Top 6 Tech Features That Make the 2025 Ford Explorer a Smart Choice

If you spend your days navigating Chicago traffic, weekend getaways to Lake Geneva, or road trips along the Great Lakes, the 2025 Ford Explorer is ready to make every drive smarter and more enjoyable. Ford’s latest SUV is more than a spacious family hauler and acts as a rolling technology hub. Advanced connectivity and semi-autonomous driving features keep you connected, entertained, and in control. Here is a closer look at six standout tech features that make the 2025 Explorer one of the most advanced SUVs on the road.

1. Ford Digital Experience

Your Explorer now adapts to you. The Ford Digital Experience allows you to personalize almost every element of your drive. Set your preferred driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. Link phones and keys, sign into Google for saved destinations, and get tailored Google Assistant results. In-vehicle apps are easily accessed, and even gaming and video-conferencing apps can run while parked. Google Maps integration gives real-time traffic updates, eco-friendly routes, and points of interest, ensuring navigating the Loop or suburban highways is stress-free.

2. Voice Assistant Integration

Controlling your SUV has never been more effortless. The 2025 Explorer integrates both Google Assistant and Alexa. Say “Hey Google” or “Alexa” to make a call, send a text, play music, or adjust the climate. You can also manage compatible smart home devices from the driver’s seat. This hands-free approach keeps your focus on the road while still staying connected to everything that matters.

3. 5G Connectivity and In-Vehicle Wi-Fi

The Explorer turns into a mobile hub. With 5G connectivity, your vehicle offers fast, reliable access to apps, streaming, and real-time updates. In-vehicle Wi-Fi supports up to 10 devices, so passengers can stream music, video, or get work done while you drive through downtown Chicago. Ford Premium Connectivity adds access to YouTube, Prime Video, and other streaming apps, keeping your family entertained during long trips without ever touching your phone.

4. Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM® 360L

If you are an iPhone user, Apple CarPlay allows seamless integration with your favorite apps, including Apple Maps and supported third-party navigation. SiriusXM 360L provides access to thousands of channels, on-demand content, and curated playlists that let every passenger pick their soundtrack. From Chicago blues to podcasts about the latest sports news, entertainment is always front and center.

5. Ford BlueCruise Hands-Free Highway Driving

For commuters on I-90 or weekend drives up the North Shore, BlueCruise makes highway driving more relaxing. This system controls steering, braking, and acceleration in designated Hands-Free Blue Zones, which cover over 130,000 miles of North American divided highways. A driver-facing camera monitors your eye gaze and head position, ensuring safety while letting you keep your hands off the wheel. Lane centering and adaptive cruise control handle much of the work, while you enjoy a more focused and less tiring drive.

6. Connected BlueCruise Maps

Smart mapping software keeps you informed about when and where you can engage BlueCruise. The Explorer uses geolocation to identify pre-qualified Blue Zones, updating maps over the air so you never miss hands-free opportunities. Chicago commuters and suburban drivers alike will appreciate how seamlessly the system integrates into real-world driving, offering confidence and convenience for long stretches of highway.

The 2025 Ford Explorer proves that advanced technology can be practical without feeling overwhelming. Its in-vehicle personalization, connectivity, entertainment, and semi-autonomous driving features combine to make each trip smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. For drivers in Chicagoland, these innovations turn a daily commute into an experience that’s as smart and stylish.