From Practical to Insatiable: The Allure of the Explorer ST

Did you know that shopping for a used Ford for sale can put you in the driver’s seat of a performance-tuned SUV without a mile-high price tag? It might seem too good to be true, but we’re proud to prove otherwise as your trusted Ford dealer. So, what’s the secret? It’s all about where you look, and in this case, it starts with the Explorer ST.

Finding more power under the hood and the practicality expected of an SUV requires shopping our selection of high-quality models for a best-selling SUV like the Explorer ST. The Explorer has a rich history in the Ford lineup and is widely praised for its versatility, agility, and longevity. These characteristics mean even more on the used lot, particularly with an Explorer ST that guarantees drivers can finally enjoy the best of both worlds. How so? It’s time to find out.

Earning the ST Badge: What Makes It Special?

Our need for speed is insatiable, and automakers like Ford are happy to oblige. The Ford Motor Company helped put the world on wheels, simultaneously challenging us to dream big and ask for more from our vehicles. Ford Performance was quickly established, enticing drivers with potent powerhouses destined for epic launches and impressive times on closed tracks. Yet, the late 1990s revealed another shift in the industry, as drivers took the cue from Ford and asked for more.

Ford did the unimaginable in 1997 when it introduced a new performance line–Sport Technologies. Leaving its Ford Performance models to trained drivers and closed tracks, the ST models made performance accessible to more drivers. Ford ST introduced a new era where everyday drivers like us could enjoy more thrills behind the wheel. Today, that legacy continues with road warriors like the Explorer ST that give drivers the best of both worlds–performance and practicality.

Ford’s Hidden Gem: The Explorer ST

While Ford introduced the first ST models in the late 1990s, the Explorer ST didn’t join the lineup until 2020. The news was headline-worthy, as Ford enticed drivers with the most powerful and engaging Explorer ever built. The 2020 Explorer ST set a new precedent for America’s favorite SUV, proving Ford’s intuitions were correct that drivers wanted and deserved more thrills every time they climbed behind the wheel.

The 2020 Explorer ST exceeded expectations in every way imaginable. Sales skyrocketed as drivers excitedly traded their luxury SUVs and underwhelming vehicles for the unsuspecting powerhouse proudly wearing the Blue Oval. Today, that appeal continues on the used lot, where the 2020 Explorer ST and its successors promise plenty of excitement and practicality. So, what can you expect from these ST-branded Explorers?

Performance: A Potent Heartbeat

The Explorer ST earns its badging because of its potent heartbeat. Since 2020, the Explorer’s base powertrain has been a turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost inline-four that produces 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The output is enough to make the Explorer agile and responsive, but Ford ups the ante and ensures the ST lives up to its namesake with a few modifications.

The Explorer ST models built between 2020 and 2025 rely on a specialty-tuned EcoBoost for power. The turbocharged 3.0L V6 leaves the Explorer’s base powerplant in the dust, producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Ford’s quick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission offers a broad power band, with the engine providing exceptional off-the-line acceleration and a steady stream of on-demand power.

Harnessing that power is seamless, with Ford enhancing the Explorer ST with selectable drive modes, a sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes, a 3.58 non-limited-slip rear axle, and the automaker’s Terrain Management System. Why are these significant? The selectable drive modes give you more control over the Explorer ST’s performance as Ford’s intelligent four-wheel drive system extends those modes and heightens the SUV’s handling in slippery conditions. The integrated paddle shifters give you a manual connection to the engine, adding to your experience behind the wheel of this sport-tuned SUV.

ST Detailing: Sporty Design Elements

Despite sharing the same sophisticated styling as its namesake, the Explorer ST stands out from the crowd. Since the Explorer ST debuted in 2020, Ford has gone above and beyond to ensure the SUV is instantly recognizable beyond its badging. The Explorer ST gets special treatment in every way imaginable, inside and out.

You’ll see these trim-exclusive details firsthand as you shop for a used Explorer ST. The powerhouse offers premium wheel designs, like 21-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season tires. Red-painted performance front and rear brake calipers confirm the Explorer ST’s heart for performance, giving passersby a flashing glimpse of red as the SUV speeds past. Its mesh front grille makes the Explorer ST distinct from the front, with the optional black-painted roof providing a stark contrast against Ford’s bold color palette.

Inside, the Explorer ST’s cabin tells a similar story, striking a unique balance between its thrill of performance and the practicality ingrained in the Explorer’s DNA. Beyond its spacious three-row layout, the cabin is functional and comfortably accommodates passengers and cargo. Of course, exclusive details like its ActiveX seating with Miko inserts and red stitching reflect its ST branding. After all, it wouldn’t be an ST without performance seats.

Technologies: Connected and Engaged

Shopping for a used Explorer ST guarantees more excitement behind the wheel, but the perks don’t end there. Ford is well-known for offering drivers plenty of value in its lineup, with models like the Explorer equipped with many amenities, features, and technologies. The Explorer ST is no exception, but as a top-tier trim, it offers far more advanced features that make the investment more worthwhile. How so?

When Ford introduced the Explorer ST in 2020, the automaker instantly raised the benchmark by equipping the trim with a larger digital landscape and more technologies. For example, the 2020 Explorer ST features a premium 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, which is upgraded to a 14-speaker system with the Premium Technology Package. This package also adds Multicontour Seats with Active Motion and a 10.1-inch portrait touchscreen that pairs with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.

Beyond entertainment and connectivity, the 2020 Explorer ST also features enhanced driver-assist technologies like Active Park Assist 2.0 and Reverse Brake Assist, which complement the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ suite. Ford Co-Pilot Assist+ equips the SUV with automatic high beams, a Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, a Lane-Keeping System, a rearview camera, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. These features have been standard on the Explorer ST since 2020, with Ford adding to the suite by updating its technologies with features like Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, BlueCruise, Evasive Steering Assist, and voice-activated navigation.

Ford Says You Can Have It All

There’s nothing wrong with wanting it all, from dreaming big and pursuing your professional and personal goals to driving an SUV that answers all your needs. Ford encourages drivers to do as much by giving us options like the Explorer ST. Tuned to perform and guaranteed to deliver plenty of thrills in the driver’s seat, the Explorer ST takes everything you love about the practical SUV and maximizes it with a more potent heartbeat that matches every insatiable need for speed.

This intricate balance adds excitement to every experience behind the wheel and finally proves that you can have it all. You don’t have to settle for a boring SUV because you need something spacious and passenger-friendly, nor do you have to compromise your comfort for the sake of watching your speed climb as you navigate your favorite winding back road. You can have the best of both worlds; in fact, Ford encourages it, and as your Ford destination, so do we.