A panoramic Vista Roof overhead, 14-speaker B&O audio around you and a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 waiting under your right foot. That combination tells the story of this 2027 Ford Explorer ST 4WD better than a trim badge ever could. The Sun and Sound Package gives the cabin a completely different atmosphere with the power-shade panoramic roof, multicontour front seats and upgraded B&O system, while Vapor Blue and 21-inch aluminum wheels make sure the exterior has just as much presence.

This is still an ST, and Ford backs up the appearance with hardware. The 3.0L EcoBoost works through a 10-speed automatic and 4WD, with performance brakes, selectable drive modes and quad-tip dual exhaust adding to the experience. Around Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, that means an Explorer that can handle the normal family schedule without feeling like another appliance. When traffic clears on the way toward Dade City or Brooksville, there is enough power and chassis capability here to make the drive itself part of the reason you bought it.

Long-distance comfort is handled just as seriously. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seating, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and multicontour front seats make hours behind the wheel easier. BlueCruise equipment includes a 90-day trial for hands-free highway driving on compatible roads, which can be especially useful for I-75 mileage between Tampa, Land O Lakes and points north. The Parks Ford Lifetime Powertrain Warranty is included with this new Explorer from Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel, adding another layer of value for an SUV built to accumulate real family miles.

Need cargo space instead? The third row power-folds when the trip calls for luggage, sports equipment or a larger load. The open-on-approach liftgate helps when your hands are already full, and USB charging plus a 110V/150W AC outlet give passengers and gear more ways to stay powered. A Class III Trailer Tow Package with Trailer Sway Control is already onboard for compatible boats, utility trailers or recreational equipment, giving weekend plans around Zephyrhills or Dade City more room to grow.

The 360-degree camera may be the feature you use most often in completely ordinary places. It helps judge the Explorer's surroundings in a tight Wesley Chapel garage, a crowded New Tampa shopping center or a busy school pickup line. Ford Digital Experience runs through the 13.2-inch center display with Google Maps and the Google Play Store, while the 12.3-inch digital cluster keeps key information directly ahead. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 5G modem, Ford app capability, remote start and the one-year Ford Connectivity trial round out a setup designed to make the vehicle easier to use rather than simply more complicated. The Security Package is included for one year as well.

Vapor Blue deserves some protection in Florida, and Parks Plus paint protection, rain-repellent treatment and headlight protection fit naturally here. The black mesh grille, ST badging, LED lighting, auto-fold heated mirrors with ST logo projection and those 21-inch wheels give the Explorer a sharp performance look without losing the usefulness expected from a three-row SUV.

Some vehicles make you pick the responsible choice or the fun one. This Explorer ST is built for the buyer who would rather not make that compromise. It can carry the family through Wesley Chapel all week, tow when the weekend changes the plan, settle into a BlueCruise highway run and still give the driver a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 every time the road opens up. Price includes $1,395 dealer added accessories.