When you’re looking for a family vehicle, few things matter more than safety. You want to know that the car you choose will protect your most precious passengers on every trip, if it’s a cross-country vacation or a quick run to the grocery store. The Ford Explorer safety rating for the 2025 model is a topic we frequently discuss with families here in Southwest Florida.
Understanding these ratings helps you see the full picture of how this popular SUV is designed to protect you. Let’s take a close look at what makes the 2025 Explorer a confident choice for your family’s travels.
What Do Safety Ratings Actually Mean?
Before we get into the specifics for the Explorer, it’s helpful to know where these ratings come from. In the United States, two main organizations conduct rigorous crash tests and evaluate vehicle safety.
The NHTSA, a government agency, assigns vehicles an overall 5-Star Safety Rating after performing frontal, side, and rollover tests. The rollover test is especially relevant for taller vehicles like SUVs, as it measures stability and roof strength in the event of an accident.
The IIHS, a non-profit organization funded by insurance companies, is known for its demanding standards—particularly the small overlap front crash test, which simulates striking a tree or utility pole. Its top award, the TOP SAFETY PICK+, requires strong results across all crash tests and high-performing headlights.
Think of it this way: NHTSA makes sure a vehicle meets the federal government’s important safety standards, while IIHS often pushes beyond that to define best-in-class protection. A good safety score from both these groups is a strong sign of a well-protected vehicle. These independent tests give you a clear, unbiased picture of how a vehicle will perform in the real world, which is why we pay close attention to them. Now, let’s see how the 2025 Explorer measures up.
2025 Ford Explorer Crash Test Performance
So, how does the 2025 Explorer stack up when put to the test? The results are very encouraging, showing a vehicle built with a strong and protective structure.
- IIHS Ratings: A Mix of High Marks
The IIHS has evaluated the 2025 Ford Explorer, and it has performed well across most categories. It earned the top score of “Good” in several key crashworthiness tests. This encompasses the driver-side small overlap front test, the moderate overlap front test, and the side-impact test. These results suggest that the Explorer’s frame is effective at managing crash energy and keeping the passenger cabin intact in a variety of common collision types.
It’s important to look at all the details, though. The IIHS also tests how easy it is to use a vehicle’s child seat anchors, called the LATCH system. The Explorer received a rating of “Good” for the second row and “Marginal” for the third row, which is common for many three-row SUVs where space is tighter. For most families, the second row is the primary spot for car seats, so the “Good” rating there is the most relevant.
- NHTSA Overall Rating
As of this writing, the NHTSA has not yet released its official 5-Star Overall Safety Rating for the 2025 Ford Explorer. This is not uncommon for new model years, as testing is an ongoing process. However, the 2024 model consistently earned high marks from NHTSA, and the 2025 model carries over the same fundamental safety structure and features. Based on this continuity, we expect the 2025 Explorer to perform very well when the ratings are published.
The Technology That Builds the Safety Net
Crash test ratings tell you how a vehicle performs during an accident. But the 2025 Explorer is also packed with advanced systems designed to help you avoid an accident in the first place. This is where Ford’s Co-Pilot360™ technology suite comes into play. Think of it as an extra set of eyes on the road, constantly working to keep you safe.
Standard Driver-Assist Features
Every new 2025 Explorer comes with a great set of standard safety features. This means you get this protection no matter which trim level you choose.
- Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB):This system can detect vehicles, pedestrians, and in some cases, cyclists in your path. If it senses a potential collision and you don’t react in time, it can first alert you and then automatically apply the brakes to avoid the impact or reduce its severity.
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert:Changing lanes on a busy highway like I-75 can be stressful. BLIS uses sensors to monitor the areas you can’t easily see in your side mirrors. If a vehicle is there, a light will illuminate in your mirror as a warning. The Cross-Traffic Alert part is incredibly useful in parking lots. It warns you of traffic moving toward you from the sides as you back out of a parking space.
- Auto High-Beam Headlights:This feature automatically switches between high and low beams when it detects other vehicles. This makes sure you have the best possible visibility on dark country roads without accidentally blinding other drivers.
- A Reverse Braking System:This builds on a standard backup camera. If the system detects a potential obstacle behind you while you are reversing, it can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a low-speed backup collision.
