2021 Ford Explorer ST Review - Living Up To The Name!

[@TellurdogIsayhi]

To me, every time i see an explorer ST on the road, I always mistake it for a range rover (which to me is a huge compliment). Great looking SUV. I do wish the touch screen was horizontal though, instead of standing vertically. Not a huge fan of that.

[@jasonshort3047]

If you option it without the technology package, you get the smaller, 8 inch horizontal display with a cool little storage tray underneath. However you do forfeit the 14 speaker sound system and massage seats. I personally don't have a preference one way or another, but I am enjoying the heck out of my 2021 Atlas Blue ST!

[@njennings9006]

Me too lol

[@thmike]

Everytime I see a range rover I think it's an explorer st..lol

[@l.kat.t]

Same!! ☺

[@Kyody305]

Ford used to own rang rover so the designs for the newer explorers came directly from there

[@redzgirl2476]

This black one is the one I have. Its got EVERYTHING you can think of, I discover something new about it every other day, it's so much fun to drive, hell it drives itself long as you keep your hands on the wheel. It's fast, powerful, beautiful, well thought out and just looks so sexy... that tablet has dark screen modes too so it doesn't have to be white. You can change the color of the indoor lights under the dash,, doors and cup holders. I love the "ST" logo it projects onto the ground beside itself too. So many cool features and really fun to drive!!!

[@l.kat.t]

This guy is super comfortable in his own skin....LOVE IT!!

[@alfialho7722]

Great video! I’m looking to purchase one of these in a few months and that’s been the best review of this vehicle yet! I want that exact configuration. Can’t wait! Thank you

[@AgateBlackST]

St is rear wheel drive bias but the 4wd kicks in when the vehicle feels it needs it slippery mode and deep snow mode really works well too. Sport mode will put it in 4wd mode auto and normal mode it uses 2wd but will engage 4wd when it feels it needs it so the vehicle’s tires don’t slip when give it more throttle.

[@baileyeckerson7251]

The explore ST 2021 is the same as the 2020. I own the 2020 and I love it. Some of the Small touch is the St mirror lights at night and when you approach another car it will show a mustang GT, or Ford raptor depending on what drive mode you are in.

[@jasonshort3047]

I own a 21 and I am not familiar with this feature.

[@nypigskin]

So if you get the standard 6 seat model, there is a floor console that the Yeti tumbler might fit in. Also, the 150 watt receptacle is for electronic type stuff. Travel chargers and wall plug usb chargers. Not hair blow dryers or George Forman grills.

[@sheilaf3398]

Got my Explorer ST 3 days ago, love it. Thanks for the review Zack. Lots of helpful information.

[@brandon6541]

Congrats!

[@sandragaribay06]

Have you had any issues?

[@GMEMD_SD40-2]

Excellent video. Indeed, we actually bought one and agree with all that you have said. The ST badge from Ford really means something on this Explorer.

[@KaylynCollins]

I can already tell I want this car in the future. Saw one on the road and wanted to know more! Thanks Zack!

[@Ryannn..]

I just wanted to say I designed / released that load floor / handle - thanks for the compliment 🙏 great video keep up the good work!

[@cesarguzman2626]

I'm getting ready to buy one, but I'm a little hesitant cause I heard that Ford Explorers go defective very soon after purchase... is that true?

[@shirlgirl973]

Picking my ST up in 2 days!! Thanks for the review!

[@johndonohue6166]

Sorry, I'm probably too late, but just in case I'm not. Don't buy it!! Yes its beautiful, and a blast to drive, but you'll pay a ton of money for a vehicle that will not live up to your expectations. We put 20,000 miles on ours and had it in the shop 7 or 8 times. Several issues before we even put 5000 miles on it. They were minor things like cameras failing, chrome peeling off switches, black spots all over our driveway (which Ford told us was normal- funny they didn't mention that as a option when we bought it) Major issues it had was engine coils failing, several times. Hopefully if you did get it, it is not like ours but from what I read people are having a lot more problems that we even had. We never had an issue with the tranny except that its a little rough in sport mode but I think thats by design, but others are having major issues with the transmission.

