The Explorer Tremor is the Explorer built for gravel section roads, two-tracks to the deer stand, and the boat ramp at Oahe. It debuted for 2026, and for 2027 it adds the one thing buyers asked for: a proper 3.0L EcoBoost V6 equipment group, Tremor 801A, with the good stuff bundled in instead of scattered across option codes.
This guide covers what the Tremor actually is mechanically, what changes inside, how to choose between 800A and 801A, an honest answer on how capable it is next to a Bronco or a Grand Cherokee, and what it costs. We have 2026 Tremors on the lot at Beadle Ford, and we are ordering 2027 units to spec, so the last section covers how to get one. The rest of the lineup is in the 2027 Ford Explorer Buyers Guide.
What is the 2027 Ford Explorer Tremor?
The Tremor is the Explorer’s off-road trim, and it is the only Explorer that is 4WD only. It sits between the ST-Line and the ST in price, but it is positioned differently from either: it is the capability build, not the sport build and not the luxury build. It comes in two equipment groups.
- Tremor 800A: 2.3L EcoBoost I-4, 300 hp / 310 lb-ft, 10-speed automatic. $49,200 base MSRP.
- Tremor 801A (new for 2027): 3.0L EcoBoost V6, up to 400 hp / 415 lb-ft, 10-speed automatic, with the Convenience and Ultimate content included. $56,460 base MSRP.
Both prices are base MSRP before the $1,795 destination and delivery charge. To be precise about what is new: the Tremor itself launched for 2026 with the 800A group, and the 2026 order guide let you add the V6 as an engine option that dragged a package along with it. For 2027, Ford cleaned that up. The V6 Tremor is its own group with its own standard-equipment list, which makes it easier to order and easier to compare.
What hardware makes it a Tremor?
Stand a Tremor next to an Active 4WD and the differences read instantly. Every Tremor, 800A or 801A, includes:
- TORSEN limited-slip rear axle, standard on no other Explorer trim
- P265/65R18 all-terrain tires on 18-inch high-gloss ebony black wheels with Electric Spice accents; every other Explorer runs all-season highway tires
- Front and rear underbody deflector plates protecting the oil pan, transfer case, and rear axle
- Unique front tow hooks and off-road auxiliary grille lights
- 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the most of any Explorer (Active and ST-Line sit at 7.6, ST at 7.8, Platinum at 8.3)
- Intelligent 4WD with seven drive modes and Hill Descent Control
- Blackout headlamp and taillamp treatment, Tremor fender badging, and a Class III Trailer Tow Package
The tires are the part people underestimate. All-terrain rubber on a stock Explorer changes how it handles washboard gravel, wet clay after a spring rain, and the soft grade at a boat ramp more than any badge does. The TORSEN axle is the second part: it sends torque to the rear wheel with grip mechanically, before the traction control has to intervene, which is the difference between crawling up a muddy two-track and spinning on it.
Inside: Miko suede and Electric Spice
The Tremor cabin is the one Explorer interior that does not try to be luxurious. Heated and ventilated 10-way power driver and 8-way power passenger sport captain’s chairs are trimmed in black Miko suede with micro-perforated inserts, Electric Spice (orange) stitching, and an embroidered Tremor logo. The steering wheel is a heated flat-bottom design with matching accent stitching. Floor liners replace carpet mats in the first and second rows, because Ford assumes you will bring mud in.
Both groups include the heated second row, a 110V outlet, the B&O 10-speaker system with subwoofer, the 13.2-inch touchscreen with Google built in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist 2.0 with the 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, and reverse brake assist. Seating is six: two captain’s chairs in the second row, a 50/50 third row behind them. The second-row bench is not offered on the Tremor.
Drive a Tremor before you order one
Our 2026 Tremors share the 2027 off-road hardware. Come see if the all-terrain setup is what you want, then order the 801A to spec if the V6 matters.
800A vs. 801A: which Tremor equipment group is right?
