Picked up my 2025 Ford Explore ST last week

[Mr-Stang]

I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
ST Projection Lamps (really miss this one)
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Standard USB-A plugs (All USB-C Now, which is a good thing)
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
No longer comes with tray storage inside armrest
No longer includes all covers for hidden trunk storage
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise
LJS

 

[hbalek]

I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
ST Projection Lamps (really miss this one)
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Standard USB-A plugs (All USB-C Now, which is a good thing)
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
No longer comes with tray storage inside armrest
No longer includes all covers for hidden trunk storage
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise
LJS

A lot of these are deal-breakers for me! I love the hands-free liftgate and active park assist. The projection lamps are things I am still enamored with after 5 years and people who don't even care about such things notice and give me compliments on them. I have driven an Escape and a Bronco Sport recently and the spinning gear selector thing is really annoying on those vehicles. The drive mode dial always spun around as well as the volume knob on my 2020. So as much as the new interior looks and feels nicer than the previous version sounds like a lot of substantive items are gone forever!