The 2026 Ford Explorer centers every trim on a 13.2-inch Android-based touchscreen with built-in Google Maps and a 12.3-inch digital cluster. That is a substantial upgrade from the previous generation’s smaller, older infotainment architecture. This page covers the full interior feature set across every trim, with inventory available at Greg Hubler Ford.
The 2026 Explorer cabin is built around two digital screens, a genuine 7-passenger layout, and enough USB coverage for every row. Every trim ships with the Ford Digital Experience, a 13.2-inch center display running an Android-based OS with native Google Assistant integration. Flanking it is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that gives the driver a configurable view of navigation, driver-assist status, and media.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board, and a 5G modem replaces the previous FordPass Connect module, so the Explorer acts as a mobile hotspot without the bandwidth bottleneck of older LTE hardware.
Cargo flexibility reinforces the tech story. The Explorer carries up to 85.8 cubic feet of total cargo space when all rear seats are folded, and 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row with all seven seats occupied. That figure makes it genuinely useful for daily grocery runs without sacrificing the third row.
The Ford Digital Experience pairs the 13.2-inch touchscreen with Google Maps as the native navigation system, which means real-time traffic data and Points of Interest are drawn from the same Google infrastructure used on Android phones, not a proprietary map database that requires paid updates.
Google Assistant responds to voice commands, letting the driver adjust climate, send messages, or find a destination without touching the screen. The 5G modem keeps that connection fast enough to matter on Indiana highways between Muncie and Indianapolis.
BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-free highway driving system, adds Automatic Lane Change capability on supported trim levels. The system uses a forward-facing camera and high-definition mapping to keep the Explorer centered in its lane on pre-qualified highways, with the Automatic Lane Change feature initiating a pass when the lane is clear. BlueCruise is an available option on the ST-Line and above, and comes standard on the Platinum trim. BlueCruise qualifying roads
The B&O 10-speaker sound system is standard on the ST-Line. Shoppers who want more can opt for the B&O 980-Watt, 14-speaker system with a dedicated subwoofer, available on Tremor, ST, and Platinum. SiriusXM with 360L is standard on every trim with a 3-month prepaid subscription.
Interior content scales noticeably as you move up the Explorer lineup.
Unique cloth seating, a 6-way power driver seat, and four-way manual passenger seat. Active Noise Cancellation is standard on the 200A. USB ports cover the first and second rows, and the third row gains two USB-C ports on the 200A. The 13.2-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch cluster are standard on both.
This trim marks the entry point for a meaningful interior step-up. ActiveX seating material with red stitching, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching, a 10-way power driver seat, an 8-way power passenger seat, and second-row heated seats all come standard. Front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera with Split View are standard here as well. The second-row 35/30/35 split-fold-flat bench seat is standard, giving flexibility between cargo and passenger use. Acoustic-laminate front side windows reduce road noise at highway speed.
Heated and ventilated front seats, ActiveX seating with Tremor logo on the front seats, second-row captain’s chairs with E-Z Entry, and second-row heated seats. The heated steering wheel gets a unique design with accent stitching and a flat-bottom profile. A 110V/150-watt AC power outlet is standard, replacing one of the 12V ports.
ActiveX seating with Miko inserts, red stitching, and the ST logo. The heated and ventilated front seats and second-row heated seats carry over from Tremor. The ST adds a sport-style flat-bottom heated steering wheel with the ST logo, power-folding side mirrors with ST projection lamps, and PowerFold third-row seats. An auto-dimming rearview mirror is standard. The Driver Information Display gets ST-specific theming.
The Platinum cabin uses genuine leather seating surfaces with Tri-Diamond micro-perforated inserts, accent stitching, and a leather-covered center console armrest. An 8-way power driver seat and 6-way power passenger seat are standard. The B&O 980-Watt 14-speaker system is standard. Adaptive headlamps, a universal garage door opener, and power-folding mirrors with a premium finish are all standard. BlueCruise with a 1-year plus 90-day plan is standard. PowerFold third-row seats are standard.
For families in Muncie and across central Indiana, the Explorer’s interior translates into concrete daily advantages. The three rows of USB-C ports mean no one in the back seat argues over a charging cable. The 110V AC outlet on Tremor, ST, and Platinum handles a laptop or a small cooler on long road trips on I-69 or I-70.
Second-row captain’s chairs, standard on Tremor and ST, make the middle row feel closer to a minivan than a three-across bench. The E-Z Entry function tilts and slides the seat forward to give third-row passengers a real path to their seats, which matters when you are loading kids after a Muncie Mavericks game.
The 360-degree camera with Split View, standard from the ST-Line up, gives a bird’s-eye view of tight parking situations. The front parking sensors added to that trim level add an audio layer for low-speed maneuvering. Reverse Brake Assist, also standard on ST-Line and above, applies the brakes automatically if it detects a collision threat while backing up.
Active Noise Cancellation, standard from the Active 200A up, and acoustic-laminate front windows on the ST-Line and above reduce the turbulence noise that creeps into three-row SUVs at highway speeds.
The Explorer’s cabin holds its ground against the three-row competition. The 13.2-inch touchscreen outpaces the standard display sizes offered on the Chevrolet Traverse and Kia Telluride at comparable price points. Native Google Maps integration across every trim removes the need for a connected phone to run navigation, a convenience that Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot buyers pay more to access in upper trims.
BlueCruise’s hands-free operation on pre-qualified highways is a differentiator. Rival systems from Toyota and Honda require both hands on the wheel in most highway scenarios. Ford’s system works without hands on mapped routes, and the Automatic Lane Change function sets it apart further.
The B&O audio option at 980 watts and 14 speakers sits above what Traverse and Telluride offer from their standard audio partners. The Explorer is not the largest three-row SUV in this class, but its interior feature density from ST-Line upward is difficult to match without stepping into a luxury brand.
Greg Hubler Ford carries the 2026 Explorer across its trim range in Muncie, giving Indiana buyers the chance to sit in every seat, test the Ford Digital Experience, and hear the B&O system before signing anything. Explorer availability changes often, but shoppers can compare trims from Active through Platinum and check current inventory for in-stock models.
Yes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2026 Explorer trim, from the base Active through the Platinum.
The 2026 Explorer uses a 13.2-inch center touchscreen running the Ford Digital Experience, an Android-based system with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and a 5G modem built in.
Yes. The Active 200A and all higher trims include two USB-C ports in the third row. The base Active 100A does not include third-row USB ports.
The Tremor and ST both include heated and ventilated front seats as standard equipment. The Active 200A and ST-Line include heated front seats only.
BlueCruise with hands-free highway driving and Automatic Lane Change is available as an option on the Active 200A, ST-Line, Tremor, and ST. It is standard on the Platinum trim with a 1-year plus 90-day subscription included.
The base Active trims include a six-speaker AM/FM/MP3 system. The ST-Line and Tremor are standard with a B&O 10-speaker system. The Platinum is standard with the B&O 980-Watt 14-speaker system with a subwoofer, which is also available as an upgrade on Tremor and ST.
Yes. A 360-degree camera with Split View is standard on the ST-Line, Tremor, ST, and Platinum. It is not included on the Active 100A or Active 200A.
Most trims include second-row captain’s chairs with E-Z Entry as standard. An optional second-row 35/30/35 split-fold-flat bench seat is available on Active, and is standard on the ST-Line. The Tremor comes standard with captain’s chairs.