[@bbrewer609]

@@johndonohue6166 I disagree, you had a lemon, that stuff yours had should never happen. Internally the 2021 production had some significant changes at Chicago Assembly Plant so hopefully these wont be an issue. Its still a better SUV then anything else in its segment.

[@johndonohue6166]

I hope you're right, I don't think anyone loved that vehicle more than I did. Its why I was so disappointed with it. And rather than chase down the lemon law we traded it in for something else. But I will say it wasn't just an isolated instance they have had many many problems and some much worse than ours thats why I try to warn people before they buy them. Ofcourse nobody wants to hear that when they like thier truck so much.. I know I didn't.

[@colin6769]

Hope it's all u expected and more Shirl -- mine will be ready this Friday (26th) and I can't wait.

[@shirlgirl973]

@@colin6769 I absolutely love it! It handles our Chicago snow very well!! Beautiful weather today and I had the windows rolled down and took her for a drive!

[@cwsosby]

I love my 23" now that we figured out what that annoying clunk was coming from the front end. It took two trips to the dealership and a loaner car, but I got it back and while they were removing the right front strut for replacement they noticed the upper bearing had separated. So they installed a new RF strut, upper bearing, strut mount, and did an alignment. Reading through the invoice it says “Found SSM 52405 for front strut noise and vehicle falls within build date of SSM criteria" So Ford is aware of this issue somewhere along the line. I know a lot of folks are experiencing this same issue and no one seemed to have a solution I could find. Except that the dealerships were telling them it was normal. DON'T buy that crap if yours is making what sounds like a strut or ball joint noise from the front end!! This SUV runs like a bat out of hell, especially in sport mode. It has a stiff ride and handles like a go cart instead of a 4600lb SUV. I'm doing the ST Experience in Asheville next month and can't wait!!

[@bbrewer609]

Nice review, I own a 2021 Explorer ST and love it. Only negative is SYNC3, other Ford 2021 models are getting SYNC4 so this is a real negative. Updates are still not possible through WIFI even though they market they are available. The other bummer is the Wireless charging pad for the phone will not except the larger phones, I have a iPhone12 Pro Max and in the case it doesn't fit.

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

You left the same comment like a month ago

[@bbrewer609]

@@HollerAtcherBoi i have to repeatedly remind the Ford people that read this that SYNC3 still sucks

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

@@bbrewer609 nah, you don’t. One comment is enough

[@sinanuluc5143]

this is the SUV that looks as cool and boxy as the Ranger Rover series but not as expensive.

[@chrisabbott6982]

Bro you have to push the bottle down to retract the little stabilizer’s. That cup would of absolutely fit if you pushed it down

[@cwqrpportable]

I agree, that tablet is bad ass, just like the rest of the SUV. Wicked fast, fantastic design. Good job Ford

[@colin6769]

Awesome video Zack thanks for sharing. I believe the power outlets are limited to 150 watts tho -- so only low draw appliances. Mine is coming Friday 26 Feb and really lookin forward to it tho it will take some getting used to that portrait tablet. Cheers.

[@nahomicastillo9705]

I heard Packey Webb and I literally screamed out OMG 😳😳

[@LRBP]

Engineer #1: Well done everybody Engineer #2: Shit, we forgot the infotainment screen!! Engineer #3: No worries, pass me the glue...

[@robbierabby1848]

that's awesome Luis

[@cuuppaajoe]

That huge iPad in portrait is not nit-picking, it’s a deal-breaker.

[@francorama6400]

Drive a 2011 Ford explorer rn and I'm salivating over this one

[@cameronhibbler1876]

I know. I like this car, too. The redesign from the previous generation, looks awesome!

[@WhiskeyRiver0]

About to get one tomorrow cant decide between captain chairs and bench.

[@josephharrison6751]

new drinking game..every time he says "Absolutely" take a shot

[@scottt5521]

It is also a IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+

[@csalas1303]

When I start mines up in the morning it makes a loud truck like sound then it goes silent . Is that normal for other st owners? Also for the apple car play if your phone is not up to date it can freeze your entire sound and it takes 1-4 days to work again. What I did was buy a charger for the car and use Bluetooth for music and phone. Incase anyone needs a solution to that issue 🤪

[@stevenstavropoulos8858]

from one of the guys drinking coffee and monsters who animated the drive mode screens - thank you for noticing haha

[@Dad_of_War]

That con-plate is awesome, I'm going to get one!

[@El_Gato718]

Great review 👍🏼 I had a RT Durango but this ST is dope. Only complaint is the Tow rating sucks compared to a Durango.

[@PugLifeRocks]

Hey Zack, why doesn’t the Ford Edge ST have the same instrument cluster? 21 Escape and Explorer received new instrument clusters but not the 21 Edge???

[@goldenhorshoe4814]

I so am gonna trade my escape in for one of these explorer st. Such a bad ass suv. I thought it had a v8 in it for a moment cause the 6 growls like the 8

[@6862ptc]

Ford dealers are happy to sell you a vehicle but they can't currently repair cars due to a Ford parts shortage. Something they don't tell you when you buy a Ford. Ford blames COVID but according to my body shop (a nationwide chain) they have no problem getting parts for GM, Chrysler, Kia's etc. So if you're in a fender bender or a part fails on your Ford, it CAN'T BE FIXED. My 2021 Explorer has been sitting at a body shop for 2 months after we hit a deer and did relatively minor damage on it. Ford has no idea when they will be able to get parts and they refuse to pay for a rental car. They refuse to offer a loaner car. I'm currently in the process of filing a claim in Civil Court. The car may not be a lemon but the Ford product support and customer relations certainly is.

[@MandusahRamirez]

Funny how My 2016 Explorer Explorer Sport has .5 more liters than This 2021 but has less Horsepower and Torque🤔

[@spencershipley4349]

The power of ecoboost!

[@colin6769]

Justen your 3.5 can be tuned for much more. Ford was very conservative. My SHO Taurus put out even more than this ST

[@breadfan9]

"IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE GLUED A TABLET TO THE DASH.........AND IT LOOKS GREAT" Say that to yourself again out loud.

[@michaelgoverde3009]

he said someone not apple

[@BirdsFn4Life]

Looks kind of strange to me.

[@JMillz512]

My next truck...What gas does this take? Regular or Premium?

[@nypigskin]

It's recommended to use 87 but performs better with 91 and above.

[@quantumdave1592]

Is it fast? Did you mention that?

[@MJ_on_YouTube]

The negative is that Ford joined the bandwagon on slapping a stupid tablet on the dash like all the other car companies. I wish this trend would die already. To me, it is pure laziness in not integrating the infotainment screen into the dash.

[@jfdoherty3448]

What an excellent review. Great videography!! Just subscribed!!

[@Killiecrankie1314]

Great review. Great name for a channel! Looks like a nice car - for a v-6.

[@jeremiahhahn5107]

Can I get black rims and a black grill on the platinum?

[@manueljr2974]

I thinkin of getting this Explorer or should I wait for the 2022 🤔

[@csalas1303]

No need to wait get it now and feel the vybes😅

[@anden9967]

I want to see a stock launch from outside

[@Pall_Bearmasher]

7 miles to empty, jesus do any dealers ever keep more than a 1/4 tank of fuel in their vehicles?

[@chrisjordan8077]

Just laughed my ass off! Subscribed! Good stuff!

[@zacharyholgate7968]

I just wrote a check for a new 2021 $65,250 Ford Explorer ST in white as a first car at age 20 also we share the same first name however I spell it Zachary and not with a K, also my insurance provider must be pissed that I just bought a fully-loaded 2021 400 HP Ford Explorer ST because now he has to provide me full coverage LOL. EDIT my Ford Explorer ST was custom ordered off of Ford's website in the build and price section.

