New & Used 2026 Ford Explorer for Sale near North Carolina

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 $38,489
• 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: $38,489 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 401 listings
• View Active RWD listings

Active AWD — "Who It's For"

The Active AWD is the choice for those seeking all-wheel drive without a hefty price tag, offering solid features for everyday use.

• Avg. market price: $43,168 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 767 listings
• View Active AWD listings

ST-Line RWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line RWD is ideal for shoppers wanting a well-rounded SUV with a good mix of features and value without going for the top trims.

• Avg. market price: $43,192 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 401 listings
• View ST-Line RWD listings

ST-Line AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line AWD is perfect for those who want the benefits of all-wheel drive along with a comprehensive set of features for a balanced driving experience.

• Avg. market price: $45,535 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,663 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 suited for buyers needing a rugged vehicle with enhanced safety features and utility capabilities.

• Avg. market price: $48,015 (updated weekly)
• Inventory: 610 listings
• View Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Tremor AWD — "Who It's For"

The Tremor AWD is for those who desire a sportier SUV with off-road capabilities, though availability may be limited.

• Avg. market price: $54,774 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 128 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Tremor AWD listings

Platinum AWD — "Who It's For"

The Platinum AWD is the choice for luxury seekers wanting a high-end SUV with advanced features and a comfortable ride.

• Avg. market price: $51,022 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,602 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 SUV with top-tier features and performance capabilities.

• Avg. market price: $56,815 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 2,932 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — ST AWD

With 2,932 active listings, the ST AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse ST AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Active RWD

At $38,489 avg market price — below the lineup median of $46,775 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Active RWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Active RWD

The Active RWD offers the best fuel efficiency in the lineup with 20/29 MPG.

Browse Active RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 2, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer a good car?

Yes — 5/5 from users and 7.5/10 from experts. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

The 2026 Ford Explorer stays focused on being a midsize three-row crossover for families, and it still leans into comfort and capability rather than flash. Ford kept the formula largely intact for 2026, but the new Tremor gives you a clearer off-road-oriented option if you want more than the standard family-hauler setup.

The trade-offs are straightforward: the styling is bland, the interior is nondescript, and options can push the price up quickly. Even so, if you want a familiar, well-rounded three-row SUV with strong safety credentials and available twin-turbo power, the Explorer remains easy to justify. 32.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer reliable?

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

The Explorer’s reliability case is helped by its familiar, carryover setup for 2026 and by the fact that Ford has already worked through the major refresh changes. The powertrain lineup is straightforward, with a turbo-four and an available twin-turbo V6, and the 10-speed automatic is described as quick and responsive. The cabin tech is also mature, with the newer Ford Digital Experience system already in place.

Ford’s three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty provide the usual new-car coverage, but used buyers should still pay close attention to condition and equipment level because higher-spec versions can get expensive to own and repair.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 95.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re looking at a higher-trim Explorer with more equipment and more complexity. Focus on overall condition, tire wear, brake condition, and whether the features you want are actually present on the specific listing you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Active is the base model, while the Platinum is the most luxurious. The ST-Line and ST lean more toward on-road style, and the Tremor adds the rugged look with all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and off-road lights. Base-model equipment is lighter, including an unbranded six-speaker audio system and fewer third-row USB-C ports.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 is available on the Tremor and standard on the ST, with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The 10-speed automatic is standard, and AWD is standard on the Tremor.
• 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 a 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.
• Infotainment: Every model gets 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 a 14-speaker version available.
• Fuel efficiency: The turbo-four is rated at 24 mpg combined with RWD and 23 mpg combined with AWD. V6 models are rated at 21 mpg combined with RWD and 20 mpg combined with AWD. The Tremor is rated at 21 mpg combined with the inline-four and 19 mpg combined with the V6.

Which 2026 Ford Explorer trim should I buy?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is offered in 5 trim levels: Active, Active 100A, ST-Line, Platinum, ST.

Here's the short version:

• Active: This is the entry point, and it makes sense if you want the Explorer’s core family-SUV strengths without paying for extras. It gets the standard safety suite and the full-size infotainment setup, but it’s the most stripped-down version in terms of audio and rear-seat convenience.
• Active 100A: This version adds a few convenience features over the basic Active, so it’s the one to consider if you want a little more everyday usability without jumping far up the price ladder.
• ST-Line: This is the better-value step-up if you want a more polished look and more equipment without going all the way to luxury pricing. It starts to move the Explorer toward a more upscale feel while staying below the Platinum.
• Platinum: Choose this if you want the most luxurious Explorer and are willing to pay for it. It’s the trim that best fits buyers who care most about comfort and upscale appointments.
• ST: Pick this if you want the strongest on-road performance character. It gets the twin-turbo V6 and adds sport-tuned suspension and beefier brakes, making it the most performance-focused standard Explorer.

Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0, which brings the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so it pays to compare listings carefully and move quickly on the right one.

• Deal availability: 32.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,191 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 95.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $45,633.36, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer safe?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ and earns the highest five-star overall safety rating 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 a 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system is also upgraded for 2026 to version 1.5, adding automated lane-change capability. The main caveat is that the system did not always initiate lane changes as expected during testing, so you should treat it as a helpful aid rather than a fully hands-off solution.

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:

• 32.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 95.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The new Tremor model gives you the most off-road-capable Explorer, and BlueCruise gets an update for 2026.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It brought major updates, including a more appealing interior, fresh infotainment, and a simplified trim lineup.

The bottom line: If you want the newest version with the Tremor and updated driver-assist tech, the 2026 is the cleaner pick. If you’re shopping mainly on value, the 2025 can make sense because it already captured the big refresh and may cost less on the used market.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.