Ford Explorer sales were essentially flat in the United States but decreased in Mexico and Colombia during the first quarter of 2024.
| MODEL | Q1 2024 / Q1 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | +0.70% | 58,465 | 58,061 |
| MODEL | Q1 2024 / Q1 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | +0.59% | 2,400 | 2,386 |
| MODEL | Q1 2024 / Q1 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -24.38% | 276 | 365 |
| MODEL | Q1 2024 / Q1 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -8.02% | 149 | 162 |
During Q1 2024, Ford Explorer sales (see running Ford Explorer sales) were nearly flat, rising just 0.7 percent to 58,465, while leading the mainstream large three-row crossover segment when ranked by sales volume.
The Toyota Highlander followed in second place as sales dropped 42 percent to 32,033 units, and the Honda Pilot took third with a 22 percent bump to 30,051 units.
The next four models were all within 400 or so deliveries of each other, all posting around 25K deliveries to reveal how competitive this segment is. The Kia Telluride placed fourth with a six percent slip to 25,578 sales, the Volkswagen Atlas swelled 38 percent to 25,326 units for fifth, the Hyundai Palisade was up 29 percent for 25,255 deliveries to take sixth, and the Toyota Grand Highlander moved 25,136 units for seventh place.
Meanwhile, the Nissan Pathfinder followed in eighth with a 20 percent slide to 19,012 units, while crosstown rival Chevy Traverse (see running Chevy Traverse sales), placing ninth, saw sales drop 45 percent to 17,475 sales, and crosstown rival Dodge Durango, taking tenth, posted a 13 percent dip to 15,129 units. All remaining three contenders each posted less than 13K deliveries.
| MODEL | Q1 24 / Q1 23 | Q1 24 | Q1 23 | Q1 24 SHARE | Q1 23 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD EXPLORER | +0.70% | 58,465 | 58,061 | 20% | 20% |
| TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | -42.12% | 32,033 | 55,344 | 11% | 19% |
| HONDA PILOT | +21.64% | 30,051 | 24,704 | 10% | 8% |
| KIA TELLURIDE | -5.93% | 25,578 | 27,190 | 9% | 9% |
| VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS | +38.31% | 25,326 | 18,311 | 9% | 6% |
| HYUNDAI PALISADE | +28.84% | 25,255 | 19,602 | 9% | 7% |
| TOYOTA GRAND HIGHLANDER | * | 25,136 | * | 8% | 0% |
| NISSAN PATHFINDER | -20.02% | 19,012 | 23,770 | 6% | 8% |
| CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | -44.58% | 17,475 | 31,533 | 6% | 11% |
| DODGE DURANGO | -13.39% | 15,129 | 17,467 | 5% | 6% |
| SUBARU ASCENT | -14.20% | 12,683 | 14,782 | 4% | 5% |
| MAZDA CX-90 | +3,378.75% | 9,984 | 287 | 3% | 0% |
| MAZDA CX-9 | -99.95% | 3 | 6,666 | 0% | 2% |
| TOTAL | -0.53% | 296,130 | 297,717 |
In terms of segment share, Ford Explorer sales maintained a 20 percent share, accounting for a fifth of all deliveries in this space. The Highlander earned a 11 percent segment share, down eight percentage points year-over-year, followed by the Pilot with a 10 percent share, up two percentage points. The Telluride, Atlas, and Palisade each posted a nine percent share, with the Telluride maintaining, the Atlas up three percentage points, and the Palisade up two percentage points. Meanwhile, the Grand Highlander earned an eight percent share. The Nissan Pathfinder and Traverse both posted a six percent share, down two and five percentage points, respectively, while the Durango held a four percent share, down one percentage point. The other entries earned a four percent share or less individually.