[@newyoricanlevitenyrican9592]

🤔🤔🤔🤔why would your insurance provider be pissed about the fact that you have to pay more to get full coverage as opposed to paying less for liability... the more you have to pay the provider, the better it is for them... that's why they're all too happy to offer you full coverage whenever you purchase a brand new vehicle

[@bbrewer609]

Its great vehicle, I own a 2021 Explorer ST and love it, most of it, SYNC3 sucks, its terrible, its still got laggy screens, buttons don't work and reboots once and while. While other Ford 2021 model got SYNC4 this vehicle only got SYNC3. The other issue is the wireless charger, if you have a larger cell-phone like an iPhone 11 or 12 PRO MAX it wont fit in the wireless charge pad. Absolutely brutal engineering by Ford but so is SYNC3.

[@johndonohue6166]

Ours was awesome.. for the first 5000 miles.. then one issue after the other. Engine coils being the worst, they failed several times. Got rid of it at little over 20,000 miles and had it in the shop 7 or 8 times. I hope in your case they worked out the bugs for 2021.. but our 2020 experience has me warning people. I hate Ford for making such an awesome looking and powerful truck that was so unreliable. Ford you Suck!!

[@christopherbrown1391]

The tablet screen could be better integrated but that’s minor problem compared to what you guys going through

[@willie9397]

put this power train in the ranger, WOO HOO!! that tablet, ugly imo

[@rich4860]

Got one... Black on Black on Black... whoo-hoo!!!

[@shrappy7705]

Now THIS would be the perfect realistic daily, fast when you want it to be yet respectable for the grandparents. And it can beat a trackhawk when its on meth 😂

[@kilo3-186]

I have a 2020 explorer ST, its by far the best daily there is. FAST as Sh1t and stops on a dime. FYI, when you buy one of these you get to go to a driving school in either Utah or Asheville. We went to the Asheville one & we thought we knew how capable the ST was. boy were we wrong. you truly didn't know how much of a beast it really was until its on that track of theirs.

[@kilo3-186]

and almost forgot about MPG>>>>>> I get 21.2 MPG

[@colin6769]

That is some respectable power.

[@colin6769]

@@kilo3-186 Yeah saw that and wanted to go but with Covid messin things up we can't cross border; bummer. That looks like a really good deal. Hoping I get a rain cheque.

[@kippnovak9833]

When it's on meth...lol...nice one

[@Desertmoto]

Great review! Subbed

[@infernoking7504]

In a small crash the rear subframe is high strength steel so any minor accident will cost you tons of money

[@brandonr4427]

insurance...

[@kingdarius5252]

This is such a poseur vehicle. A guy on my street has a dark colored 2021 Explorer, not the ST. It's so obvious he wants people to think he has a police interceptor. The general way he behaves and drives. He isn't fooling me!

[@emilp2710]

Looking to buy this next month when my current lease is up. The 2020 had a laggy infotainment. Did they fix it for 2021?

[@JBrown-go8ru]

2021 is still, Sync 3. Regardless, I have a 2020 ST, and the infotainment doesn’t bother me. I’m no power user though. I just have some Jazz playing, while I cruise the roads.

[@emilp2710]

@@JBrown-go8ru thank you for your reply. It’s not big issue. Love the ST can’t wait to get it.

[@johndonohue6166]

Don't do it! Sorry, if you read my comments above.. you'll see as much as I loved this truck.. it was unreliable and with just over 20,000 miles on our 2020 ST had been in the shop 7 or 8 times for different issues including several engine coils that failed. Blast to drive when it worked right but way too many issues.

[@emilp2710]

@@johndonohue6166 Thank you for telling me. I seriously have to think about it now.

[@johndonohue6166]

@@emilp2710 you're welcome! I really loved that truck and I hope they get all the bugs worked out but ours was a huge dissapointment and an expensive one at that. I knew going into it it wasn't a great idea to buy a all new vehicle but dang that one is so nice! Truth is my wife surprised me with it so it wasn't all on me lol. We replaced it with a Genesis GV80... another all new truck, some people never learn lol. But this one is a whole other level, not quite as fast but close and the attention to detail is above and beyond but ofcourse you pay for it.

