New Looks and Potent Powertrains Highlight Redesigned 2020 Explorer

When the last-generation Ford Explorer hit showrooms and later added advanced turbocharged engines, it was a pioneer in its class. But the class has caught up and even left this once-revolutionary SUV in its wake. A redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer with a new, sharper look, a range of new engines, and a swap in drive wheels is sure to spice things up again.

Starting with its looks, the 2020 Ford Explorer will get a brand-new take on the old-school two-box SUV appearance. Its nose will now boast a more rearward raked grille and windswept headlights to give it the small dose of sportiness SUV buyers want. The windshield also gets some added rearward rake to help air flow up an over the SUV and to help with its aesthetic. This all stands atop standard 18-inch wheels that grow to 21 inches with the right boxes checked.

Inside, the 2020 Ford Explorer continues its modernization with a fully revamped dash that is smoother and has fewer buttons cluttering things up. Adding some style is a three-spoke steering wheel with a double-spoke bottom section and wood trim shooting across the base of the dash.

2020 Ford Explorer Interior

Tech was a place where the current Explorer failed, but Ford seems to have made this a focal point for the 2020 Explorer. It will come standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and SYNC 3. There will also be available 4G LTE Wi-Fi, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, navigation, 14-speaker audio system, and more.

Advanced active safety tech also takes center stage on the 2020 Explorer with standard Ford Co-Pilot360, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a rearview camera, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The 2020 Ford Explorer also will boast all-new engines, starting with the standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. On the range-topping platinum model, there will be a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with 365 horsepower. There also will be a hybrid powertrain powering the Limited Hybrid trim and a performance-oriented powerplant under the hood of the upcoming ST trim, but there are no official details on these engines yet.

Another huge change for the 2020 Explorer is its move from front-wheel drive back to rear-wheel drive. The Explorer has been on a front-wheel-drive platform since the current-generation model debuted in 2011.

Ford will have the 2020 Explorer in showrooms in the summer of 2019. Prices will come as we near this release date.