2026 Ford Explorer Timberline

SUV · 2.3L I4 EcoBoost Turbo · AWD

80/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	2.3L I4 EcoBoost Turbo
Horsepower	300 hp
Torque	310 lb-ft
0–60 mph	6.5 sec
Top speed	130 mph
Drivetrain	AWD
Seats	7
Combined MPG	21 mpg (18 city / 24 hwy)
Range	389 miles
MSRP	$54,995
Body style	SUV

The verdict

What's good

Timberline off-road package adds genuine capability without price premium
Three-row layout keeps it practical for family buyers needing trail access
Available tow rating puts it ahead of several three-row competitors
Bold exterior stance matches actual capability unlike cosmetic packages

What's not

Fuel economy is among the lower figures in the mid-size SUV class
Owner reliability ratings trail Japanese rivals over multi-year ownership
Third row is best reserved for children on longer journeys
SYNC infotainment update cadence has been inconsistent

The engine

EcoBoost

2.3L Turbo I4

A punchy, free-revving four that delivers a flat wave of torque and a surprisingly characterful turbo growl, doing the work of a much larger engine.

A stroked evolution of Ford's Mazda-derived four-cylinder line, this 2.3L EcoBoost is built in Valencia, Spain, and debuted in the 2015 Mustang and Lincoln MKC.

It marked the first turbo-four Mustang since the mid-1980s SVO, reviving four-cylinder pony-car heritage.
In hotter tune it powered the 350-hp Focus RS, complete with a tire-shredding 'Drift Mode'.
The Mustang application uses a unique low-inertia twin-scroll turbo to sharpen throttle response.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 80 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault