The 2018 Ford Explorer is offered with the following gasoline engines, depending on the model:
- 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 (Sport and Police Interceptor Utility models)
- 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)
The engines are mated to the Ford 6-speed automatic transmission with five separate axles, and the powertrain is positioned transversely, a characteristic shared by all Ford Motor Company vehicles 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 |
