Is the 2026 Ford Explorer a good car?
Yes.
4 of 7checks
- Family car: 2 of 4. Rear legroom 38.3 in. Class median 38.5 in.
- First car: 3 of 5. Length 198.7 in. Class median 191.6 in.
- Commuter: $116 a month. Class median $111.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | No | 2 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 3 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $116 vs $111 a month |
| Seniors | Yes | 3 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | Yes | 8.2 in, top 47% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 26% below predicted |
| Good buy | Yes | No rival beats it |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the Explorer a good family car?
No. Passes 2 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 6 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 38.3 in | Median 38.5 in | 167 | No |
| Rear headroom | 40.5 in | Median 38.7 in | 168 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 16.3 cu ft | Median 25.2 cu ft | 176 | No |
Is the Explorer a good first car?
No. Passes 3 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $38,465 | Median $47,693 | 176 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 300 hp | 175 hp to 373 hp | 182 | Yes |
| Length | 198.7 in | Median 191.6 in | 178 | No |
| Turning circle | 38.7 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 13.3 cents | Median 12.8 cents | 179 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the Explorer a good commuter car?
No. $116 a month to commute. Class median $111.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $116
- Median of 179 SUVs
- $111
- Highway mpg
- 29 mpg, top 32% of 139
Is the Explorer a good car for seniors?
Yes. Passes 3 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 7.8 in clearance, 69.6 in tall | 6.9 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.7 to 70.8 in tall | 156 | Yes |
| Front headroom | 40.7 in | Median 39.9 in | 169 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 38.7 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the Explorer a good off-road vehicle?
Yes. 8.2 in clearance. Top 47% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- Active w/100A Pkg 4WD, 8.2 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the Explorer worth the money?
Yes. Priced 26% below cars like it.
- Price, Active RWD
- $38,465
- Predicted price
- $51,632
- Gap
- -$13,167 (-26%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the Explorer a good buy?
Yes. No rival beats it on all four.
Compared with 1,068 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree