The 2026 Ford Explorer in a Nutshell
It might not have been the first SUV of its kind, but it surely helped the genre grow into what it is today. The Ford Explorer further catapulted SUVs into the sales charts in the ’90s, and remains a hugely popular buy to this day.
Now in its sixth generation, the current model has been around since 2020 and was given a major facelift for 2025. That said, the facelift first appeared on the Chinese-market Explorer for the 2023 model year and applied to global versions a few years later. Given the heavy update last year, the popular SUV carries over into 2026 largely unchanged.
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2026 Ford Explorer Lease Deals for January
As always, Ford has lease deals for all trims of the Explorer this month. All are for 39 months with a mileage cap of 10,500 miles per year. It starts at $449 per month with $4,391 due at signing for the entry-level Active 100A. Two promos are available for the Active with either $395 per month with a downpayment of $4,623 or zero down for $449 per month. Yes, the same as the Active 100A.
The ST Line goes for $451 with $5,136 due at signing, while the off-road-oriented Tremor is at $469 monthly with $5,485 due at signing. For the Platinum, that’s $546 per month after a $5,808 downpayment, while the ST is $568 with $6,228 due at signing. Offer is valid until February 2, 2026.
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2026 Ford Explorer Highlights
Prices for the Ford Explorer range from $38,465 to $54,945 with six trims to choose from. All come standard with Ford CoPilot360 advanced driver assists, wireless phone connectivity, tri-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and a rear-view camera. The Active adds heated front seats and a power tailgate, while the ST Line gets a sportier motif, 360-degree cameras, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Go for the Tremor, and it gets off-road goodies such as a unique suspension arrangement that adds ground clearance, a limited-slip differential, skid plates, and all-terrain tires. Meanwhile, the Platinum gets a panoramic sunroof standard, as well as heated, ventilated, massaging front seats, BlueCruise, and additional luxury trimmings. At the top is the ST that gets stiffer springs and dampers, bigger brakes, and the most powerful engine option as standard.
Most trims use a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Optional for the Tremor and standard in the ST is the 3.0-liter Ecoboost twin-turbo V6 that puts out 400 hp and 415 lb-ft. Sadly, the hybrid is reserved for the Police Interceptor.
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Final Thoughts
The Ford Explorer can best be described as a midsize SUV that does everything it needs to do well enough. It’s spacious for the most part, reasonably equipped, not too bad on gas, and hugely practical. While it’s not the kind of car anyone would call hugely exceptional, the fact that loads of folks still buy makes it a safe bet in its segment.
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Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle.
About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor