Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. Car News

2020 Ford Explorer branches out with sporty ST, efficiency-focused hybrid models

By

With Ford eliminating most cars from its United States lineup, the automaker’s SUVs and crossovers will have to take on more roles. So the recently unveiled 2020 Ford Explorer will get two new variants: A sporty ST and a more fuel-efficient hybrid . Both models will debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show and go on sale this summer.

Recommended Videos

The ST badge was previously reserved for performance cars like the Focus ST and Fiesta ST, but now Ford is applying it to utility vehicles. Car enthusiasts consider it sacrilege, but it makes good business sense given the popularity of SUVs and crossovers. The first ST-badged utility vehicle, the Edge ST , left us wanting more — will the Explorer will be an improvement?

The Explorer ST boasts a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, which Ford claims will produce 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to get the Explorer up tp 143 mph, according to Ford. The V6 is coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive . It also gets a driver-selectable sport mode, optional performance brakes, and sporty styling cues inside and out.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Explorer hybrid uses a 3.3-liter V6 with electric assist. The powertrain is shared with Ford’s Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility cop car, and produces 318 hp in the civilian Explorer, according to Ford. Like other Explorer variants, the hybrid uses a 10-speed automatic transmission. The lithium-ion battery pack is built into the chassis below the second-row seats to preserve passenger and cargo space, Ford said.

What does that mean when it comes to gas mileage? Ford won’t say yet, only offering that the rear-wheel drive Explorer hybrid (all-wheel drive will likely be offered as an option) will travel 500 miles between fill-ups. Actual mpg figures will be published later in the year.

The 2020 Explorer ST and hybrid show how committed Ford is to its no-cars strategy. If you want to make a vehicle sporty or more fuel efficient, starting with a big, heavy, crossover like the Explorer isn’t the best idea. But Ford now needs these vehicles to be all things to all people. For an example of a no-compromises performance car, see the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that will debut alongside the Explorer ST and hybrid in Detroit.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $37
Rexing V1 dash cam

A dash cam can be an essential tool for enhancing your safety and accountability on the road. While it won't prevent accidents, having a reliable video record can be invaluable in resolving disputes with insurance companies or law enforcement. Modern dash cams offer a range of features, including front and rear recording, high-definition video, night vision, and even GPS tracking — features that were once exclusive to premium models (check our best dash cam picks for the top winners).

Today, you can find capable dash cams at a variety of price points. Whether you need a basic front-facing camera for peace of mind or a full-featured setup with parking mode and motion detection, we've rounded up the best deals available right now to suit every budget. And if protecting your vehicle at home is also a concern, check out our top security camera deals for additional driveway surveillance.
Redtiger Dash Cam 4K —  $99 $199 50% off

Read more
This week in EV tech: The shape of efficiency
2026 Nissan Leaf front quarter view, studio background.

The Nissan Leaf helped kick off the modern EV age, but Nissan squandered that lead. It’s now looking to make up for lost time with the first redesign of the Leaf in nearly a decade. As Giovanny Arroba, VP of Nissan Design Europe and head of the EV’s design team, explained in an interview with Digital Trends, the 2026 Nissan Leaf goes back to this model’s roots with an emphasis on compactness and affordability.

“It’s obviously a car that we want to be attainable to a mass volume,” Arroba said. That meant not only building the new Leaf down to a certain price point, but maintaining enough range to make it usable. As with all EVs, aerodynamics was key. The 2026 Leaf’s 0.26 drag coefficient is a significant improvement over the 0.29 of the outgoing Leaf achieve what Nissan claims will be up to 303 miles of range with a 75-kilowatt-hour battery pack. That’s a 42% range increase with just a 25% increase in battery capacity.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Hyundai’s 641-hp pebble
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N profile view.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N tried to win over driving enthusiasts with simulated gear shifts, a combustion-car soundtrack, and of course lots of power — and it succeeded. So it was only a matter of time before Hyundai applied the same tricks to the Ioniq 6 sedan with which the Ioniq 5 shares a platform.

Few cars look as futuristic as the pebble-shaped Hyundai Ioniq 6, and it wears its N garb well. A larger rear spoiler and a front splitter help generate downforce to stick the car to the pavement without interfering with Ioniq 6’s low-drag shape, Hyundai claims. Subtly widened fenders make room for wider performance tires.

Read more