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.
The 2018 Explorer is offered with the following gasoline engines:
Both of the 2018 Explorer engines are paired with variants of the Ford 6-speed automatic transmission:
On the 2018 Explorer, front-wheel-drive (FWD) is standard and all-wheel-drive (AWD) is optional.
The 2018 Ford Explorer is equipped with five axles / final drive ratios:
The 2018 Explorer powertrain is positioned transversely, a characteristic shared by all models on the D4 platform.
| 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 |