Sales of mainstream large three-row crossovers were essentially flat for 296,130 deliveries during Q1 2024, meaning Ford Explorer sales nearly matched the segment average.
| MODEL | Q1 24 / Q1 23 | Q1 24 | Q1 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | -42.12% | 32,033 | 55,344 |
| TOYOTA GRAND HIGHLANDER | * | 25,136 | * |
| TOTAL | +3.30% | 57,169 | 55,344 |
Combining sales of Toyota’s three-row Grand Highlander along with the two-row Highlander, shows 57,169 deliveries for a 19 percent segment share. This is important since most of the Highlander’s lost sales now likely just go to its new, bigger sibling, the Grand Highlander. Nevertheless, Ford still outsold Toyota by 1,296 deliveries.
| MODEL | Q1 24 / Q1 23 | Q1 24 | Q1 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HYUNDAI PALISADE | +28.84% | 25,255 | 19,602 |
| KIA TELLURIDE | -5.93% | 25,578 | 27,190 |
| TOTAL | +8.64% | 50,833 | 46,792 |
Even sales of the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride combined could not outdo the Explorer, with 50,833 cumulative deliveries and an 18 segment share, meaning Ford outpaced Hyundai-Kia by nearly 8K units.
For informational and comparative purposes, we also provide sales figures for midsize crossovers that overlap with large crossovers like the Ford Explorer – either in price, seating capacity, or both. Despite the fact that these models are physically smaller than the Explorer and its direct rivals, they are often cross-shopped. These overlapping vehicles include:
| MODEL | Q1 24 / Q1 23 | Q1 24 | Q1 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | -0.09% | 54,455 | 54,502 |
| FORD EDGE | +73.34% | 35,157 | 20,282 |
| HYUNDAI SANTA FE | -8.53% | 26,094 | 28,526 |
| KIA SORENTO | +10.30% | 22,244 | 20,166 |
| CHEVROLET BLAZER | +8.73% | 16,595 | 15,263 |
| MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER | +41.08% | 13,846 | 9,814 |
| GMC ACADIA | -51.87% | 7,674 | 15,945 |
| NISSAN MURANO | -62.02% | 4,726 | 12,444 |
Even here, the Explorer reigned supreme to outsell the Jeep Grand Cherokee 54,455 deliveries by over 4K units, which includes the two-row Grand Cherokee and extended-length, three-row Grand Cherokee L.
| MODEL | Q1 24 / Q1 23 | Q1 24 | Q1 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORD EXPLORER | +0.70% | 58,465 | 58,061 |
| FORD EDGE | +73.34% | 35,157 | 20,282 |
| TOTAL | +19.50% | 93,622 | 78,343 |
Jeep’s two-row variant is more of a Ford Edge rival, while the three-row one is a Ford Explorer competitor. As such, a more apt comparison would be to pit Grand Cherokee sales against Edge and Explorer combined 93,622 deliveries, with Ford vastly outselling Jeep by over 39K units.
Ford Explorer sales, while essentially flat to start out the year, outpaced Toyota and Jeep, even when combining their two-row and three-row models. The refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer, which debuted earlier this year, will likely boost sales even more going forward.
For 2024, the Ford Explorer drops the 3.3L V6 Hybrid engine option along with the related Limited Hybrid and Platinum Hybrid trim levels. Otherwise, the 2024 Explorer carries over essentially unchanged. Production began of the 2024 Ford Explorer began at Chicago Assembly plant on January 2nd.
Recently the 2025 Ford Explorer debuted with new tech and a redesigned interior. It is available in the Active, Platinum, ST-Line, and ST trim levels with a slightly different look on the outside thanks to a few minor styling updates. For 2025, BlueCruise is available on the Explorer for the first time ever, available on Platinum, ST-Line, and ST trims. Additionally, the 2025 Explorer is the first Ford-branded vehicle to get the new Ford Digital Experience software, which was developed in conjunction with Google. It runs on a larger 13.2-inch infotainment screen, which is coupled with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Two powertrain choices are available on the 2025 Explorer, with the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost offered as standard on Active, Platinum, and ST-Line trims, and the twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 EcoBoost offered as standard on ST and optional on Platinum. Output remains the same, with the V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission, and all four trims come standard with rear-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive available as an option.
Production of the 2025 Ford Explorer kicks off this May.
While continuing to dominate the segment.
Special lease deals available on the rugged crossover.
It has lived most of its life in storage.
Parts of it are sticking around, though.
