearMercedes, TX

Compare 2026 Ford Explorer Trims

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

• Starting at $36,004
• Best MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 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

Active RWD — "Who It's For"

The Active RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly SUV with essential features without paying for extras.

• Avg. market price: $36,004 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 508 listings
• View Active RWD listings

Active AWD — "Who It's For"

The Active AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive capability without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $41,482 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 934 listings
• View Active AWD listings

ST-Line RWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish SUV with standard features without stepping up to a higher trim.

• Avg. market price: $41,269 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 418 listings
• View ST-Line RWD listings

ST-Line AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive with a good selection of features at a reasonable price.

• Avg. market price: $42,877 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,673 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST-Line 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 with utility features for demanding tasks.

• Avg. market price: $45,478 (updated weekly)
• Inventory: 687 listings
• View Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Tremor AWD — "Who It's For"

The Tremor AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty SUV with off-road capabilities and advanced features.

• Avg. market price: $52,539 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 189 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Tremor AWD listings

Platinum AWD — "Who It's For"

The Platinum AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features and a sporty edge in their SUV.

• Avg. market price: $49,535 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,684 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Platinum AWD listings

ST AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a powerful performance SUV with ample features and technology.

• Avg. market price: $54,975 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 2,907 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — ST AWD

With 2,907 active listings, the ST AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse ST AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Active RWD

At $36,004 avg market price — below the lineup median of $44,177 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Active RWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Active RWD

The Active RWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup at 20/29 MPG.

Browse Active RWD listings

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

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer a good car?

Yes — the 2026 Ford Explorer earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

It’s a midsize three-row crossover built around a comfortable ride and strong safety ratings, and it still gives you a practical family-first layout. Ford also keeps an optional twin-turbo V6 in the mix, so you can choose more power if you want it.

The trade-offs are that it can get expensive with options, and the Explorer is described as lacking personality unless you choose the ST or Tremor models. For you, that means the Explorer makes the most sense if you want space, comfort, and capability more than style or flash.

Good and great deals account for 35.1% of listings, so there’s still a meaningful share of attractive offers in the market.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The Explorer’s setup emphasizes proven family-SUV basics: a comfortable ride, a conventional 10-speed automatic, and powertrain choices that are built for everyday use.

The turbo-four is described as making the most of its available power through the 10-speed automatic, while the twin-turbo V6 delivers quick passing power. Ford also backs the Explorer with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

If you buy used, the main long-term ownership risk is that higher-mileage or heavily optioned examples can be more expensive to keep in the condition you want.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re looking at a higher-trim or off-road-focused example. Focus on overall condition, option content, and whether the vehicle’s equipment matches the price you’re being asked to pay.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Active is the base model, the Platinum is the most luxurious, and the ST-Line and ST have styling that’s more road-focused than trail-focused. The base model also misses some equipment found higher up, including the standard third-row USB-C ports and the upgraded audio system.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the available twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is the stronger choice if you want more passing power or plan to tow with confidence.
• Safety package: CoPilot 360+ on Active models includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safety-exit assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0 with the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.
• Infotainment: All models get a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and SiriusXM with 360L. The base Active uses an unbranded six-speaker audio system, while other trims get a 10-speaker B&O system with an available 14-speaker upgrade.
• Fuel efficiency: The turbo-four is rated at 24 mpg combined, with 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway in rear-wheel-drive form. The V6 is rated at 21 mpg combined, with 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway in rear-wheel-drive form. The Tremor is rated at 21 mpg combined, with 19 mpg city and 23 mpg highway with the inline-four.

Which 2026 Ford Explorer trim should I buy?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is offered in 5 trim levels: Active, ST-Line, Platinum, ST, Tremor.

Here's the short version:

• Active: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Explorer experience with the standard turbo-four, the full safety suite, and the big touchscreen setup. It’s the trim to target if you want the lowest starting point and don’t need extra luxury or performance hardware.
• ST-Line: This is the best-value choice if you want a more upscale look without jumping all the way to the pricier trims. It keeps the road-focused styling and adds more equipment than the Active, making it a sensible middle ground.
• Platinum: Choose this if you want the most luxurious version of the Explorer, with leather upholstery and the richest feature set in the lineup. It’s the trim for you if comfort and premium feel matter more than price.
• ST: This is the performance-oriented road model, with the twin-turbo V6, sport-tuned suspension, and beefier brakes. It makes the most sense if you want the strongest on-road performance and don’t mind paying more for it.
• Tremor: This is the off-road-focused choice, with all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, off-road lights, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, off-road drive mode, and steel skid plates. It’s the one to buy if you want the most capability on rough terrain.

The Active trim gets the standard CoPilot 360+ package, while higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0 with the 360-degree camera system and additional driver-assist features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you have room to shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 35.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,573 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 94.2% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer safe?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ and earns five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five-star ratings in frontal and side crash testing and four-star ratings in rollover testing.

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

CoPilot 360+ on Active models includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safety-exit assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0, which brings the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system is also upgraded to version 1.5 for 2026, adding automated lane-change capability. The main caveat is that the system didn’t always initiate lane changes during testing, so you should treat it as a helpful assist feature rather than something you’ll want to rely on blindly.

Should I buy a 2026 Ford Explorer or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 35.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2026 adds an updated BlueCruise system and a new Tremor model for more off-road capability.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It brought major updates that made the Explorer feel more modern, better equipped, and more appealing overall.

The bottom line: If you want the newest version with the Tremor and updated driver-assist tech, the 2026 is the better target. If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the 2025 is the smarter value play because it already delivered the big redesign-era improvements.

How does the 2026 Ford Explorer compare to the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2026 Ford Explorer:

• Pros: Comfortable, Optional twin-turbo V6, Impressive safety ratings.
• Cons: Bland styling, Nondescript interior, Gets expensive with options.

2026 Chevrolet Traverse:

• Pros: Spacious interior, Pleasant ride, Lots of safety equipment.
• Cons: Gruff engine, Too big to handle well, Mediocre power.

Our experts score the 2026 Ford Explorer 7.5/10 and the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse 7.3/10. The Explorer has the edge if you want stronger safety credentials and the option of a more powerful V6. The Traverse counters with a roomier cabin and a pleasant ride, but its engine and handling drawbacks make it less appealing overall. If you value comfort and safety first, the Explorer is the more balanced pick.

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