Anyone also have an Explorer ST?

[Chili]

Thinking about moving to an Explorer ST, somewhat even swap for a 22-23 model.

Anyone have both and can comment on differences? Explorer ST has a sport suspension, but surely it still has a more comfortable ride than a F150? Mileage, tech... Anything you prefer on one over the other?

I have a 22 XLT 302a w/ a 3.5

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[Big Dog Daddy]

paging @powerboatr This one's for you!

 

[UGADawg96]

I have a Job 2 (Nov 2021) 2021 XLT 302A 157" Powerboost and a Job 1 (May 2024) 2025 Explorer ST.

Pros/Cons/Etc.

The quality on the Explorer is not as good as the F150. In owning it for the last 6 months, it has been in the shop multiple times. Left front strut, headliner, wireless charging pad & sunroof track have all been replaced. Multiple exterior body panels have been realigned. The fake engine noise is too loud.

It is fast as snot. It is fun to drive. The stereo is amazing. The seats are sporty and hug compared to the lazy boy feel of the truck seats. The heat is 10x hotter in the seats compared to the truck. In the truck I can leave the heat on 3. In the explorer level 1 is equal and 3 can cook an egg. If your back has any discomfort, it is really good on 3. The massaging seats aren't the best on the market, but they feel really good when mixed with the heat. Oh yeah, it is fast as snot and fun to drive. Real fun. https://www.explorerst.org/ is the forum to check out.

I drive both vehicles with a heavy foot. I'm getting about 19-20 on the ST and about 20-21 on the truck.

 

[tspangle]

My wife has a 23 Explorer ST that we bought new a couple of years ago. It's a great vehicle, very quick and it handles really well for a heavy SUV. The ride is firm, but pretty well controlled. Honestly a bit better than my 21 Platinum. Of course, it's nowhere near as roomy on the inside, and the vertical screen is not as functional as the one in the F-150. Particularly with Android Auto, it only uses about the top third of the screen, which is quite small. It gets similar mileage around town to my Powerboost, but on the freeway it's better, being a smaller, more aerodynamic vehicle.

We did the Ford ST Academy in the summer of 2023 and hit the Tail of the Dragon on the way home. Here's a shot of us on the Tail:

 

[powerboatr]

paging @powerboatr This one's for you!

You rang?

Yes we have a st...it's 4wd
2023 we bought new April 2024.

Pwr is phenomenal
Ride with the firmer suspension is tight on neighborhood roads with uneven pothole patches
On highway its pretty good
Not as good as my former 22 f150 king ranch 4x4
Tires are low profile..I run 31 in fronts and 29 in rears ....empty..just my wife and I
Cooled seats are very good and supportive. Even for me being tall
Mpg...hmm 19.8 around town
Drives really good.
Highway mpg..at real highway speeds 70 to 75
20 to 22mpg
Some say they get 25....bull crap
Unless you drive 55
Sport mode is enlightening...it scoots very good
Normal or eco will give you full power if you press go pedal past 3/4
It loves to run.

If you don't use cruise....you could easily find your going 100..it's that smooth and wants the leash off
My only complaint is ipc is lacking
Especially for a sport touted vehicle

 

[v8440]

An explorer st was one of several vehicles other than my rcsb that I seriously considered buying. The promise of a whipple in the future is the main thing that caused me to come back to the f150.

 

[Aonarch]

No, but I'd buy one in a second if I had the need for an SUV.

 

[tspangle]

As for the fuel mileage, usually when I get in it's reading 16-17mpg. My wife has a heavy foot and all her driving is short trips around town. We've taken it on a few road trips, and with me driving, I set the cruise at about 77mph in Eco mode and it gets about 23.5mpg. Not bad, but sometimes I wish we'd saved a bit of money and just gotten the Limited with the 4-banger. My SIL has one with that engine, and they can get close to 30 on the freeway. But the ST is much quicker, looks better, and handles better. Plus, we got that sweet free vacation to Asheville out of the deal!

FWIW, we are at 21k miles and the car has given us no real problems. One of the cupholders broke, which led to me putting the key fob in there not knowing it, and the fob getting lost in the center console. Took me a while to fish it out with a piece of wire. That was replaced under warranty, then she broke the new one. Turns out she was jamming her big water bottle in there a bit too enthusiastically. This time I fixed it myself, took it apart and glued it back together with epoxy. She's being a bit more careful, and it seems to be holding better now.

Other than that, mechanically the car's been perfect. There's an open recall for the rear camera, but the dealers supposedly don't have the parts in yet to fix it, and besides, ours works fine, so we haven't bothered with it yet.

 

[Chili]

I had actually ordered a 22 ST and canceled it for a 22 F150 XLT. Reasons were bad reliability reviews, 10r60 and not the 10r80 and older infotainment. Seemed like the Explorer was, at least according to reviews and Consumer Reports a mess in 20-21. About the time my order would have come in there were reports that Ford went from a 4 bolt differential to a 3 bolt to save a buck and owners were breaking them. So I said F this and moved on.

Now that the dust settled it seems like 22 (or 23+) has these issues sorted. Of course the 25 update gives them a new infotainment, but I'm not looking to spend more.

Interesting how many people say how quick they are. Reports show 13.6-13.8, exactly what we get from a 3.5 or Powerboost. Is it just a difference in power delivery ?

 

[tspangle]

Interesting how many people say how quick they are. Reports show 13.6-13.8, exactly what we get from a 3.5 or Powerboost. Is it just a difference in power delivery ?

In my opinion, yes. I don't know if it's the throttle mapping or the gearing, but the Explorer feels quicker off the line and more responsive than my Powerboost, even though they ultimately run similar times.

 

[powerboatr]

We are a tick over 5200 miles
Only warranty was update for ipc
Thought we had a battery issue
But it was just needing bcm reset, update
We put running boards on that look factory. Fit tight use existing holes. Ford does not offer running boards??
And I put the timberline skid plate on that protects the transmission

Did I mention how quick it is
0 to 75 is NOW

 

[UGADawg96]

ST feels much faster than PB doing 0-80mph on highway ramps. I haven't done any redline review sofyan bey type timings though.

ST: 400 hp 415 tq ~5000 lbs (6150 gvwr -1175 payload= 4975)

PB: 430 hr 570 tq ~5900 lbs (7350 gvwr -1523 payload = 5827 + LineX)

 

[powerboatr]

ST feels much faster than PB doing 0-80mph on highway ramps. I haven't done any redline review sofyan bey type timings though.

ST: 400 hp 415 tq 4700 lbs

PB: 430 hr 570 tq 5900 lbs

its funny a ST is 4700 lbs
it sure does not feel that heavy

 

[Chili]

ST feels much faster than PB doing 0-80mph on highway ramps. I haven't done any redline review sofyan bey type timings though.

ST: 400 hp 415 tq 4700 lbs

PB: 430 hr 570 tq 5900 lbs

My XLT is 400hp 500 tq 5050lbs, so that explains why the performance is nearly identical. Just surprised they "feel" so much quicker.

 

[JExpedition07]

My buddy has had both an Aviator and the ST. They pull like an MFer. You would be surprised though, I bet you your 3.5 EB holds its own. The difference between his ST and my F-150 5.0 Scab was not much pedal to the floor on both. My stock One Fitty kept up just fine until the limiter shut it down, which makes sense because power/weight is very similar. I believe my Supercab is right around 4700 pounds like the Explorer ST. The 3.5 EB in my truck configuration would probably win *until the limiter kills it* with the surge out of the gate. That’s really the only spot he pulled was when we’d both plant it, once the 5.0 got up past 6,000 revs it kept up nicely.

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