The Ford Explorer is a renowned mid-sized SUV, and many people are likely to be curious about just how much load it can pull. If you are one of those people who are interested in the Ford Explorer lineup and want to know about their impressive towing capacity, then you have come to the right place. We have prepared a guide on the lineup’s features and towing capacities so it wouldn’t be hard for you to find the information you are looking for!
2021 Ford Explorer Models
The Ford Explorer 2021 is designed for contemporary adventure. Its flexible layout provides ample maximum comfort for the entire family. With linked innovation and an athletic build that’s prepared for whatever comes next, it helps you make the most of every encounter.
Even if you’re driving the children to sports practice or preparing for an expedition, the 2021 Explorer has the convenience and versatility you need. There’s enough space for everybody and their belongings with accommodation for up to seven people and an optional Cargo Management System*.
When inside, you’ll discover a variety of features that allow for a relaxing and enjoyable drive. Plus, since it was designed for an active lifestyle, one can anticipate plenty of interior space for the children, the pets, sporting goods, camping gear, and almost everything else you could need on your journey of discovery.
Explorer has a rear-wheel-drive base and four strong engines to help you make the most of your upcoming wild adventure. Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management SystemTM and seven adjustable drive settings are offered for added traction. Even with a large camper in tow, you won’t be stalled thanks to the capacity to pull a maximum of 5,600 lbs. Let’s now take a look at the distinct 2021 Ford Explorer model.
2021 Explorer Performance and Engine Power
The Base, XLT, and Limited trim levels all come standard with a 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Although this engine will be adequate for most users, those seeking more power may consider the Platinum variant, which features a 365-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine. The sporty Explorer ST has a comparable engine that produces 400 horsepower for an even faster SUV.
A 10-speed automatic transmission is conventional, regardless of the engine you choose. The driving and ride are comfortable, but the Explorer ST’s increased power and stiffer suspension elevate the level of performance to a higher level.
2021 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity
The 2021 Ford Explorer is a perfect vehicle for pulling, hauling, and traveling in all road conditions, thanks to its excellent performance and exceptional control. This powerful SUV can satisfy all of your hauling needs with a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds and a maximum tongue-load of 560 pounds.
The Explorer includes space for up to seven people and features an easy-entry second row that enables people to get in and out of the vehicle quickly, as well as tri-zone climate control that allows passengers to choose their own temperatures in all three rows of seating. The entire family will be able to travel in style. With the 2021 Ford Explorer towing capacity, it will make a terrific family vehicle, with plenty of cargo room and enough muscle to tow a watercraft or trailer.
Fuel Efficiency
Whenever it pertains to the Explorer’s powertrain and drivetrain, Ford Explorer vehicles are properly equipped and there are several choices available, including one with a hybrid 3.3-liter V-6 with an electric motor that produces 318 horsepower. That’s the most fuel-efficient choice, with a city fuel economy of 27 mpg and a highway fuel economy of 29 mpg. However, the other alternatives aren’t far behind, with the 400-hp Explorer ST achieving 25 miles per gallon in the cities.
Interior
The inside of the Explorer was created with practicality and convenience in mind. For instance, now that Ford has installed a mechanism that moves the second-row seat to enable for simpler entry and egress to the back of the car, it’s much easier to get into the third-row seats.
It’s possible to place 31 carry-on-sized luggage further into the vehicle with both the second and third rows folded down, and four when both rows of seats remain up.
Safety Features
If protection is a priority, as it always is, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the 2021 version a five-star rating (NHTSA). On top of the NHTSA’s five-star rating, each model comes standard with a lane-departure warning system with lane-keeping assist, blind-spot tracking, and a rear-cross-traffic warning forward-collision alert system with automatic emergency braking.
The 2021 Ford Explorer is a spacious, properly equipped midsize SUV with a variety of powertrain options ranging from a basic 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder to a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. It has good gas mileage, which is only enhanced by the hybrid engine option. It’s safe, comfortable, and a great midsize SUV option.
Parking Assistance
Whenever parking in cramped or challenging spaces, the offered Active Park Assist allows you to negotiate parallel or perpendicular parking with the stroke of a button. It recognizes the parking place and warns the driver when it’s necessary to end and shift into neutral, where at point Active Park Assist takes over and takes care of the rest, ensuring that you’re safely parked.
2020 Ford Explorer Models
The interior of the 2020 Ford Explorer is elegant and modern, due to new materials and pleasant color schemes. A conventional tri-zone climate control system allows the entire interior to recline in comfort, while an optional twin-panel moonroof fills the cabin with light. The Explorer’s 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space is easily accessible thanks to the PowerFold® second and third-row seating.
The 2020 Explorer’s SYNC® 3 infotainment system, which has a vertically oriented 10.1-inch touchscreen display, is now at your touch. The infotainment technology makes it simple to link to your smartphone and provides smooth smartphone synchronization, so all of your preferred features and capabilities are just a tap away. Even on extended journeys, the connection is never lost thanks to available wireless charging and 4G LTE hotspot features.
2020 Explorer Performance and Engine Power
The sporty EcoBoost® engines in the 2020 Ford Explorer make it easy to drive, tow, and travel. The Explorer’s base engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter Ecoboost® 4-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The 2020 Ford Explorer achieves remarkable fuel efficiency thanks to an improved 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers up to 28 MPG on the highway, according to the EPA.
The optional 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 provides sports car-like capability and uses twin turbos to deliver power to the ground. Explorer ST designs were using the same engine, but increased power to an adrenaline-filled 400 horsepower and 415lb-ft of torque, and supply power to all four wheels kudos to the basic Intelligent 4WD framework. The limited and Platinum trim model provides 365 horsepower and 380lb-ft of torque supplied to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, yet still, handle to come back a remarkable EPA-estimated 27MPG.
The 2020 Ford Explorer gives you the best of both worlds if you can’t decide between power and efficiency. A normally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 engine produces 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque in the Explorer Hybrid. The 2020 Explorer Hybrid provides an EPA-estimated 28 MPG mixed courtesy to its sophisticated hybrid-electric powertrain.
2020 Explorer Towing Capacity
The 2020 Ford Explorer delivers agile acceleration, dynamic handling, and better on and off-road characteristics as well as towing capability thanks to its nimble rear-wheel-drive layout. If correctly outfitted, the 2020 Explorer provides 600 pounds of additional towing capacity by transferring power to the back wheels. The 2020 Ford Explorer is offered with Intelligent 4WD with Terrain ManagementTM, which keeps it stable in adverse weather and on muddy routes. The energizing all-wheel-drive system features seven customizable drive modes that adjust how your Explorer responds to terrain and weather using a simple dial mechanism. There’s no better way to see the world than in a 2020 Ford Explorer, thanks to its agile form and performance-oriented technology. Come down to Cuyahoga Falls Ford to see what this elegant American SUV has to offer.
Interior
The Explorer has seats for seven people, so bring the whole family along for the ride. The Explorer’s offered tri-diamond perforated leather seats with decorative stitching set the benchmark for the Explorer’s luxury and comfort. During colder days, accessible heated outboard seats in the first and second rows keep everyone toasty, while available ActiveMotion® front seats adjust to your posture and decrease tiredness on longer travels.
Safety Features
Because of standard Ford Co-Pilot360TM, the 2020 Ford vehicles come equipped with safety technologies that other SUVs charge extra for. Automatic High Lights, which switches on your high beams autonomously in low-light circumstances and turn them off as you near other vehicles to prevent blinding other drivers, are part of this driver aid safety package. The Automatic Lane-Keeping System, for example, keeps track of your lane position and alerts you if you start to wander out of it. If this happens a few times, the system will display a coffee cup icon to remind you to take a break, encouraging safe and alert driving. Evasive Steering Assist and Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control are just two of the many useful safety mechanisms accessible.
Automatic Emergency Braking with Pre-Collision Assist is a feature of the Co-Pilot360TM safety package. The technology constantly scans the road ahead for potential risk as you travel through the city. It will issue an auditory and visual warning if it identifies a probable accident with a car or person in your path. If a collision is impending, the vehicle will immediately apply the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of the impact.
Parking Assistance
The included Active Park Assist 2.0, an indispensable function that has absolute accuracy and eliminates the uncertainty out of parallel parking, maximizes convenience. The clever system will help steer the 2020 Explorer into the parking place with just a press of a button as you continue holding the Park Assist key.
Terrain Management System
The sophisticated Terrain Management System, which was introduced in 2020, provides seven different sorts of drive settings to improve the performance of the engine. It comes in two drive modes: two-wheel drive and intelligent four-wheel drive. The options allow you to adapt the energy to the driving situations. Simply turn a dial to engage any mode, and the optional 12.3-inch digital cluster will provide useful animated images to facilitate your use.
The Terrain Management System has seven different variational to choose from:
- Normal: For regular driving on ordinary terrain with two-wheel drive.
- Trail: Increases off-road capability on muddy, ratty, and uneven ground.
- Deep Snow/Sand: Engages four-wheel driving and the mechanical locking differential to allow for wheel slippage on soft driving surfaces and narrow routes.
- Slippery: This option activates four-wheel drive when driving on snowy or icy roads.
- Sport: This mode boosts throttle response and allows for faster acceleration for improved on-road driving.
- Tow/Haul: Use this mode if towing or hauling large stuff; it improves performance.
- Eco: Eco Mode improves fuel economy and increases driving range.
Wrap Up: 2020-2021 Ford Explorer Maximum Towing Capacity
When comparing similar engines, the towing capacity of the Ford Explorer was very consistent no matter which year you were looking at. The 4 and 6 cylinder engines appeared to weigh between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds. The largest 8-cylinder engines weighed between 3,500 and 7,100 pounds. perhaps a little more. For the 2021 and 2020 Explorers, there have been four different engine options, however, the maximum towing capacity did not significantly differ. The typical towing capacity ranged from 3,000 to 5,600 pounds. The GCWR was between 7,700 to 10,800 pounds.






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