2025 Ford Explorer ST By Steeda Looks Absolutely Stunning: Live Photo Gallery

The Ford Explorer was fully refreshed for the 2025 model year, bringing updated front and rear fascias and a new interior with improved tech. Meanwhile, Steeda Autosports – the famed performance parts manufacturer – has been making all kinds of performance enhancing parts for the Explorer, not to mention other Ford models. It recently took those performance parts and installed them on the 2025 Explorer ST you see here. Today, we’re bringing you a live photo gallery of this sporty crossover SUV with a jubilee of Steeda parts.

With its cab rearward design and solid proportions, the refreshed Explorer ST provides a solid starting point thanks to new front and rear ends. Steeda builds on that by adding a black hood decal, which adds surprisingly goes a long way toward adding character, along with a black liftgate applique. If the hood decal adds a healthy dose of character, then this liftgate applique adds ten times as much, working ever so harmoniously with the new tail lights, which add a horizontal element as part of the refresh. Both of the black graphics deliver a noticeable contrast with this model’s factory Star White Metallic Tri-Coat paint.

I should note that the liftgate applique is currently not listed on Steeda’s catalog, so contact Steeda if you’re looking to get your hands on one.

Keen-eyed observers may have also noticed that the Steeda Explorer ST has a much lower ride height than the stock model. That’s because it’s equipped with Steeda’s lowering springs, which drop the body by an inch at the front and just over an inch (1.125 inches) at the rear. The lowered ride height results not only in a unique and more sporty appearance, but it also lets the ST’s 21-inch rollers to fill out the wheel wells much better compared to stock.

Speaking of the wheels, they are the stock 21-inch Magnetite-painted rollers, featuring an intricate spoke pattern comprised of five triple-spoke units. Just behind the rollers is a set of red-painted brake calipers that complete the look. The fact that Steeda decided to leave the wheels stock is respectable – they already look so damn good.

The lower ride height carries a secondary benefit that makes the Explorer a “slide in-and-out” kind of vehicle. I didn’t need to step up or squat down to get in. My personal BMW X7 with its fancy German-engineered adjustable air suspension and adaptive dampers doesn’t make it this easy to get in and out of. Coming to this realization created my very first insecurity about the X7.

“Maybe I should trade this X7 for an Explorer ST and Steeda it up…”. That’s the thought that came to mind every time I got behind the wheel of the Steeda Explorer, especially given that my BMW and this Ford are almost the same size and serve the same general purpose of carrying six passengers in the same 2+2+2 layout. My inner voice also reminded me that the BMW is roughly twice as expensive as the Ford, even when including all the Steeda performance components installed on this demonstrator. Definitely something for me to think about some more.

Back to the exterior: a prominent Steeda script adorns the top of the windshield, while the Steeda “winding road” logo is present on the front doors, rear windows and hatch. The cover for the tow hitch receiver is also a Steeda part.

Those paying particularly close attention may have also noticed the Steeda exhaust, which delivers a more throaty exhaust note that is more apt for the Explorer ST’s personality. It sounds louder and raspier than stock, a difference more noticeable from outside the vehicle and at wide open throttle, but without any interior droning or other annoying qualities of some aftermarket exhaust systems (we’ll show you how the Steeda unit sounds in an upcoming article).

All in, the Explorer ST looks very good from the factory in stock form, but these Steeda touches make it pop in all the right ways. That shouldn’t come as a surprise: Steeda has been known for making performance parts for decades, and has recently scooped up ex-Ford designer Melvin Betancourt to continue that legacy. It should come as no surprise, then, that eye-catching graphics package on the Explorer ST seen here are Betancourt’s handiwork.

Without the graphics and stickers, the Steeda Explorer ST is low key enough to be a sleeper, since only enthusiasts seem to notice the lowered ride height. But add the hood and hatch graphics, plus the STEEDA windshield banner, and the build becomes a lot less low key, attracting more attention. No matter where in sunny South Florida I went in this thing, I noticed other motorists and passersby doing a double take; the might not know what an Explorer ST is all about or how good this Steeda demonstrator drives, but they can certainly sense that it’s something special. This makes for a great conversation starter… something my X7 has never done.

The unique and sporty appearance of the Steeda Explorer ST is good news in and of itself, but that’s far from the whole story: the various Steeda upgrades (listed below) make this – and I’m not exaggerating – the best-handling three-row crossover SUV I’ve ever driven.

Stay tuned to hear the exhaust (in a week), and for our driving impressions (mid-March).

Steeda Explorer ST Equipment