If you are researching your next three-row SUV near Racine, WI, the 2026 Ford Explorer® belongs at the top of your shortlist. It blends everyday comfort with confident performance, thoughtful technology, and real-world capability that suits both family life and weekend plans around Lake Michigan. Our team takes a buying-guide approach below to help you decide which version of the 2026 Explorer fits your routine. We cover performance and towing, interior comfort and connectivity, safety systems, trims, and where this SUV stands apart from the class — all with Racine-area driving in mind. When you are ready, our Boucher Auto Group team can match you to the right model, configure options, value your trade, and set up a test drive at a nearby Boucher Ford location.
The 2026 Ford Explorer is engineered on a rear-wheel-drive platform with available Intelligent 4WD, a setup that delivers balanced handling and confident towing. A standard 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 provides responsive power for daily driving, while the available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 on performance-focused models steps up to robust output for those who want maximum acceleration. With up to 5,000 lbs of towing capacity when properly equipped, the Explorer makes it simple to bring a small camper, boat, or pair of jet skis along I-94 or out to the lakes. Selectable drive modes help tailor traction to changing surfaces, and the rugged Tremor® trim adds off-road-tuned components for trail days without sacrificing weekday comfort.
Inside, the 2026 Explorer is designed to keep everyone comfortable and connected. Choose seating for up to seven passengers, then fold the rear rows whenever you need open cargo room for sports gear, strollers, or a quick warehouse-store run — up to 85.8 cu ft when configured for maximum space. The Ford Digital Experience brings familiar, intuitive infotainment and connected features into view, while an available B&O Sound System delivers rich audio for your playlists and podcasts. Premium touches, including available heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats on Platinum™, help transform rush-hour traffic on Washington Avenue into a calm, well-supported drive. Add the available panoramic fixed glass roof for an airy cabin that keeps everyone engaged.
The 2026 Ford Explorer builds confidence with a broad suite of standard and available driver-assist features. Ford Co-Pilot360 includes foundational systems to help you monitor surrounding traffic and stay centered in your lane. Step up to Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ for Adaptive Cruise Control that makes highway stretches on I-41 or Hwy 31 feel easier to manage. Available Ford BlueCruise enables hands-free driving on compatible highways, adding a layer of convenience to longer drives while you remain attentive. For parking lots around Regency Mall or tight alleys by the lakefront, the available 360-Degree Camera helps with low-speed precision, while features like Reverse Brake Assist can add a backstop during tricky maneuvers.
| Trim | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Active 100A | 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4, Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+, Selectable Drive Modes, Class III Trailer Tow Package |
| Active | 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4, Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+, heated front-row seats, power liftgate |
| ST-Line | 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4, 360-Degree Camera, unique interior with red stitching, B&O® Sound System with 10 speakers including subwoofer |
| Tremor® | Available 3.0L EcoBoost® V6, Torsen® limited-slip rear axle, off-road tuned suspension with increased ride height, underbody protection |
| Platinum™ | 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4, BlueCruise equipped, heated ventilated massaging front seats with leather inserts, available panoramic fixed glass roof |
| ST | 3.0L EcoBoost® V6, BlueCruise equipped, sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes with red-painted calipers |
Our mission is to ride with you every mile, before, during, and after the sale. With a large, family-owned network of dealerships across southeastern Wisconsin — including Ford locations a short drive from Racine — we make it simple to find your ideal 2026 Explorer configuration and keep it maintained by factory-trained service teams. We can transfer vehicles to the most convenient Boucher store for you, help you handle paperwork online, and coordinate test drives around your schedule. Racine drivers count on us for straightforward guidance and ongoing support — from your first inquiry through every oil change and brake job.
Turn your current vehicle into momentum toward your 2026 Ford Explorer. Use our fast online trade-in tools to get an estimated value, then apply that equity toward your new SUV. Upload a few details, share photos if you’d like, and our team will follow up to confirm your appraisal. We can evaluate anything you drive, settle loan payoffs, and streamline the handoff so you spend less time on logistics and more time enjoying your new Explorer.
Where some competitors rely on front-wheel-drive foundations or cap towing at lower ratings, the 2026 Explorer starts with rear-wheel-drive dynamics and scales to available Intelligent 4WD for year-round traction. The available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 supplies up to 400 horsepower — a performance edge that helps the ST feel genuinely athletic. Available Ford BlueCruise brings hands-free highway help that many rivals still do not match, while the Tremor backs up its looks with trail-worthy components like a Torsen limited-slip rear axle and additional underbody protection. Families around Racine will also appreciate the Explorer’s smart use of space — the ability to toggle between three rows of seating and sizable cargo capacity makes it easy to handle Costco runs, youth sports, and lakeside getaways. For shoppers comparing a few options in this class, these advantages make the Explorer an especially compelling fit for southeastern Wisconsin life.
The easiest way to decide which Explorer is right for you is to see and feel the differences in person. Browse our current inventory, schedule a test drive, and try features like selectable drive modes and the available 360-Degree Camera. You can apply for financing, value your trade, and request a vehicle transfer to a convenient Boucher location — all online. Prefer a quick conversation first? Reach out to our team and we will map your options, timing, and next steps together.
From busy commutes along Highway 32 to weekend drives up the lakeshore, Racine families need an SUV that moves seamlessly from weekday routines to memory-making road trips. The 2026 Ford Explorer delivers that balance with performance, tech, space, and safety — and our Boucher Auto Group team delivers the support to make ownership simple. We are proud to help Racine, WI drivers find, fit, and care for their Explorer with confidence, and we are ready when you are.
*Vehicle images and features shown are for illustration only and may vary by trim and option.
