The refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer debuted back in early February bearing a number of changes including slight exterior styling tweaks, along with a host of interior revisions and the addition of the brand new Ford Digital Experience software. However, along with a pared-down trim level lineup that saw the deletion of the King Ranch trim, the 2025 Ford Explorer was also curiously missing any sort of hybrid powertrain option. Now, we know why that’s the case.
According to the Ford Explorer team, the 2025 model doesn’t offer a hybrid powertrain because the automaker deduced to prioritize it for the Police Interceptor Utility, which comes standard with the electrified option. As Ford Authority previously reported, the 2024 Ford Explorer actually dropped the the 3.3L V6 Hybrid engine prior to the debut of the refreshed 2025 model, along with both trims that offered it at that time – the Limited Hybrid (310A) and Platinum Hybrid (600A).
However, this wasn’t the case with the 2024 Police Interceptor Utility, which continued to be sold with the hybrid option even after it was discontinued in its civilian counterpart. Ford has noted in the past that the police version of the Explorer remains in high demand, which likely played at least some sort of role in the automaker’s decision to nix the hybrid from the regular lineup as it works to build enough Police Interceptor Utility models to meet that demand.
Regardless, it’s a pretty safe bet that a hybrid powertrain option will return to the Ford Explorer at some point. In fact, the automaker announced just this past April that it intends to add a hybrid to every model in the Ford Blue lineup by 2030, which is centered around its ICE-powered models, including the Explorer.
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
Waiting for their battery pack plants to be finished.
The interesting thing is that the Hybrid power train is not yet available to order for the Interceptor Utility. Per my state’s contract:
“INFORMATION ONLY: 25MY: Ford has advised that there will be a 50-unit ordering cap PER Fleet ID Number (FIN). If you desire additional PI Utilities, please contact dealer to request increased allocation. The alternative Hybrid (HEV) model will not be available for Job#1 production; Job#2 date is TBD. You may submit Hybrid orders, but dealership will hold them until Ford opens up Hybrid order bank (TBD). Please review Vehicle Standard Specifications, many NEW standard features have been added.”
Note the limit of 50 per FIN, so will we see a black market for police cars? The other interesting thing I found while perusing the bids for 2025 MY vehicles is that they are also limiting the number of Hybrids and PHEV Escapes to 10 ea per FIN.
“Ford has imposed a Maximum Ordering Cap of (10) Hybrid (HEV) and (10) Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) per Customer FIN (Fleet ID Number). Please order as early as possible, HEV/PHEV order banks may close early once nationwide government production allocation slots have been filled.”