Available Advanced Safety Systems
For even more confidence, you can opt for available upgrades within the Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ package. These features add another layer of support, especially for long drives or stop-and-go traffic.
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering:This feature is especially helpful for highway commuting. It not only maintains a set speed but also a set distance from the vehicle ahead. It can even bring the Explorer to a complete stop in traffic and start moving again when traffic resumes. The Lane Centering feature helps gently keep the vehicle positioned in the middle of its lane.
- Evasive Steering Assist:This is a clever piece of technology. If the Pre-Collision Assist system determines that braking alone won’t avoid a collision, Evasive Steering Assist can help make the steering input you apply more effective to help you steer around the obstacle.
- Speed Sign Recognition:This system uses a camera to read posted speed limit signs and can display them on your dashboard, helping you stay aware of the current limit.
Built from the Ground Up: Structural Safety
All the advanced technology in the world relies on a strong physical foundation. The Ford Explorer’s safety story begins with its architecture. The body is built using a mix of high-strength steels. This strategic use of materials creates a rigid safety cage around the passenger compartment, known as the safety cell.
The front and rear of the vehicle are designed with specific crumple zones. These areas are engineered to collapse in a predictable way during a crash. This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s a key part of safety design. By deforming, these zones manage and absorb the massive energy of a collision, diverting it away from the people inside the rigid safety cell. This combination is a fundamental reason why the Explorer performs so well in crash tests.
A Safe Space for Every Passenger
Family safety means protecting everyone, from the adults in the front to the children in the back. The Explorer is thoughtfully designed with this in mind.
- Airbag Protection
The vehicle comes with a comprehensive suite of airbags. This system features advanced front airbags for both the driver and front passenger, a dedicated knee airbag for the driver, and side-impact airbags designed to protect occupants in the front seats. Most importantly for families, it is equipped with Ford’s Safety Canopy® system. This is a side-curtain airbag that covers all three rows of seating. In the event of a side impact or rollover, these airbags deploy to help protect the heads of occupants in the outboard seats across all rows.
- Seat Belts and Child Safety
Every seating position has a three-point seat belt. The second-row seats feature the LATCH system we mentioned earlier, which has been rated as “Good” by the IIHS for its ease of use in securing child seats. We know that installing car seats can be a challenge, which is why our team at Englewood Ford is always ready to help parents make sure their car seats are installed correctly and securely.
Safety That Continues After the Crash
Ford has also thought about what happens in the vital moments after a collision. The Explorer includes a feature called Post-Collision Braking. If the vehicle is involved in a significant impact, this system can automatically apply the brakes to help bring the vehicle to a stop. This helps reduce the chance of a secondary collision, which can sometimes be more dangerous than the first. Furthermore, the system is designed to automatically unlock the doors and switch on the hazard lights after a primary collision is detected, helping with occupant escape and making the vehicle more visible to other drivers.
How the Explorer Fits Your Southwest Florida Life
When we talk with customers at our dealership, we think about how the Ford Explorer’s safety features apply to local driving conditions. Its robust structure and crash test ratings offer peace of mind on high-speed highways like I-75. The Blind-Spot Monitoring and Cross-Traffic Alert are incredibly useful in crowded seasonal parking lots at the mall or the beach. The reverse braking system can help prevent fender-benders in tight grocery store parking spots. For families, the top-tier scores in side-impact tests and the comprehensive airbag coverage are perhaps the most comforting facts of all.
Going Beyond the Star Rating
While the official Ford Explorer safety rating from IIHS and NHTSA offers an important, data-driven snapshot, the full story of its safety is found in the combination of that strong structure, the standard Co-Pilot360™ features, and the available advanced aids. It’s a vehicle designed not just to protect you during a crash, but to actively help you avoid one altogether.
We believe that informed drivers make safer decisions. Understanding these details empowers you to make the best choice for your family. If you’re considering the 2025 Explorer, we invite you to visit Englewood Ford. You can experience the Co-Pilot360™ technology for yourself on a test drive, and we can walk you through the interior safety features firsthand. Your family’s safety is our top priority, and we’re here to help you find a vehicle that gives you confidence on every journey.
