New & Used 2026 Ford Explorer for Sale nearKitchener, ON

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer a good car?

Yes — your 5/5 user rating and the 7.5/10 expert rating point to a strong overall showing. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

The 2026 Ford Explorer remains a practical midsize three-row SUV for you if you want a family-friendly crossover with everyday comfort and mainstream appeal. Ford’s own assessment also suggests the Explorer can feel bland unless you choose the ST or Tremor models, which lines up with the expert review’s note that the SUV’s strengths are comfort, an available twin-turbo V6, and impressive safety ratings.

The trade-offs are clear: bland styling, a nondescript interior, and a tendency to get expensive with options. Even so, 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The Explorer’s overall package also leans toward durability-minded mainstream use, with a familiar three-row layout, standard all-wheel drive in Canada, and powertrains that are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The expert review also describes the Explorer as comfortable and confident on the road, while the performance notes suggest the transmission makes good use of the available power and avoids hesitation. Ford’s cost-effectiveness notes add that the brand’s three-year/60,000-kilometre bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty match most mainstream rivals.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that higher-spec versions can become costly to maintain and replace if you want the more complex equipment.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Active is the base model, while the Platinum is the most luxurious. The ST-Line and ST lean more toward road styling, and the ST adds sport-tuned suspension and beefier brakes. The Tremor is the off-road-focused model, with all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and off-road lights in the grille.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 is available on the Tremor and standard on the ST, with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Both engines use a 10-speed automatic and standard AWD in Canada.
• Safety package: CoPilot 360+ is standard on Active models and includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centring, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safe exit assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims get CoPilot 360 2.0, which adds the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.
• Infotainment: All models get a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and SiriusXM with 360L. The base Active uses an unbranded six-speaker audio system, while other trims get a 10-speaker B&O system, with a 14-speaker version available.
• Fuel efficiency: The turbo-four is rated at 10.4 L/100 km combined, while V6 models are rated at 11.6 L/100 km combined. The Tremor is rated at 11.2 L/100 km combined with the four-cylinder and 12.4 L/100 km combined with the V6.

Which 2026 Ford Explorer trim should I buy?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is offered in 5 trim levels: Active, ST-Line, Platinum, ST, Tremor.

Here's the short version:

• Active: This is the value starting point if you want the Explorer’s core family-friendly layout and standard CoPilot 360+ safety tech without moving up the price ladder.
• ST-Line: Choose this if you want a more styled-up look and a step up in equipment without jumping to the performance-focused ST.
• Platinum: This is the luxury-leaning choice, with leather upholstery and the most upscale feel in the lineup.
• ST: Pick this if you want the strongest on-road performance, thanks to the twin-turbo V6, sport-tuned suspension, and beefier brakes.
• Tremor: This is the best fit if you want the most capability and the most personality, with off-road hardware, the available V6, and the most rugged appearance.

Higher trims get CoPilot 360 2.0, which adds the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile options. 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

There are 344 listings available.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer safe?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ and earns five-star ratings in frontal and side crash testing, and four-star ratings in rollover testing from NHTSA. It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

CoPilot 360+ on Active models includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centring, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safe exit assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0, which brings the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system is also updated for 2026 to version 1.5, adding automated lane change capability. The main caveat is that the system did not always initiate lane changes as expected during testing, even though manual turn-signal lane changes still worked.

Should I buy a 2026 Ford Explorer or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2026 adds an updated BlueCruise system and brings back the Tremor off-road model.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It brought major updates, including improved infotainment, safety tech, and interior quality.

The bottom line: If you want the newest Explorer with the Tremor and updated BlueCruise, the 2026 is the better target. If you’re shopping mainly on value, the 2025 can still make sense because it introduced the big refresh and may be priced more attractively.

How does the 2026 Ford Explorer compare to the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2026 Ford Explorer:

• Pros: Comfortable, Optional twin-turbo V6, Impressive safety ratings.
• Cons: Bland styling, Nondescript interior, Gets expensive with options.

2026 Chevrolet Traverse:

• Pros: Spacious interior, Pleasant ride, Lots of safety equipment.
• Cons: Gruff engine, Too big to handle well, Mediocre power.

Our experts score the 2026 Ford Explorer 7.5/10 and the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse 7.3/10. The Explorer has the edge if you value comfort, stronger available power, and top-tier safety ratings. The Traverse counters with a roomier-feeling cabin and a pleasant ride, but its engine and handling drawbacks are more noticeable. If you want the more polished all-rounder, the Explorer is the safer bet; if space matters most, the Traverse deserves a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.