2021 Ford Explorer | Features & Specs | in Houston, serving Cypress, TX

What's New For the 2021 Ford Explorer?

Minor changes await Ford Explorer fans in 2021, which gets some adjustments to standard features and available options based on your selected trim level. The Ford Explorer has some trim-specific changes, including a Sport Appearance package now offered for the XLT trim. The 2021 Explorer is available with two engines, including a base four-cylinder and a more powerful V6, standard or optional on certain trims. The 2021 Explorer comes with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and it has an exceptionally spacious cargo area.

Which Trims & Features Are Available in 2021?

The 2021 Ford Explorer comes in five trims. The base trim has a long list of standard amenities for an entry-level model. With this trim, you will get a power-adjustable liftgate and tri-zone automatic climate control. A power-adjustable driver's seat is standard, along with remote monitoring through a smartphone app. Other technology in the base trim includes an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A WiFi hotspot is included. More features come with the second trim called the XLT.

More conveniences are added to this trim, including USB charging ports in the second row and the option of getting captain's chairs to seat six people. Heated seats and a leather steering wheel are added to the XLT as well. Leather seats are added to the next trim, called the Limited, which also has decorative ambient lighting for the cabin. Ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless charging capabilities are added to the Limited. This trim has an enhanced infotainment system that includes voice-controlled navigation, and it upgrades to a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. You can also opt for the hybrid powertrain on the Limited trim.

2021 Explorer Powertrain Options

Two engines are available for the 2021 Ford Explorer. The entry-level engine is a 2.3L four-cylinder with a turbocharger for extra speed and power. This engine's power output is 300 HP at most, and it creates just over 300 LB-FT of torque. The second engine is a V6. This engine is also turbocharged. It comes with an increase of nearly 100 HP, and it creates about 415 LB-FT of torque. Both engines are linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain is a 3.3L V6 engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 318 HP. The Platinum comes standard with all-wheel drive, which is an available drivetrain for the other trim levels. The others come equipped with rear-wheel drive.

Ford Explorer Safety Features

Some safety features that are standard on the 2021 Explorer are lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision mitigation. You can also get a trailer sway control mechanism that uses the Explorer's brakes to control the trailer's movement if it starts to sway. Other safety features are added to successive trims as well. The Limited adds to the standard list of safety and driver-assistance features with a surround-view camera system, parking sensors for the front, and lane-center assist and adaptive cruise control.