Tremor No.5: Ford Expands Explorer Lineup With New Off-Road Trim
On the sidelines of our first drive of the 2025 Ford Expedition earlier in May, the folks from Dearborn had also planned a highly confidential debut. Indeed, we were not allowed to discuss the fifth member of the Tremor family until today.
For 2026, Ford is adding a Tremor variant to its Explorer lineup—a formula that seems to be attracting more and more consumers in recent years. Adventure sells, judging by what's currently available on the market.
- Also: Ford to Expand Off-Road Lineup With Explorer Tremor
- Also: 2025 Ford Expedition Boasts Fancy New Interior, Rugged Tremor Model
A More Off-Road Capable Explorer
Other vehicles bearing the Tremor badge already benefit from a series of modifications designed to help drivers when conditions get tougher. The new Explorer Tremor sticks closely to that winning recipe. Sure, it’s not about to rival a Ford Bronco or even a Raptor pickup in that department, but the engineers working on this project made sure to properly outfit the three-row SUV.
That’s why the Explorer Tremor rolls out of the factory with unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Also worth noting is the “Burnt Spice” accent on one of the spokes of each wheel. This Tremor-specific finish also appears in the middle of the front grille, on the tow hooks, the rear bumper and the badges. There’s additional underbody protection, as well, and ground clearance has been raised by one inch. That’s not all—the Tremor variant also receives a Torsen limited-slip differential on the rear axle, a crucial component for maintaining traction on challenging terrain.
Rounding things out, the 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor also features a pair of high-intensity LED offroad lamps integrated into the front grille. As for the powertrain, the standard turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine produces 300 horsepower, while the optional twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 delivers 400 horsepower. In order to better tackle mildly rugged terrain, the Tremor’s suspension setup (shocks, anti-roll bars, etc.) is unique to this model. Therefore, you can expect a ride that’s softer than that of the Explorer ST, for example.
Tremor Vibes
While less extreme than a Ford Bronco Raptor, the Explorer Tremor still features a few exclusive design touches, starting with “Burnt Spice” contrast stitching on the steering wheel, seats, dashboard and even the door panels. The seats, consisting of a mix of leather and suede, are embroidered with the Tremor logo just beneath the front headrests. Nothing to write home about, but still worth a mention. Also, we appreciate the darker interior theme—especially for the carpets and seats—which makes a lot of sense when the vehicle ventures down dusty trails, where light-coloured surfaces would be much harder to keep clean.
Positioned higher in the Explorer lineup, this off-road variant finds itself in a favourable space when it comes to standard and optional features. BlueCruise 1.5, Ford’s hands-free driving tech, is available and perfect for those who want a break during long highway drives. This system works on over 200,000 km of compatible roads across North America and even offers automatic lane changes without driver input.
With the optional Ford Connectivity package, users can surf the web and take advantage of built-in Google apps. The Co-Pilot360 2.0 system is also part of the mix—another suite of features aimed at keeping occupants safe. And finally, a premium 14-speaker sound system from Bang & Olufsen will please drivers who place even minimal importance on their in-car audio experience.
Order books for the new 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor officially open today, with the first units due later in 2025. Pricing has not yet been announced, but it is expected to land just below the Platinum and ST models.