The Ford Explorer added the distinct, luxurious King Ranch trim to its lineup back in the 2021 model year, helping to celebrate 20 years of FoMoCo’s collaboration with the legendary South Texas cattle ranch, beginning with the 2001 Ford F-150 King Ranch. Since then, the King Ranch trim has been offered not only in the F-150, but also, the Ford Super Duty and the Ford Expedition. However, the King Ranch trim was somewhat surprisingly excluded from the 2025 Ford Explorer refresh.
According to a member of the Ford Explorer team, the automaker decided to drop the King Ranch trim from the 2025 Ford Explorer lineup because the company considers it to be a “truck brand,” noting that it didn’t really have the same impact on Explorer customers and buyers. However, the Expedition King Ranch remains in Ford’s lineup – at least for now, though that SUV is also slated to receive a refresh for the 2025 model year.
For now, the Timberline trim is also absent from the 2025 Ford Explorer lineup, though as Ford Authority previously reported, it is likely to return at some point. In the meantime, the 2025 Ford Explorer will soldier on with Active, Platinum, ST-Line, and ST trim levels, each with their own unique styling cues.
Meanwhile, the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer has already begun to arrive at dealers, and features a host of updates compared to the ongoing model in addition to its trim level shakeup. Those include the typical mid-cycle actions such as a mild exterior makeover, some interior tweaks, the addition of some nifty Easter eggs, and, perhaps most notably, the deletion of the outgoing model’s hybrid powertrain for retail customers. The 2025 Explorer does utilize the new version of the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost engine that debuted in the 2024 Ford Mustang, however.
We’ll have more on the 2025 Ford Explorer soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Explorer news and comprehensive Ford news updates.
Comments
Ford again dropped the ball with Explorer,No Timberline, limited colors on some trims, mandatory sunroof on some trims . Biggest of all is no Timberline. If they are doing a Tremor Explorer then get it done.
Are you not on Facebook anymore???
Doing everything possible to cut their build expense no King Ranch no Timberline reducing color options decontenting questionable quality control while raising the MSRP when is Ford going to wake up.
Ford is really trying to run off all their customers with these price increases while taking away features right and left. The Timberline should of had the optional V6 when it was introduced. It like they do not want to even try and put forth a strong effort to make a vehicle that the customer want. 2025 Explorers color choices are terrible never seen so few colors to choose from on a model.