The 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum: The Ultimate Family SUV

If you’re in the market for a family SUV that checks every box, space, luxury, technology, safety, and performance look no further than the 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum. At Soerens Ford in Brookfield, we’re proud to offer this flagship SUV to Wisconsin families who refuse to compromise. Whether you’re hauling the whole crew to a Friday night game or heading up north for the weekend, the Explorer Platinum is built to make every mile count.

Let’s take a deep dive into why the 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum is, simply put, the best family SUV on the road today.

Room for Everyone (and Everything)

A great family SUV starts with space and the Explorer Platinum delivers in spades. Stretching nearly 199 inches in length with a 119.1-inch wheelbase, this three-row SUV comfortably seats up to seven passengers, or six in the available captain’s chair configuration. Whether you have toddlers in car seats, teens who need legroom, or grandparents coming along for the ride, there’s a seat for everyone.

Behind the third row, you’ll find 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, plenty for a week’s worth of groceries or a full set of hockey gear. Fold the seats down and that expands to an impressive 85.8 cubic feet, so road trips, Home Depot runs, and everything in between are covered. The standard PowerFold third-row seats make reconfiguring the cabin quick and effortless.

A Cabin Built for Luxury Living

Step inside the 2026 Explorer Platinum and you’ll immediately feel the difference from lesser trims. This is a premium cabin through and through, with Lux Leather seating surfaces featuring quilting and stitching on both the seats and door panels. The front seats are heated, ventilated, and offer a massaging function because parents deserve a little comfort too.

Second-row passengers aren’t forgotten either, with heated second-row seats keeping the whole family warm during Wisconsin winters. Tri-zone automatic climate control means the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers can each dial in their preferred temperature. Ambient lighting sets the mood, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters adds a refined, sporty feel to every drive.

The panoramic fixed glass roof with power shade floods the cabin with natural light and gives the kids a view of the stars on those late-night drives home.

Technology That Keeps Your Family Connected

The 2026 Explorer Platinum is a tech lover’s dream. At the center of it all is a 13.2-inch touchscreen running the Ford Digital Experience, which integrates Google and Amazon apps right out of the box. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so you can seamlessly pick up where you left off on your phone no cables needed. When the vehicle is parked, the system even supports video streaming, which the kids will love on long trips.

Keeping an eye on the road ahead is the 12.3-inch digital cluster display, giving the driver a clear, customizable view of speed, navigation, and vehicle data. And for audiophiles in the family, the 14-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen delivers concert-hall quality sound that makes every playlist come alive.

A built-in 5G modem keeps everyone connected with an unlimited Wi-Fi hotspot, so nobody has to worry about burning through their data plan on the road.

Ford BlueCruise: Hands-Free Peace of Mind

One of the most talked-about features on the 2026 Explorer Platinum is Ford BlueCruise, the hands-free highway driving technology that takes the stress out of long hauls. On pre-mapped highways, BlueCruise lets the vehicle handle speed, steering, and lane-keeping so you can focus on the conversation instead of the commute. Every Platinum comes with a 90-day trial, with options to extend the subscription for longer-term use.

For Wisconsin families making regular trips up to Door County, the Dells, or the Twin Cities, this feature alone is a game-changer.

Safety You Can Count On

When it comes to your family, safety is non-negotiable. The 2026 Explorer Platinum comes loaded with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, one of the most comprehensive driver-assist suites in its class. Standard features include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control — maintains a safe following distance automatically
• Lane-Keeping Assist — gently steers you back if you drift
• Forward-Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking — can help prevent or reduce the severity of front-end collisions
• Blind-Spot Monitoring — keeps an eye on your flanks during lane changes
• 360-Degree Camera — makes parking in tight lots a breeze
• Reverse Brake Assist — helps prevent low-speed backing accidents
• SOS Post-Crash Alert — automatically alerts emergency services after a collision

Add in the standard AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, trailer sway control, and side-wind stabilization, and you’ve got an SUV engineered to protect what matters most.

Power and Capability for Real Life

The Explorer Platinum starts with Ford’s proven 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque through a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission. Need more punch? An available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 bumps output even further for those who want extra performance on the open road.

Rear-wheel drive is standard, with Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive available for those Wisconsin winters where AWD is essential. The Terrain Management System gives you six selectable drive modes — Normal, Eco, Sport, Tow/Haul, Slippery, and Off-Road so you’re always dialed in for the conditions ahead.

And when you need to tow? The Explorer Platinum can pull up to 5,000 pounds, making it capable of hauling a boat to Lake Michigan, a camper up north, or a trailer full of gear for whatever the season demands.

Stunning Style Inside and Out

The 2026 Explorer Platinum arrives with a commanding presence thanks to its refined exterior refresh, revised front and rear fascias, model-specific 20-inch Luster Nickel-Painted Aluminum Wheels, adaptive headlamps, and power-folding sideview mirrors. Choose from five exterior colors including Star White Metallic Tri-Coat, Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Agate Black Metallic, Space White Metallic, and Carbonized Gray Metallic.

Inside, two sophisticated interior color choices, Mojave Dusk and Salt Crystal Gray, let you personalize the cabin to match your style.

Come See It at Soerens Ford in Brookfield

The 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum starts at $52,660 for RWD and $54,660 with Intelligent 4WD, a strong value for everything this SUV brings to the table.

At Soerens Ford, we believe every Wisconsin family deserves to drive something exceptional. Our team is here to walk you through every feature, help you find the right configuration, and get you behind the wheel for a test drive. Stop in and see us at our Brookfield dealership, browse our current Explorer Platinum inventory online, or give us a call today.

Your family’s next adventure starts at Soerens Ford.