The Ford Explorer proudly wears the “America’s all-time best-selling SUV” tag, and the automaker has found another way to pump up the sales. Ford has added a new trim to the lineup – the King Ranch – to further bolster the mid-level card within the Explorer’s lineup. It comes with a decent load of tech features along with leather and wood elements inside the cabin to bring out the “authenticity of the iconic Texas ranch”.

Exterior Design

The King Ranch is expected to slot between the Limited and the Platinum trims. The price is on par with the ST model. There are very few differentiating factors on the outside. The King Ranch comes with a unique Stone Gray-painted mesh grille insert and it rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels as standard. There is a lift gate scuff plate at the rear along with quad chrome exhaust tips. And, of course, the King Ranch badging on the SUV.

Interior Design

According to Ford, the customers have demanded a more refined interior on the Explorer, and the King Ranch helps with that. The seats come wrapped in mahogany-colored Mesa Del Rio leather. They are perforated and embroidered with the King Ranch logo. The same upholstery material is also seen on the door trims. The instrument cluster and the steering wheel are leather-wrapped, too, and feature Sapele wood appliqués.

Coming to the tech bits, the King Ranch model can be had with the Premium Technology Package that includes:

-* Multi-contour seats with massage feature

-* 10.1-inch touchscreen system

-* 14-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen

Drivetrain

Power is sent either to the rear wheels or all the four wheels via a 10-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox. This is the same engine that is also offered on the top-of-the-line Platinum trim. You can also equip it with a standard Class III Trailer Tow Package that will allow you to two up to 5,600 pounds.

The same engine is also available on the ST trim, which is just a few hundred bucks more expensive than the King Ranch, but in a different state of tune. The V-6 is equipped with twin turbos and makes 400 horses and 415 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to the same 10-speed automatic gearbox.

The base, XLT, and the Limited trims come with a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine as standard. This mill dishes out 300 horses and 310 pound-feet of torque. If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient option, the 3.3-liter, V-6 hybrid should be your pick. It makes 318 ponies and 322 pound-feet of twist. There’s no word from Ford yet if any of the other engines will be offered as options.

Safety and Drive-Assistance Features

All the 2021 Explorer trims come standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, which includes. The King Ranch trim also features Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, which includes:

-* Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering

-* Evasive Steering Assist

-* Voice-activated touch screen navigation system

-* SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link

-* Speed Sign Recognition

Pricing

The 2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch is priced at $52,350 for rear-wheel-drive configuration and $54,350 for four-wheel drive. It will reach the dealerships this spring.

The other trims on the 2021 Explorer are priced as follows:

-* Base – $32,225

-* XLT – $34,000

-* Limited – $45,005

-* ST – $52,605

-* Platinum – $54,480