Table of Contents
2024 Ford Explorer ST Specs: What is the MPG On a 2024 Ford Explorer ST? – The 2024 Ford Explorer ST was seen undergoing testing in Dearborn, Michigan, and our undercover photographers, or automotive paparazzi, were there to snap some photos of the action. And even if Ford has plans to launch an electric version of the Explorer in 2024, the photographs that follow feature the vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
The Ford Explorer will be given a moderate facelift for the 2024 model year, which will result in the vehicle having a considerably more assertive appearance. The vehicle will have all-new headlamps and bigger apertures below its redesigned grille. It is anticipated that it will also include updated taillights, which will be comparable to the ones that were previously shown in photos of the updated 2023 Explorer that is destined for the Chinese market.
Design
The new LED headlights have a shape that is more concave than the one found on the current Explorer, giving them an appearance that is comparable to the facelift that was performed on the fifth generation. The grille appears to be quite large and features a variety of patterns depending on the model (honeycomb for the sporty ST-Line), but it is important to keep in mind that the Chinese version of the Explorer already featured a grille that was noticeably larger than that of the EU-spec and US-spec versions of the vehicle. The previous generation’s daytime running lights (DRLs) have been removed, and the front bumper now has thinner side intakes accented with chrome.
The profile hasn’t altered at all, with the exception of the new wheel designs. However, because of the new bumpers, the length of the upgraded model has grown to 5,063 millimeters (199.3 inches) from its previous length of 5,050 millimeters (198.8 inches), despite the fact that all of the other measurements have remained the same. At the rear, the LED taillights have been connected, and this new connection is accentuated by an ornamental chrome strip that merges with the indicators. The bottom portion of the bumper was upgraded with a new skid plate and bigger twin tailpipes that were chrome-plated. Finally, the Explorer emblem has been relocated on the trunk lid, and it can now be seen above the grille on the front of the vehicle.
Interior
The former touchscreen, which was in portrait orientation and located inside, has been replaced with a more stunning landscape widescreen that occupies most of the revamped dashboard and provides the front passenger with more control over the vehicle’s entertainment system. In addition to this, a digital instrument cluster measuring 12.3 inches and a head-up display come as standard. In addition, the air vents have been made smaller and moved lower, ambient lighting has been added, and there are new spinning dials on the center console. These dials are most likely used to adjust the volume and temperature. Even while the touchscreen is not as stunning as the 27-inch 4K units found in the aforementioned vehicles, the new interior appearance of the Explorer brings it more in line with the Evos and Mondeo versions that are sold only in China.
Specs
This is where the 2023 Ford Explorer truly comes into its own as a vehicle. The majority of the trim levels are equipped with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that is capable of producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This is a significant step up over the majority of the competition’s normally aspirated V6 engines. Rear-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission are both standard, although all-wheel drive is an available option. At the time that this article was written, fuel economy estimates for 2023 had not been released; however, we do not anticipate that they will be significantly different from the final figures for 2022, which were as follows with RWD: 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined; and with AWD: 20/27/23. The Timberline is a 19/22/21 with all-wheel drive only.
The V8-powered Dodge Durango and Grand Cherokee L are the only competitors that can compare to the 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque produced by the 3.0 liter turbocharged “EcoBoost” V6 that comes standard on the King Ranch and Platinum models of the Ford Expedition. Those SUVs don’t even come close to matching the fuel efficiency of the EcoBoost, which is 18/26/21 when equipped with RWD and 18/24/20 when equipped with AWD. It, too, is a 10-speed automatic transmission.
A modified version of the standard engine is installed in the 2024 Ford Explorer ST Specs, and it now produces 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Ford claims that it can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds, which is a respectable time, but it’s not quite as fast as we’d expect it to be given its power and the performance of some of its rivals. The fuel economy seems to be the same as that of Platinum, but we have a strong suspicion that it would be far worse in the real world than it was in the laboratory of the EPA given the power difference.
A 3.3-liter normally aspirated V6 engine is combined with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the passenger-side cabin of the Explorer Hybrid model. The sum of all of its horsepower is 318. With rear-wheel drive, the EPA estimates that the vehicle will get 27 miles per gallon in the city, 28 mpg on the interstate, and 27 mpg combined. Having an all-wheel drive brings those numbers down to 23/26/25. In light of the fact that according to the same estimations provided by the EPA, opting for the hybrid engine rather than the normal one would only result in an annual savings of approximately $100 on average, this is an unimpressive finding. As another point of reference, the combined mileage for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid with all-wheel drive is 35 mpg. That is, indeed, a significant gap between the two.
Having said that, Ford has made a point of putting an emphasis on performance, even with the hybrid. This is made clear by the towing capability of the Hybrid, which is rated at 5,000 pounds. The Highlander has 72 less horsepower and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Towing capacity increases to 5,300 pounds for non-hybrid Explorers with the 2.3-liter engine and 5,600 pounds for the 3.0-liter engine. Both of these statistics are superior to the category norm in every respect.
Date of the Release
If the Explorer for the Chinese market is any indication of what the Explorer for the North American market in 2024 will look like, there will also be a new widescreen, horizontally-mounted infotainment system instead of the outgoing portrait touchscreen that stretches to the passenger’s side of the vehicle.