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Several people are struggling to find a new SUV for sale. Inventories are down at dealers across the nation, and SUVs have been hit hard. But, one SUV stands out because it’s available. The high numbers available partly explains why the three-row Ford Explorer is one of the best-selling SUVs this year.

Ford Explorers are the most available SUV today

White 2021 driving on an empty road
Ford Explorer | Ford

While other SUVs are in short supply, especially hip models like the Toyota RAV4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Ford Explorer is available. According to RealCarTips.com, the Explorer is the most available SUV, with slightly more than 13,000 available across the country. The Nissan Rogue and the Ford Escape round out the top three on the list of most-available SUVs.

Interestingly, the best location to find one of these 13,000 Explorers is in Detroit, Mi. Why? Nobody is exactly sure, but it’s not far from Ford’s headquarters. Of course, if you don’t want to stick with one of the Explorers that are just on the lot, you can always order one yourself.

Does Ford Explorer availability mean nobody wants the Explorer?

2021 Ford Explorer interior
The Ford Explorer got a major redesign in 2020 that significantly updated the interior.

Hardly. The Ford Explorer is the third-best-selling SUV so far this year, right behind the Toyota Highlander and the Geep Grand Cherokee. Ford set the template for the modern midsize SUV with the first Explorer. The new Explorer is still a relatively fresh face in the midsize SUV world as it got a redesign for the 2020 model year. The Explorer’s 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder packs power, but you can order it as a hybrid that significantly boosts that. Big advantages to it include Ford’s easy-to-use Sync system for infotainment, and roomy seating for seven.

Is the Ford Explorer reliable?

a 2020 Ford Explorer Timberline version int he woods
Ford Explorer Timberline | Ford

The Ford Explorer ranks well at J.D. Power and has a score of 82 out of 100. However, it ranks great for quality and reliability and gets a much higher driving experience score than its peers. Where the Ford is a let down is in the resale value category.  Compared to competitors like the Toyota Highlander, it’s not even close for resale value.

At RepairPal, which also ranks reliability and visits to the mechanic, the Ford  gets an average score. The average annual repair cost is $732 for the Explorer. Though the frequency of shop visits is lower than competitors, at 0.2 times per year, the repairs are generally more costly on the Explorer. The Explorer comes with a 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty, and the powertrain is warrantied for up to 5 years or 60,000 miles.

How much should I pay for a Ford Explorer?

The high inventory numbers at dealers mean that you’ll likely be able to pick the one you want like a hot ST version, and then haggle a bit more. When inventories are low, you don’t get that privilege.

The 2023 Ford Explorer is Ford’s best-selling SUV, and they start at about $37,000. That basic version, with cloth seats, has most of the basic accessories you’ll need, but the XLT has the accessories you’ll want, including heated seats, terrain management system and back-up sensors. It starts at about $38,500. It’s also large and holds six or seven passengers in three rows, and they handle their large size well. Of course, you can get it really optioned out in the Platinum package.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.