The 2018 Ford Explorer powertrain consists of three gasoline engines mated to three variants of a six-speed automatic transmission, depending on model. The police-duty Police Interceptor Utility, which is the Explorer sold to police units for police duty, also offers another gasoline engine that is not available on the civilian Explorer.
2018 Ford Explorer Engines
The 2018 Explorer is offered with the following gasoline engines:
- Naturally-aspirated 3.5L Duratec-Cyclone Ti-VCT V6 rated at 290 horsepower (216 kW) and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm) of torque
- Turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost inline four-cylinder rated at 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm) of torque
- Twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 rated at 365 horsepower (272 kW) and 350 pound-feet (474 Nm) of torque
- Naturally-aspirated 3.7L Duratec-Cyclone Ti-VCT V6 rated at 365 horsepower (272 kW) and 350 pound-feet (474 Nm) of torque (exclusive to Police Interceptor Utility)
2018 Ford Explorer Transmissions
Both of the 2018 Explorer engines are paired with variants of the Ford 6-speed automatic transmission:
- 3.5L Duratec-Cyclone V6: Ford 6-speed 6F automatic with SelectShift
- 2.3L EcoBoost I4: Ford 6-speed 6F automatic with overdrive
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Ford 6-speed 6F automatic with paddle shifters
- 3.7L Duratec-Cyclone V6: Ford 6-speed 6F automatic (Police Interceptor Utility)
2018 Ford Explorer Drive Wheels
On the 2018 Explorer, front-wheel-drive (FWD) is standard and all-wheel-drive (AWD) is optional.
2018 Ford Explorer Axle
The 2018 Ford Explorer is equipped with five axles / final drive ratios:
- 3.36
- 3.51
- 3.39
- 3.65
- 3.16
2018 Ford Explorer Powertrain Orientation
The 2018 Explorer powertrain is positioned transversely, a characteristic shared by all models on the D4 platform.
2018 Ford Explorer Powertrain
Brand | Model | Trim Level | Engine | Engine Layout | Engine Aspiration | Compression Ratio | Fuel | Fuel Delivery | Valve Lifters | Engine Block Material | Cylinder Head Material | Wheel Drive | Transmission | Axle Ratio | Power (hp / kW @ RPM) | Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM) | Fuel Economy FWD (City / Hwy / Comb) | Fuel Economy AWD (City / Hwy / Comb) | Curb Weight (lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ford | Explorer | XLT, Limited | 3.5L Duratec - Cyclone Ti-VCT | V6 DOHC | Atmospheric | 10.8: 1 | Gasoline | Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection | Direct acting mechanical bucket | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | FWD / AWD | Ford 6-speed 6F auto with SelectShift | 3.39 (FWD) / 3.65 (AWD) | 290 / 216 @ 6500 | 255 / 346 @ 4000 | 17 / 24 / 20 | 16 / 23 / 19 | 4,443 FWD, 4,629 AWD |
Ford | Explorer | XLT, Limited | 2.3L EcoBoost | I4 DOHC | Turbocharged | 10.0: 1 | Gasoline | Direct Injection | Direct acting mechanical bucket | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | FWD | Ford 6-speed 6F auto with overdrive | 3.36 (FWD) / 3.51 (AWD) | 280 / 209 @ 5600 | 310 / 420 @ 3000 | 19 / 27 / 22 | 18 / 25 / 21 | 4,385 FWD, 4,556 AWD |
Ford | Explorer | Sport, Platinum | 3.5L EcoBoost | V6 DOHC | Twin Turbocharged | 10.0: 1 | Gasoline | Direct Injection | Direct acting mechanical bucket | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | AWD | Ford 6-speed 6F auto with paddle shifters | 3.16 (AWD) | 365 / 272 @ 5500 | 350 / 474 @ 3500 | N/A | 16 / 22 / 18 | 4,901 AWD |
Ford | Explorer | Police Interceptor Utility | 3.7L Duratec-Cyclone Ti-VCT | V6 DOHC | Atmospheric | TBD | Gasoline | Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection | Direct acting mechanical bucket | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | AWD | Ford 6-speed 6F | 3.65 (AWD) | 305 / 227 @ 6500 | 280 / 380 @ 4250 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Ford | Explorer | Police Interceptor Utility | 3.5L EcoBoost | V6 DOHC | Twin Turbocharged | 10.0: 1 | Gasoline | Direct Injection | Direct acting mechanical bucket | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | AWD | Ford 6-speed 6F | 3.16 (AWD) | 365 / 272 @ 5500 | 350 / 474 @ 3500 | N/A | 16 / 22 / 18 | TBD |