2020 Ford Explorer ST - 2 Minute Review

Published December 13, 2019 by Elizabeth Jeneault

 

From the video: 

Now this is a fun, fast, family SUV! It's the all-new, completely redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer and it rides on a new rear-wheel drive platform. And this is the all-new performance ST trim, the most powerful Explorer to date!

 

I'm Liz Jeneault with SUVs.com, by the way! Big thanks to Davidson Ford of Clay for letting me come by.

 

Now, the other Explorer trims are XLT, Limited and Platinum. You can get the Limited as a hybrid, so that's new and also a great option!

 

Performance is the real highlight of this Explorer ST, so let's start there. A muscular 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 with twin turbos makes the ST the most powerful Explorer ever. It churns out 400 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft of torque, which is just so impressive for a three-row SUV. It can also reach a top speed of 143 mph. The engine is paired to a 10-speed automatic and the ST features a sport-tuned suspension. Plus, intelligent four-wheel drive comes standard on this trim. This 2020 Explorer ST goes, sounds, and stops like a true performance SUV!

 

While fast and sporty, the SUV is still plenty comfortable inside. There are captain's chairs in the middle here to fit six. I like this step-over center console. A bench seat is also available here in case you need to fit seven. Easy to move the seats, too, with the push of a button! 

 

Love the leather seating with micro-perforation that comes standard on this trim. The front seats and captain's chairs are heated, as is the sport steering wheel with paddle shifters. There's a standard voice-activated navigation system and these easy-to access USB ports here are nice. I like that you can upgrade to this larger 10.1" portrait touchscreen. And how about this 12.3" customizable instrument cluster? Love that. You can also opt for Ford's largest ever twin-panel moonroof. And as for cargo space, how about over 87.8 cubic feet of it with all the seats down? 

 

20" wheels come standard on this ST, but special 21" aluminum wheels with cool, red painted brake calipers are available. The bold grille and ST badging help add to the SUV's sporty look. It's also a safe vehicle with a 360-degree view camera and a number of safety systems.

 

Rating time! Love the sporty, bold exterior. 8. Interior is also an 8 as I love the materials used, but I do wish that the dual-panel sunroof and larger touchscreen came standard on this ST considering its price. Performance I rate at an 8.5. Fuel economy with this sporty ST trim is rated at 18 mpg city, 24 highway. So, a 6 there. Keep in mind there is that Limited Hybrid model, though! The starting price of this ST is hefty at $54,740, but you do get a lot performance-wise and with the interior. So, I rate value at an 8. 

 

And that results in an SUVs.com deal score of 77/100. Let me know what you think!

 

See our full 2020 Ford Explorer ST review


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