- Ford has given its big-selling Explorer SUV the Tremor treatment.
- Tremors get a bespoke suspension setup and underbody protection.
- Engine choices come down to a 300-hp 2.3L I4 or a 400-hp 3.0L V6.
Modern SUVs are light years more refined and car-like than their ancestors, but in recent years, automakers have put some of the rugged flavor back into the mix with packages named like Trailsport, Trailhawk, and Tremor. That last one is from Ford and available on models including the Expedition, F-150, and Maverick, and for 2026, the Explorer is getting in on the action.
Trail-Ready Without Giving Up Road Manners
The Tremor option equips your Explorer with a bespoke suspension setup, adding 1 inch (25 mm) to the ride height and armed with retuned springs and anti-roll bars that are designed to keep the ride comfort intact both on and off road. You also get skid plates to protect the drivetrain if that extra ground clearance proves insufficient.
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All-terrain tires hugging 18-inch wheels bite into the ground with the help of a rear limited-slip differential, and unlike base Explorers, the Tremor comes with all-wheel drive as standard. Also standard is Ford’s 300 hp (304 PS) 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline four, though a 400 hp (406 PS) 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost motor is only a checkbox away.
Design Tweaks With Just Enough Attitude
A yellow-orange (“spice” in Ford speak) bar runs across the front grille, and you’ll see the same color repeated on the towing eyes, wheel spokes, and inside the cabin where it is used on the stitching for the steering wheel, seats, dashboard, and door panels.
The Explorer was facelifted for 2026, and in common with every other model, the Tremor comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge pack and a 13.2-inch tablet touchscreen. The list of standard equipment includes a 360-degree camera, but true luxury kit, like massage seats and a 14-speaker B&O audio system, is going to cost you extra.
As is Ford’s BlueCruise 1.5, which might not be very helpful when you’re making use of the trail-ready chassis upgrades, but could be handy when you’re pounding the freeway on the way to your off-road adventure zone.
How Much Will It Cost?
Ford hasn’t revealed prices for the Explorer Tremor, but based on its spec, it’s likely to slot somewhere between the ST-Line and full ST, suggesting a with-destination MSRP of around $52,000-54,000, and north of $56,000 by the time you’ve upgraded to the V6.