[@enriquepadilla7256]

Who would've thought Ford would actually make a better looking performance SUV than Lamborghini. Sorry but it's true

[@johndonohue6166]

Just traded in our 2020 Explorer ST. Awesome Truck... if it was all that it was supposed to be. Nothing like putting your foot to the floor an feeling 400hp in an SUV that looks just awesome. Problem is, it was put together poorly. Had lots of issues. Including coils that failed several times. We put 20,000 miles on ours and was in the shop 7 or 8 times. I was so sad to get rid of this thing. I really liked it but it was unreliable and had way to many issues. Funny thing, I met the new owner.. pulled up beside me at the car wash. Nice guy, I really hope he doesn't have anymore issues but I highly recommend not buying this vehicle.

[@JBrown-go8ru]

Your experience isn't the norm though, and is definitely an outlier. Seven, or eight times in the shop, with 20K miles on the truck, for "issues." You unfortunately must have gotten a lemon, however, most ST owners are enjoying their vehicle, trouble free.

[@adobeacrobat8747]

@@JBrown-go8ru All owners are enjoying their explorer "st" or explorer in general?

[@ScoobyDrewski]

I test drove a 2020 model and had a problem with the brakes not working, I was just pulling in the garage at low speed, hope they fixed this problem, but it kept me from getting it, I ended up getting the 21 f150 powerboost couldn't be happier.

[@AraCarrano]

Good luck plugging in 1000w devices into a 150w outlet.

[@georgewatts9361]

Great review

[@mr.d9922]

I really want to like it, but the "tablet" touch screen seems like such an afterthought. same goes for a few other vehicles. it needs to be integrated into the dash. I can't stand that look in cars...but that AWD and 400hp/lbs...yum

[@douglascrawford4791]

What was the bottom line on this baby

[@wardellward]

Wut about the edge st

[@black_n5492]

"Someone glued a tablet to the dash.... It looks great". Agree to disagree there, sir. It's the most basic and lazy design approach in my humble opinion

[@benweatherly4026]

REVIEW A GRUMMAN LLV

[@PD9531041]

Peter Griffin reviews a Ford Explorer ST. Hmmm..touche' salesman.

[@alfredopatin]

0:52 how the hell did you drive a 2024 explorer???😂

[@elizabethramirez417]

He said 2020 Ford Explorer

[@keeperzero]

Spencer looks like he's 12 years old

[@huili3088]

I hear piped in fake sound

[@spencershipley4349]

Soon to be my daily driver.

[@johndonohue6166]

Don't do it! As beautiful as it is, and incredible to drive when its working right.. Our ST had tons of issues including engine coils failing several times. I was so sad to get rid of ours but it was unreliable and I hate Ford for making such a awesome vehicle that was just junk.

[@JM-dk4ec]

@@johndonohue6166 you got a lemon just because it happened to you doesn’t mean everyone will experience the same issue.

[@johndonohue6166]

@@JM-dk4ec The problem is Ford put out a lot of Lemons with that model. I hope they got their act together for 2021. Most of the issues with our ST was due to careless mistakes and a lack of attention to detail. But the coil packs failing several times with only 5k miles the first time and two others failing at 20k that was the last straw. I’ve been working on cars for nearly 30 years, and I can tell you Ford dropped the ball on this one. Such an incredible truck if it was reliable and it just isn’t. Everyone loves this truck until they start having problems. It’s Gorgeous and it’s Fast! Not to mention all the cool features... I really do hope y’all don’t have the same experience I had I just was letting people know to do some research before buying it.

[@JM-dk4ec]

@@johndonohue6166 I haven’t bought it myself yet, I’m still on my 2017 Toyota Camry but looking to upgrade to a suv.

[@Mike060504]

Not one problem with mine 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@boris.c1786]

Different car and different price

[@randymctavish3728]

Too bad they are so expensive

[@CaptainCJ97]

It really looks like someone guled a tablet to it

[@michaelmacias9124]

People will be wasting $50k on an unreliable American made car. They should wait for the 2022 Honda Pilot. Hondas are more reliable

[@user-ri4qk1xy3c]

Honda’s are ugly.

[@kingdarius5252]

@@user-ri4qk1xy3c Understatement!

[@jimthompson717]

Honda? Bland, numb, boring. Perfect for some.