It was a close call.
A stock Ford Explorer ST should not be able beat a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at a drag race. The performance crossover from Blue Oval can make it a lot easier.
The Explorer ST is powered by a 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 that produces 400 horsepower (208 kilowatts), and 415 pound feet (563 Newton-meters). An all-wheel drive system is powered by a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It weighs in at 4,701 pounds (2.132 kilograms). It takes approximately 5.5 seconds to run 60 miles an hour (96 km per hour).
The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has a version of the Hellcat supercharged V8 that produces 707 horsepower (527 kW), and 645 lbft (875Nm) of torque. The vehicle has both an all-wheel drive and an eight-speed auto transmission. The Jeep is 5363 pounds (2.433 kilograms) heavier than the Ford but it can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. According to the company, the quarter-mile speed is 11.6 seconds.
This video shows the Jeep doing the quarter-mile in 11.65 seconds. This is consistent with factory figures. The run is completed by the Explorer ST in 11.58 seconds. Although it’s close, the Ford has the edge.
We expect the Explorer ST to have significant performance improvements in order to achieve these impressive results. An ECU tune won’t suffice. Upgraded turbos, new downpipes and a larger intercooler are all important elements in creating a Trackhawk-killing Explorer.
Ford has released a small update to the Explorer ST for the model year 2021. Interior trim now comes in high-gloss, including door panels.