We’ve known this one was coming since early spring, but we finally got a chance to check out the new 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor up close, and we like what we see. Ford’s off-road-focused Tremor package has been around for a while now, finding its way onto everything from the F-150, Ranger, Maverick, and Super Duty pickups to the three-row Expedition and, now, the Explorer, Ford’s best-selling SUV.
It’s the first time an Explorer will boast the Tremor badge, but not the first time Ford has attempted an adventure-focused package for its most popular two-row SUV. Recall that Ford used to offer something called the Timberline as a mid-grade package for the Explorer from 2021 to ’24. While it might be reflexive to call the Tremor package just a reskinned Timberline, that’s not quite fair. Let’s dig in.
Up front, the Explorer Tremor sports a similar grille crossbar to that of the outgoing Timberline. The crossbar features high-power LED trail lights (the same ones as in the Timberline) surrounded in the Tremor by orange-yellow (Ford calls the color Electric Spice) inserts that match heavy-duty tow hooks mounted on the lower fascia. Those hooks, by the way, are integrated into the front frame rails of the Explorer’s CD6 architecture, so they really are stout and useful in a pinch.
No off-road package is complete without a lift. On the Explorer Tremor, ride height increases by one inch, doubling the lift of the outgoing Timberline variant. (No, an inch isn’t massive, but it’s certainly more serious than a half-inch lift.) Rolling gear consists of 31.5-inch all-terrain tires with chunky treadblocks wrapping 18-inch alloy wheels with a yellow Electric Spice insert around the spokes that straddle the valvestem. (Is it necessary to remind folks where their valve stems are? No. If you’re going to put an orange accent on the wheel, is that the place to do it? Yes.)
We’ve yet to drive the thing, but Matt Duffield, Explorer brand manager, was keen to note that the retuned ride would outshine that of the outgoing Timberline’s. “With the Timberline, it had that capability, but it was kind of a rough ride off-road, due to the stiffness of those springs,” he explained. “[The Explorer Tremor] has been brought in and tuned to a much better level of trail comfort.” We’ll withhold a verdict until we get some seat time, but if what he says bears out, a better ride is always a plus.
Ford designers carved off the front fascia corners to allow for added clearance. Many owners of off-road vehicles do this when they fit larger tires to their rigs, not only to mitigate rubbing of the tires on the fenders, but also to expose that wheel to allow it to reach the obstacle in front of them without chewing up a bumper cover.
Three steel skid plates constitute the underbody armor here—one to guard the chin of the radiator and cooling elements, one to guard the underside of the engine, and one to protect the rear differential. That diff, by the way, is a Torsen limited-slip unit, and the Tremor is the only Explorer variant to offer it. All other Explorers—even the street-performance ST model—make do with an open rear diff. That diff can shuffle available torque to the rear wheels in up to a 75/25 split side-to-side.
Inside, you’ll find more Electric Spice accenting on stitching in the steering wheel and seats, as well as in the T R E M O R wording embossed into the front seatbacks. Although all Explorers have an off-road driving mode, the Explorer Tremor’s off-road mode has been specifically tuned for this package, adjusting parameters like shift schedule, power distribution, and traction control parameters.
Perhaps most commendably, Ford will offer the Tremor package with both powertrains: the 300-hp, 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and the 400-hp, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. The Timberline, by contrast, was only available with the four-pot. Opt for a V-6-powered Tremor, and you can access features such as a large moonroof, a 14-speaker B&O-branded audio system, massaging seats, and more. The big plus here is you can enjoy all the capability of a Tremor at two different price points—and you won’t sacrifice much by opting for the cheaper one. Max towing for both powertrains (and every other Explorer) is 5000 lbs. A class 3 trailer hitch with wiring comes standard.
That pricing info, by the way, is not yet available. Expect to see hard numbers on this closer to the launch, which as of now looks like September. Expect to see these on dealer lots in Q4 of this year.
Off-road still spells cool to many SUV buyers, and given the popularity of adventurous packages like Subaru’s Wilderness trim or Honda’s Trailsport badging, it’s logical that Ford equip its crowd-favorite SUV to play in this arena. Ford appears to be making an honest go at it, too. At least upon first impressions, the 2026 Explorer Tremor feels like it’s up for the fight.
Facebook Conversations