Editing Ford Explorer (section)

{{Short description|Range of SUVs manufactured by the Ford Motor Company}}
{{about||the Explorer-based pickup truck|Ford Explorer Sport Trac|the battery electric compact crossover for the European market|Ford Explorer EV}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ford Explorer
| image = Ford Explorer (sixth generation) IMG 6063.jpg
| caption = Sixth-generation Ford Explorer 
| manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| production = 1990–present
| model_years = 1991–present
| class = {{unbulleted list
  | [[Compact SUV]] (3-door/Sport) (1991–2003)
  | [[Sport-utility vehicle#Mid-size SUV|Mid-size SUV]] (1991–2010)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/Ford/explorer-4-door-suv/1996 |title=1996 Ford Explorer |website=Iihs.org |access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name=CNET />
  | [[Mid-size crossover SUV]] (2011–present)<ref name="11-19_cars.com">{{cite web|url= https://www.cars.com/research/ford-explorer/ |title=2011-19 Explorer |website=cars.com |quote=In a major change, Ford moved the Explorer from a truck-based, rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame platform to a car-based, unitized front-wheel-drive platform. Though still marketed as an SUV, it was now more accurately a crossover. |access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2140441/2020-ford-explorer-first-drive-crossover-new-decade/ |title=2020 Ford Explorer First Drive: Crossover for the New Decade |first=Jay |last=Ramey |date=June 19, 2019 |work=Autoweek |access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref>
  }}
| layout = 
| chassis = {{unbulleted list
  | [[Body-on-frame]] (1991–2010)
  | [[Unibody]] (2011–present)
  }}
| predecessor = [[Ford Bronco II]]
| successor = [[Ford Territory (Australia)|Ford Territory]] (Oceania)
}}

The '''Ford Explorer''' is a range of [[Sport utility vehicle|SUVs]] manufactured by [[Ford Motor Company]] since 1990. The first five-door SUV produced by Ford, the Explorer was introduced as a replacement for the three-door [[Ford Bronco II|Bronco II]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Udy |first=Jason |date=June 18, 2019 |title=Three Decades of the Ford Explorer: A Look Back at the SUV's History |url= https://www.motortrend.com/features/25-years-of-the-ford-explorer-a-look-back-at-this-suvs-history/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |website=Motortrend.com}}</ref> As with the Ford Ranger, the model line derives its name from a trim package previously offered on [[Ford F-Series]] pickup trucks. As of 2020, the Explorer became the best-selling SUV in the American market.<ref>{{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXJrN8BgN6Q |title=Why Ford Dominates The Market For Police Vehicles |date=August 1, 2020 |medium=current affairs |publisher=CNBC |at=1:12 |access-date=August 15, 2021}}</ref>

Currently in its sixth generation, the Explorer has featured a five-door wagon body style since its 1991 introduction. During the first two generations, the model line included a three-door wagon (directly replacing the Bronco II). The [[Ford Explorer Sport Trac]] is a crew-cab mid-size pickup derived from the second-generation Explorer. The fifth and sixth generations of the Explorer have been produced as the [[Ford Police Interceptor Utility]] (replacing both the [[Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor]] and the [[Ford Police Interceptor Sedan]]).

Within North America's current Ford SUV range, the Explorer is slotted between the [[Ford Edge]] and [[Ford Expedition]]. The model line has undergone rebranding several times, with Mazda, Mercury, and Lincoln each selling different versions.  As of current production, Lincoln markets a luxury version of the Explorer as the [[Lincoln Aviator]].  For the North American market, the first four generations of the Explorer were produced by Ford at its [[Louisville Assembly Plant]] ([[Louisville, Kentucky]]) and at its now-closed [[St. Louis Assembly Plant]] ([[Hazelwood, Missouri]]); Ford currently assembles the Explorer with the Lincoln Aviator and the Police Interceptor Utility at its [[Chicago Assembly Plant]] ([[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]).

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