Thrills Both On-Road and Off: Performance-Focused Trims of the 2024 Explorer

The Explorer is a versatile SUV that can be customized to fit your needs. Looking for a comfortable, safe, and practical family car? There’s a trim for that. Want a lush, luxurious model packed with all the best comfort and convenience figures? There’s a trim for that, too. With multiple powertrains and plenty of available features, there’s an Explorer for everyone.

Today, we’re going to dig into the Explorer models that are focused on performance. Whether you’re seeking off-road adventures in a rugged vehicle or want to get your thrills on the open road, there’s something for you here. Of course, you can find the Ford Explorer for sale here at Pauli Ford, no matter what trim suits your fancy. We’re here to ensure you get a quality vehicle that’s 100% perfect for your driving style.

Explorer Overview

The Explorer is a three-row SUV featuring a spacious interior with room for up to seven passengers and plenty of cargo. Like most three-row SUVs, the interior can be reconfigured to turn passenger space into extra cargo volume if you need to bring anything big and bulky along for the ride. At the same time, the Explorer’s highly capable powertrains allow you to tow a trailer for even more space. The 2024 model comes standard with all kinds of tech features, including a sizeable eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and a full suite of driver-assistance technology that includes basics like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist and well as extras like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Best Performance Trims: ST & Timberline

There are two main types of drivers looking for high-performance vehicles, and the Explorer has a trim for each. Those who want extra strength for traversing unpaved roads, cutting loose on OHV trails, or leaving behind the beaten path altogether have the rugged Timberline, which has the specialized equipment you need to drive off-road. Want to put the pedal to the metal on paved roads instead? You can get the power and control you’re looking for with the capable ST trim.

Power & Handling

The Timberline trim comes standard with a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 engine capable of producing up to 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That power lets you handle uneven terrain without breaking a sweat. Perhaps more importantly, the Timberline comes standard with Ford’s Intelligent 4WD system, which features seven selectable drive modes so you can get your stability control and traction control settings just right for the situation at hand, from slippery roads, trails, deep snow, and sand. The system also features hill descent control, so you can confidently tackle those steep grades.

On the other hand, the ST has different priorities since it’s designed for on-road action. It comes with rear-wheel drive, with AWD as an available upgrade rather than a standard feature. What does come standard is a 3.0L EcoBoost Turbo V6 engine that can churn out up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, letting you zip from zero to sixty in as little as 5.3 seconds. The ST also has a sport-tuned independent front and rear suspension, improving driving dynamics for a better ride.

Like all of the Explorer trims, both the Timberline and ST feature a 10-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly for a great ride at any speed. And unlike more basic trims, these two performance models also feature paddle shifters in the steering wheel, which combines the benefits of automatic transmission with those of a manual for a perfect balance between convenience and control.

Exterior Features

The outside of the ST has both practical features that improve performance and styling touches that give it a signature sporty look. Those quad chrome exhaust tips in the rear perform both functions simultaneously, as does a body-color rear spoiler. On the purely style side, the ST features plenty of sharp black accents, like a liftgate appliqué, rear fascia appliqué, mesh grille insert, and lower bodyside cladding. The headlamps and taillamps also have a unique blackout treatment that complements the overall look.

Changes to the Timberline’s exterior are even more significant since driving off-road is a different beast from performing well on pavement. In fact, the entire design of the Timberline’s body is different from other Explorer models, with a smaller rear overhang and additional height. This gives the off-road trim more ground clearance for driving over bumps and obstacles and offers better figures for the angle of approach, angle of departure, and ramp break-over angle, so you can handle the unpredictable surfaces off-road.

Tow hooks in the front make the Timberline easy to recover if you get stuck off-road. Steel skid plates prevent trouble from happening in the first place by protecting vital underbody components from stray roots and rocks, while the limited-slip rear axle gives you the traction you need when a wheel gets stuck in the mud. Up front, the Timberline’s grille features dealer-installed Ford Performance auxiliary lights that give you extra visibility to spot rough patches on the trails at night. Despite the pragmatic design, the Timberline’s exterior isn’t all work and no play—it features some fun aesthetic touches like the blacked-out headlamps and taillamps, black and chrome-accented lower bodyside cladding, and dark, carbonized gray accents.

Interior Features

As higher-tier trims, both the Timberline and ST come standard with plenty of comfort and convenience features that improve the look and feel of the interior. Both have a standard 10-way power-adjustable driver seat that lets you find a position that’s just right for your body. Second-row captain’s seats with armrests let your passengers get comfy, too, enjoying the luxury of a reclining chair in an SUV cabin. First-row heated seats help you fight against winter chill, while tri-zone automatic climate control lets everyone get their temperature just right for either summer or winter.

The ST seats are leather-trimmed with micro-perforated inserts, silver accent stitching, and incorporated ST logos for a classy look. The Timberline has more of a sporty vibe, with easy-to-clean ActiveX trim on the seats, gray heathered cloth inserts, bold tangerine stitching, and the Timberline logo. Both trims have a heated steering wheel, with the Timberline’s wrapped in tangerine-tinted stitched leather, while the ST’s features a more sport-style wrap displaying its bold logo.

A Trim For All Drivers

It’s impossible to say whether the ST or Timberline trim is “better” because each one is designed for a specific purpose. You might as well ask whether racing or off-roading is better; it depends on your preference. Ultimately, the important thing is that each trim comes with the features you need to tackle your activity of choice. Inside and out, the Timberline has what you need for unpredictable driving on rough surfaces, and the ST has what you need to get a rush of adrenaline during a freeway joyride.

If you want to learn more about these two trims and all the other great vehicles in Ford’s lineup, you’re in the right place. Here at Pauli Ford, we know that more information always comes in handy and that drivers who know their choices well are best equipped for making good, long-term investments. So feel free to ask us any questions, whether online, over the phone, or in person. And if you want to get a real sense of the similarities and differences between these models, you can always visit us in Saint Johns for a test drive or two. There’s no substitute for getting behind the wheel.