T&S Ford Explorer Trim Guide
2027 Ford Explorer Models & Trim Levels
Active, ST-Line, Tremor, Platinum & ST take the same three-row SUV in five distinct directions:
—Family Value, Sport-Inspired Design, Off-Road Capability, Premium Comfort & Performance.
The 2027 Ford Explorer remains a useful middle ground for households that need three rows without moving into a full-size SUV. Its core strengths are familiar: an easy-to-place family-SUV footprint, a standard third row, strong digital integration, useful cargo flexibility, and enough power and trailering capability to cover far more than a school-run routine.
Choosing a model matters because the five-model lineup does not move in one straight line from basic to loaded. The same Explorer foundation can lean toward value and everyday utility, richer design and technology, genuine rough-road hardware, higher-end comfort, or performance. The useful question is not simply which badge sits higher, but which change would improve the way your household actually uses the SUV.
That distinction is especially useful around White Hall and the I-79 corridor, where one Explorer may handle weekday trips around Marion County, family travel toward Morgantown or Clarksburg, winter weather, and weekend recreation. This guide starts with the shared Explorer foundation, then shows exactly where each model changes the experience enough to deserve a place on your shortlist.
Buyer-Fit Shortcuts
Start With the Explorer Priority You Will Use Most Often
Choose the routine closest to yours. The result points to the lowest Explorer model that cleanly serves that priority and the neighboring model worth comparing.
Based on This Priority
Family Utility Without Specialty Hardware
Start With Explorer Active
Who This Fits
Families who want the full three-row Explorer foundation, available 4WD, modern technology, and towing capability without paying first for specialization.
Why It Fits
Active already covers the core Explorer job: three rows, 300-hp turbo power, available 4WD, the shared 13.2″ digital interface, and the full published towing ceiling.
Also Compare
Compare ST-Line if surround-view parking visibility, upgraded audio, the heated steering wheel, and sport-inspired design would be repeat-use upgrades.
2027 Ford Explorer Trim Level Answers in 60 Seconds
How many 2027 Ford Explorer models are there?
Ford currently lists five: Active, ST-Line, Tremor, Platinum, and ST.
Which 2027 Explorer can seat seven?
Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST can seat up to seven with the available second-row bench. Tremor is a six-passenger configuration with second-row captain’s chairs.
Which Explorer models offer the 3.0L EcoBoost V6?
ST includes the V6 as standard equipment. Tremor and Platinum offer it as an upgrade; Active and ST-Line use the 2.3L EcoBoost I-4.
Which 2027 Explorer has standard 4WD?
Tremor. Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST use rear-wheel drive as their standard layout and offer Intelligent 4WD.
How much can the 2027 Ford Explorer tow?
The 2027 Explorer is rated for a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, across all configurations, when properly equipped.*
Which Explorer is the luxury-focused model?
Platinum. It centers its role on premium audio, multicontour front seats, heated second-row seating, PowerFold third-row seats, and an available V6 package.
Which Explorer is the performance model?
ST. It makes the 3.0L EcoBoost V6, sport-tuned suspension, lowered ride height, paddle shifters, and 21″ wheels part of the standard experience.
Before Choosing a Model, Make Sure the Explorer Itself Fits
Confirm the shared three-row fundamentals before moving to a specialized trim role
The Explorer makes its strongest case when you want three rows and family flexibility without moving to a larger full-size SUV. Bring the people who normally ride in rows two and three, compare captain’s chairs with the available bench where offered, load the cargo area with the kind of stroller, sports gear, luggage, or grocery volume you actually carry, and make sure the third-row access pattern works for the people who will use it. If taller teens or adults will use the third row regularly, have them spend a few minutes there rather than treating the seven-seat number as proof that every row will fit every passenger equally well.
Then confirm the boundaries that no trim badge can erase. Every Explorer shares the same basic body and 16.3-cubic-foot cargo area behind the third row, and Ford’s published maximum towing ceiling is 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. If the Explorer’s overall size, third-row fit, or towing ceiling misses the job, moving farther up the lineup will not solve that mismatch. If the vehicle itself fits, the rest of the decision can stay focused on appearance, traction hardware, comfort, and performance.
Compare the Lineup
Compare the Explorer Through Seven Ownership Decisions
Start with the question that affects your household most, then work through the lineup one topic at a time.
Comfort, Strong Turbo Power & Useful Cargo Space
Car and Driver highlights the Explorer’s comfortable cabin, generous space in the first and second rows, and punchy turbocharged powertrains. Those strengths support its role as a versatile three-row SUV for everyday family driving and longer trips.
Its cargo testing adds useful real-world context: Car and Driver fit four carry-on suitcases behind the third row and 31 with both rear rows folded, showing the Explorer’s ability to shift from passenger duty to substantial cargo space when needed.
Explore Every Explorer Model
2027 Ford Explorer Trim-by-Trim Breakdown
The first model establishes the shared foundation; each later slide focuses on what actually changes, what does not carry forward, and when the step makes sense.
