Top 5 Features For The Ford Explorer ST
If you've been searching for an SUV that doesn't make you choose between hauling the whole family and having a little fun behind the wheel — the 2025 Ford Explorer ST is your answer. This isn't your average family hauler. With jaw-dropping Ford Explorer ST horsepower, a cabin packed with technology, and a ride that genuinely feels sporty, the Explorer ST earns its place among the best performance SUVs in its class.
We've broken down the top 5 features that make this vehicle stand out — and why drivers from Columbus, Waterloo, Sun Prairie, Beaver Dam, and Marshall keep coming back to talk about it.
The Engine That Means Business: 3.0L EcoBoost® V6
The Details
Let's start with the heart of this machine. The Ford Explorer ST specs include a twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 engine that produces a remarkable 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. Those aren't sports car numbers — those are better-than-sports-car-in-a-family-SUV numbers. For context, that's enough power to push this three-row SUV from 0 to 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds.
When you look at the Ford Explorer ST horsepower figure alongside its competitors, it's clear Ford engineered this one for drivers who want serious capability without sacrificing everyday practicality. It's a legitimate contender among the best performance SUVs on the market today.
Real-World Example
Picture this: It's Sunday afternoon, and your family just loaded up the Explorer ST for a road trip to the Wisconsin Dells. You merge onto I-90 and tap the accelerator — the ST surges forward with authority, pressing you gently into your seat. No hesitation, no strain. Just effortless, confident power that makes passing semis on the highway feel like nothing. The kids in the back don't even look up from their tablets. You, on the other hand, are grinning.
Your Co-Pilot in the Digital Age: 13.2-Inch Ford Digital Experience Touchscreen
The Details
Step inside and the first thing that catches your eye is that massive 13.2-inch Ford Digital Experience touchscreen — a landscape-oriented display that dominates the center stack in the best possible way. It runs Ford's latest SYNC® 4A software, meaning the interface is fast, intuitive, and visually sharp.
Among the standout Ford Explorer ST interior features, the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is a game-changer. No cables, no fuss — just drop your phone in the cupholder and your entire digital life mirrors instantly onto that gorgeous screen. You also get wireless charging, over-the-air software updates, and a cloud-connected navigation system that learns your habits over time.
Real-World Example
Monday morning school run. You toss your phone on the wireless charging pad, and before you've even buckled your seatbelt, your playlist is already playing and Apple Maps has auto-loaded your usual route — right there on the 13.2-inch screen. Your daughter calls out "can you play that new song?" and you tap twice without taking your eyes off the road. Done. No cables, no fumbling, no drama. Just seamless.
Built to Carve Corners: Sport-Tuned Suspension & 10-Speed SelectShift®
The Details
Raw power is only as good as your ability to control it. That's where the Explorer ST's sport-tuned suspension steps in. Ford's engineers tightened up the steering response, lowered the ride height slightly, and stiffened the suspension calibration specifically for the ST — resulting in a vehicle that feels planted, responsive, and genuinely fun to drive.
Pair that with the 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission — which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters — and you have a setup that lets you be as involved or as relaxed as you want. In Sport mode, the transmission holds gears longer and responds more aggressively. Pull those paddles on a winding back road and it genuinely feels like driving something special. No wonder the Explorer ST consistently ranks among the best performance SUVs in the three-row segment.
Real-World Example
You've just dropped the kids off and now it's 20 minutes of open highway between you and the office. You click it into Sport mode, feel the suspension firm up just slightly, and hit a long sweeping on-ramp. The ST grips and goes, the transmission snaps through gears with purpose, and for a few glorious minutes — it's just you and the road. This isn't a minivan. Not even close.
Your Seat Has Superpowers: ActiveX™ Seating with Active Motion® Massage
The Details
When it comes to Ford Explorer ST interior features, the seating might be the most impressive element of all. The front seats are wrapped in ActiveX™ material — a premium synthetic leather-like surface that looks sophisticated, resists wear beautifully, and carries embossed ST logos that remind you this isn't an ordinary Explorer.
But here's the feature that makes jaws drop: Active Motion® massage functionality. Yes, your SUV gives you a massage. The front seats are also heated and ventilated, so whether you're warming up on a frozen Wisconsin morning or cooling down after a summer soccer tournament, your seat has you covered — literally. It's the kind of detail that makes the 2025 Ford Explorer ST feel less like a car purchase and more like an upgrade to your daily quality of life.
Real-World Example
Long Friday. Three meetings, a packed school pickup schedule, and two hours of driving. You finally pull into the driveway, and for a moment — you just sit there. The heated seat is on, the Active Motion® massage is doing its thing on your lower back, and honestly? You're not in a rush to go inside. The Explorer ST just gave you a 10-minute decompression session without a spa appointment. That's a feature you can't put a price on.
Concert Hall on Wheels: 14-Speaker B&O® Sound System
The Details
Bang & Olufsen doesn't put their name on average audio. The 14-speaker B&O® premium sound system in the Explorer ST is genuinely one of the finest factory audio setups you'll find in any SUV at this price point. With speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin — including in the headrests — the sound surrounds you rather than just reaching you.
The system is tuned specifically for the Explorer ST's interior acoustic environment, meaning every note hits the way the artist intended. Rich bass, crisp highs, and a soundstage so wide it genuinely feels live. Paired with the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from that stunning 13.2-inch touchscreen, your music experience is elevated across every single drive — short commute or long road trip. It's one of those Ford Explorer ST interior features that you simply have to hear to believe.
Real-World Example
Saturday morning, nobody else is awake yet. You volunteer for the coffee run just so you can get 15 minutes alone in the Explorer ST. Your favorite album streams wirelessly, the B&O system fills the cabin from every direction, and the bass line moves through the seat. It sounds — and feels — like you're sitting ten rows back from the stage at a live show. You take the long way home. Nobody blames you.
The Bottom Line: The Explorer ST Earns Every Bit of the Hype
When you line up the full list of Ford Explorer ST specs — 400 horsepower, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, sport-tuned handling, massaging seats, and a B&O audio system — it becomes clear why the 2025 Ford Explorer ST isn't just a family SUV. It's a statement. It competes confidently with the best performance SUVs in its class while still being the kind of vehicle you can pack with car seats, camping gear, and groceries without skipping a beat.
Whether you're a performance enthusiast who refuses to give up practicality, or a busy parent who just wants something that puts a smile on your face during the daily grind — the Explorer ST was built with you in mind.
Ready to Feel It for Yourself?
Words only go so far. Come visit us at 330 Transit Road, Columbus, WI and take the 2025 Ford Explorer ST for a test drive. Our team is here to answer every question — with zero pressure and total transparency. Serving Columbus, Waterloo, Sun Prairie, Beaver Dam, Marshall, and all of south-central Wisconsin.