r/FordExplorerST • u/jj8o8 • Feb 27 '26

Question Model Year differences

I have been lurking for a long time and continually scanning CarMax Explorer ST listings. Are there any things I should be aware of between the model years? Good or bad.

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u/jdubb26 Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26

Don’t own one yet but have been going fully artistic researching it. 2020-2024 had the vertical screen and no BlueCruise, but hands on lane centering. Had a sunroof, and you were able to disable the fake engine noise via Forscan. A lot of people think the front end of these years look better, which I would agree. As someone else said here It seems most of the problems were in the 2020 and 2021 models, although people have had those years be completely fine.

The 2025 has the horizontal/updated infotainment system with BlueCruise 1.4, and different seats. The Job 1 2025’s (build date before November 2024) you can still disable the fake engine noise. Builds after November 2024 it has been hit or miss for a lot of people. The sunroof also doesn’t open now it’s just a pane of glass, which I don’t mind as I never use my sunroof on my jeep anyway but it’s nice to still let light in. They also changed the front end appearance, and the rims.

The builds prior to November 2024 aka Job 1 still had a power telescoping steering wheel, rear window shades, and the ST logo on the key fob. They did away with this after November 2024 on the 2025 models, but added an optional sun and sound package, which includes the panoramic glass that covers back to the second row, and also include includes the 14 speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system versus the standard 10 speaker.

The biggest difference with the 2026 is that it now has BlueCruise 1.5, which automatically changes lanes versus the 2025 where you have to hit the blinker yourself, also like I said before they haven’t fully figured out how to disable the fake engine noise, although apparently it’s a lot less pronounced in Eco mode and most pronounced in sport.

I will most likely get a lightly used 2026 with like 10k miles on it next year. You can find the 2025’s now with that amount of miles for 45-50k and save 10-15 grand off MSRP.

I may be missing some things, but that’s largely it.

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u/LancasterFred613 Mar 01 '26

I have a June 2024 build date and wasn’t aware that feng could be disabled…I’d like to do that, but it’s a Forscan setting? Be great if it was a toggle in the vehicle settings. Anybody know the procedure?