Select an Explorer Model or Use Previous/Next
Explorer Model 1 of 5
2027 Ford Explorer Active
The complete three-row value foundation
| Starting MSRP* |
$38,860 |
|---|---|
| Powertrain |
|
| Family foundation |
|
| Everyday technology |
|
| Best Fit | Families who want the Explorer’s three-row space, modern interface, available 4WD, and full towing ceiling without paying first for appearance, off-road, luxury, or performance specialization. |
Real-World Analysis: Active Completely Covers the Core Explorer Experience
Active establishes how much Explorer is already included before the specialty models enter the conversation. It keeps the same three-row body, the shared digital interface, a 300-horsepower turbo engine, available Intelligent 4WD, and the same published 5,000-pound maximum towing ceiling as the rest of the lineup.
That makes Active a sensible starting point for households whose week is mostly school, work, shopping, and I-79 travel, with occasional winter-weather or trailer needs handled by the right 4WD/equipment configuration.
Compare ST-Line when the 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, B&O audio, and sport-inspired appearance would be used or appreciated every day. If those changes are mostly cosmetic for your routine, Active remains the cleaner value play.
Take the Shortlist Into the Driver’s Seat
Compare the Explorer in Person at T&S Ford
Explore the current Explorer inventory at T&S Ford, then visit us in White Hall to see your preferred models in person. Sitting in the cabin, comparing seating layouts, checking the cargo area, and taking a test drive can make it much easier to decide which Explorer feels right for your household before choosing a specific configuration.
How to Narrow the 2027 Explorer Lineup
The best shortlist comes from choosing the Explorer mission first, then deciding how much equipment you need inside that mission.
Active Trim Level
Start here when the shared Explorer family platform already covers the job and specialization would be mostly optional.
ST-Line Trim Level
Choose it when sport-inspired design and the richer camera/audio/parking package will improve daily use more than a different engine.
Tremor Trim Level
Move here for standard 4WD and real off-road/all-weather hardware—not simply because it looks more rugged.
Platinum Trim Level
Prioritize Platinum when seat comfort, premium audio, and long-trip refinement matter more than off-road or sport-tuned hardware.
ST Trim Level
Choose ST when the V6 and sport-tuned driving experience are central reasons you want an Explorer in the first place.
The Explorer works best when the vehicle’s shared three-row fundamentals fit first and the model choice then solves a real repeat-use priority. That breadth is especially useful in North Central West Virginia, where the same SUV may move from everyday Marion County errands to I-79 and I-68 family travel, changing winter weather, and rougher weekend access. The goal is not to buy the most Explorer available—it is to choose the version whose added hardware or comfort will still matter after the novelty wears off.
FAQ: 2027 Ford Explorer Models & Trim Levels
Why Shop T&S Ford
A Local Explorer Shopping Process Built Around Clear Pricing
T&S Ford’s Market Best Pricing philosophy is designed to remove the traditional price negotiation from the vehicle-shopping process. The dealership uses market data to set an upfront price and applies that same pricing approach whether a shopper is looking online, calling, or visiting the showroom. The real-world benefit is simple: more of the visit can stay focused on the vehicle, the trade, financing, and whether the Explorer actually fits your household.
The dealership has served the White Hall/Fairmont area through a location with more than 90 years of automotive history and sits just off the I-79 corridor in Marion County. For shoppers across north-central West Virginia, that makes it a practical regional stop where the sales relationship can continue into ongoing Ford service support.
Online tools also let you start before the visit: browse current Explorer inventory, estimate your trade value, apply for financing or pre-qualification, and schedule service. After delivery, factory-trained Ford service, genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts, and available Ford Mobile Service for eligible work give that same relationship a practical ownership role. That continuity matters after the trim decision is over and the ownership part begins.
Where to Go Next
Disclaimers:
*2027 Ford Explorer starting MSRP figures shown in this guide reflect the current 2027 Build & Price model selector as of September 16, 2026 and are shown before destination/delivery, taxes, title, registration, options, accessories, and dealer-specific pricing. Pricing and availability may change.
*The 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 is rated at 300 horsepower. 3.0L EcoBoost V6 output may be 385 or 400 horsepower depending on the state where the vehicle is purchased; this guide uses “up to 400 hp / 415 lb-ft” when describing the V6.
*Maximum towing capacity is up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Actual towing capacity varies by configuration, equipment, passengers, cargo, accessories, and trailer; verify the specific vehicle’s ratings and loaded conditions before towing.
*Seating, wheel, package, BlueCruise, camera, audio, roof, color, and other equipment availability varies by model, configuration, option package, and vehicle. Confirm the window sticker and dealership listing for the exact Explorer you are considering.
*Car and Driver’s 8/10 rating, reviewer impressions, and four/31-carry-on cargo results are publisher findings from its current 2027 Ford Explorer review and referenced test vehicles. Editorial ratings and test context may be revised by the publisher.
*Treat this quiz as a shopping shortcut only. Confirm the exact vehicle’s equipment, price, installed options, seating configuration, and in-person fit before choosing a model.