2022 or 2025 Explorer… Which One Makes More Sense?

Thinking about a 2022 XLT with 23,000 miles, leather seats, and 4 captain’s chairs for $34K out the door, or a 2025 Active with cloth seats, a rear bench, and a tow package for $44K. That $10K difference stings a bit. What do you guys think?

Update: Got them to knock off $1K and added a 5-year/125K-mile extended warranty. Ended up at $36,200 for the 2022. Not a steal, but not a ripoff either. Just too busy to keep looking. Should be fine—appreciate all the input!

Personally, I’d have a hard time with a base model. The extra features on the XLT would be worth it for me. Also, the 2025 price seems kind of high.

Hux said:
Personally, I’d have a hard time with a base model. The extra features on the XLT would be worth it for me. Also, the 2025 price seems kind of high.

The Active trim is actually pretty decent for a ‘base model’ since they only offer four trims for 2025.

@Sky
Yeah, I think the Active is really solid, but saving $10K on the XLT is hard to ignore.

Sterling said:
@Sky
Yeah, I think the Active is really solid, but saving $10K on the XLT is hard to ignore.

That’s exactly where I’m stuck. New sounds great—more warranty time, etc.—but is it $10K better?

@Voss
You can negotiate an extended warranty. I did that, and now my drivetrain warranty covers the life of my loan. Bumper-to-bumper is 36 months.

@Sky
Base models always seem like a good deal at first, but later on, you start wishing you had some of those missing features.

Hux said:
@Sky
Base models always seem like a good deal at first, but later on, you start wishing you had some of those missing features.

Like what? Genuinely curious.

Sterling said:

Hux said:
@Sky
Base models always seem like a good deal at first, but later on, you start wishing you had some of those missing features.

Like what? Genuinely curious.

The best way to figure that out is by comparing trims on Ford’s website. You’ll probably notice things you didn’t think about when first looking.

@Hux
Yeah, but can you give me an example? When I got my 2021 Explorer, I wanted the hybrid, but it was too expensive, so I got the base XLT. Looking at the higher trims—Platinum, ST, Limited—the differences were minor. A couple of USB-C ports, a tow package I didn’t need, heated seats (I live in Florida, so whatever), and some plastic trim. I saved $10K skipping that stuff.

Hux said:
@Sky
Base models always seem like a good deal at first, but later on, you start wishing you had some of those missing features.

Did you check what the Active trim comes with? The main things missing compared to the Platinum are small cosmetic details and heated/cooled seats. Everything else is pretty much the same.

If I were dropping that kind of money, though, I wouldn’t get the 4-cylinder.

Hux said:
Personally, I’d have a hard time with a base model. The extra features on the XLT would be worth it for me. Also, the 2025 price seems kind of high.

The Active is actually pretty nice—heated cloth seats, tow package, AWD. Sticker price is $43K.

Hux said:
Personally, I’d have a hard time with a base model. The extra features on the XLT would be worth it for me. Also, the 2025 price seems kind of high.

Honestly, a lot of those ‘premium’ features can be added for way less than what Ford charges. Remote start? That’s just a hood switch you can bypass for free or buy for $20. Forscan tool and software cost $20 and let you enable features that are already built into all trim levels but disabled by default. You can also install fog lights easily since the wiring is already there. A lot of people pay extra for stuff they’ll never use or don’t realize they can add later for cheap.

Depends on what’s important to you.

I’d go with the 2025. You’d be the first owner, so you know exactly how it’s been treated. Full warranty, too. The 2022 is already partway through its warranty, and if it only had the standard 3-year/36K-mile coverage, that’s something to think about.

The Active is basically the XLT in the new lineup, so it’s more about how much you care about the extra features vs. having a brand-new car.

@Cedar
The main thing I like about the 2022 is the leather seats and captain’s chairs—there’s a good spot for my dog to chill between them. The 2025 has a bench instead but adds the tow package and a longer warranty.

$34K feels high for the 2022. Where are you located? I just bought a 2022 Limited with 40K miles for $26K, no extra fees.

Corey said:
$34K feels high for the 2022. Where are you located? I just bought a 2022 Limited with 40K miles for $26K, no extra fees.

Was that price for AWD?

Dorian said:

Corey said:
$34K feels high for the 2022. Where are you located? I just bought a 2022 Limited with 40K miles for $26K, no extra fees.

Was that price for AWD?

Nope, not AWD. The original poster didn’t mention that either.

@Corey
Their prices suggest they’re looking at AWD.

Dorian said:
@Corey
Their prices suggest they’re looking at AWD.

Yeah, mine is AWD.