2021 Ford Explorer: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
46 builds left the factory as a 2021 Explorer, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 19 main configurations sell for $9,020–$37,898 today.
- 19 main configurations
- 132,110 vehicles built
- 2,425 for sale right now
- $9,020–$37,898 typical price range
Which Explorer is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Explorer
-
King Ranch · RWD 1FM5K7LC-M3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Rear-wheel drive. 487 built.
-
Police · 4WD 1FM5K8AB-M3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 3,102 built.
$9,020 great deal $14,275 typical $21,990 top of market -
Limited · RWD 1FMSK7FH-M2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Rear-wheel drive. 9,776 built.
$15,989 great deal $22,054 typical $30,998 top of market -
Limited · Hybrid · 4WD 1FM5K8FW-M3.3L 4-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 2,389 built.
$17,990 great deal $25,915 typical $36,786 top of market -
Platinum · 4WD 1FM5K8HC-M3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 5,837 built.
$22,499 great deal $29,100 typical $36,394 top of market -
Base · RWD 1FMSK7BH-M2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Rear-wheel drive. 3,428 built.
$12,000 great deal $18,689 typical $23,095 top of market -
Limited · 4WD 1FMSK8FH-M2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 16,093 built.
$16,990 great deal $23,950 typical $32,576 top of market -
Base · 4WD 1FMSK8BB-M3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 248 built.
-
King Ranch · 4WD 1FM5K8LC-M3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 1,030 built.
$17,500 great deal $31,946 typical $37,888 top of market -
Police · Hybrid · 4WD 1FM5K8AW-M3.3L 4-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 956 built.
-
Base · 4WD 1FMSK8BH-M2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 1,993 built.
$10,498 great deal $18,995 typical $27,998 top of market -
Police · 4WD 1FM5K8AC-M3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 469 built.
-
XLT · RWD 1FMSK7DH-M
2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Rear-wheel drive. 22,467 built.
$14,292 great deal $21,174 typical $27,798 top of market -
Most common — 33% of 2021 ExplorersXLT · 4WD 1FMSK8DH-M
2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 43,932 built.
$16,814 great deal $23,395 typical $29,699 top of market -
Platinum · RWD 1FM5K7HC-M
3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Rear-wheel drive. 99 built.
-
Platinum · Hybrid · 4WD 1FM5K8HW-M
3.3L 4-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 114 built.
-
Timberline · 4WD 1FMSK8JH-M
2.3L 4-cyl, 270 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 1,881 built.
$15,995 great deal $26,633 typical $33,998 top of market -
ST · 4WD 1FM5K8GC-M
3L 6-cyl, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 16,964 built.
$22,716 great deal $30,199 typical $37,898 top of market
What actually differs
| XLT · 4WD | XLT · RWD | ST · 4WD | Limited · 4WD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.3L 4-cyl | 2.3L 4-cyl | 3L 6-cyl | 2.3L 4-cyl |
| Drivetrain | Four-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive |
| Typical price today | $23,395 | $21,174 | $30,199 | $23,950 |
| For sale right now | 873 | 359 | 394 | 251 |
| Vehicles built | 43,932 | 22,467 | 16,964 | 16,093 |
Same on every 2021 Explorer
- Power 270 hp
- Transmission Automatic
- Fuel Gasoline
- Body Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
- Seats 6
- Doors 4-door
What people actually pay
3,949 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026Safety, in plain English
★★★★★ 5 / 5
26 recalls on file for this model year — check any specific VIN before you buy.
- ✓ Warns you before a crash
- ✓ Watches your blind spot
- ✓ Warns when you drift from your lane
- ✓ Steers you back into the lane
- ✓ Keeps distance on the highway
What 1FM5K7LC-M means
- 1FM
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Ford registered — assembled in the United States
- 5K7LC
- together encode the Explorer line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 3L 6cyl, Rear-wheel drive — as Ford filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- M
- in position 10 — model year 2021
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
27 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
- Base configuration JFMSK8FH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Timberline 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM5K8JH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- XLT AFMSK8DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 1FT5K8GC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Platinum 3L 6cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FMSK8HC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00MSK7BH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 1FMSL7BH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- XLT 00MSK7DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- XLT 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM5K7DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00MSK8DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Limited 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM5K8FH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- RWD 00MSK7FH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- XLT 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM5K8DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00M5K8GC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- AWD 00MSK8BH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Limited 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM5K7FH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- ST 3L 6cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FMEK8GC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Timberline 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM2K8JH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- ST 3L 6cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FMSK8GC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- AWD 00MSK8FH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- XLT 2.3L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 1FM2K8DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00M5K8HC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 1FMJ42AT-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base 1FMKS7DH-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00M5K8FW-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00M5K7LC-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00M5K7FW-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
Already looking at a specific Explorer?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.