The engine is the headline difference, but 801A brings a long list of convenience content with it. Here is the split:
| Tremor 800A | Tremor 801A (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4, 300 hp / 310 lb-ft | 3.0L EcoBoost V6, up to 400 hp / 415 lb-ft |
| Fuel tank | 17.9 gal | 20.2 gal |
| Third row | 50/50 manual fold | 50/50 PowerFold |
| Mirrors | Power, heated | Power-folding with memory, driver auto-dimming, LED turn signals |
| Convenience | Optional: Tremor Convenience Package ($1,495) adds ambient lighting, auto-dimming mirror, rain-sensing wipers, driver memory, PowerFold third row, power-folding mirrors | All of that included, plus open-on-approach liftgate and electronic sound enhancement |
| BlueCruise | Optional: $495 (hardware + 1 year + 90 days) or $2,495 (hardware + one-time purchase) | Hardware + 90-day trial included; subscription after |
| Sun and Sound ($3,340) | Not available | Available: 14-speaker B&O, multicontour front seats, Panoramic Vista Roof |
| Base MSRP | $49,200 | $56,460 |
Base MSRP excludes $1,795 destination and delivery. Both groups are 4WD only with the same tires, axle, plates, hooks, and ground clearance.
The way I frame it: if you do not tow heavy and your Tremor is a gravel-road daily driver, an 800A with the Convenience Package gets you most of the 801A interior for about $50,700 before destination, and the 2.3L is a strong engine at 300 horsepower. If you pull a side-by-side trailer or a bigger boat regularly, want the 20.2-gallon tank for the range, or want BlueCruise and the Vista Roof, the 801A is the cleaner order and roughly $5,800 more than an optioned 800A. Note that towing is rated at 5,000 lbs on both; the V6 changes how it feels doing it, not the number.
How capable is the Explorer Tremor, really?
Honest answer: it is a real off-road package, not stickers, and it is not a Bronco Badlands. The Tremor is built on the Explorer’s rear-drive-based unibody with independent suspension. It does not have a two-speed transfer case, locking differentials front and rear, or the Bronco’s disconnecting sway bar. What it has is 8.7 inches of clearance, all-terrain tires, a TORSEN rear, skid plates, and tow hooks on a vehicle that still seats six, tows 5,000 lbs, and rides like an Explorer on the highway.
For the driving that happens around Bowdle, that is the right recipe. Gravel section roads at speed, the two-track to a deer stand after a wet week, the CRP access road, the soft grade at the Oahe ramp, an unplowed driveway in January: the Tremor handles all of it without asking you to give up the third row. If your weekends involve rock crawling in the Black Hills, buy a Bronco. If they involve a boat, a family, and a lot of gravel, this is the one.
Against a Jeep Grand Cherokee: the Trailhawk trim is only offered on the two-row Grand Cherokee, so if you need three rows, the Jeep answer is a Grand Cherokee L Overland or Summit on an air suspension, which is a different (and pricier) kind of vehicle. That comparison is in Explorer vs. Grand Cherokee L. Ford has not published approach, departure, or breakover angles for the Tremor, so I will not quote them.
What the Tremor costs, and what is on the lot
Tremor 800A starts at $49,200 and Tremor 801A at $56,460, both plus $1,795 destination and before options. The options that matter: the Tremor Convenience Package ($1,495, 800A only), Sun and Sound ($3,340, 801A only), the Panoramic Vista Roof on its own ($1,695), the universal garage door opener ($145), the engine block heater ($190, which I recommend for anything that sleeps outside here), and paint. Marsh Gray, Vapor Blue, Ruby Red, and Avalanche Gray are extra-cost; Agate Black and Carbonized Gray are not.
On the lot today: 2026 Explorer Tremors, which share every piece of off-road hardware with the 2027 and are the fastest way to find out whether the all-terrain tires and TORSEN axle are what you want. The 2027 Tremor 801A is an order-to-spec build for now. If the V6 matters to you, we will build the order together, place it, and track it through delivery. See the Tremors in stock, or get pre-approved first so you know your payment before you pick an equipment group.
Key Takeaways
- The Explorer Tremor debuted for 2026. Tremor 801A, the 3.0L V6 equipment group, is what is new for 2027.
- Every Tremor is 4WD with a TORSEN limited-slip rear, all-terrain tires, underbody plates, tow hooks, and 8.7 inches of clearance.
- 800A ($49,200) runs the 300-hp 2.3L; 801A ($56,460) adds the 400-hp V6, PowerFold third row, BlueCruise hardware with a 90-day trial, and Sun and Sound availability.
- Towing is 5,000 lbs on both groups. The V6 changes how it feels, not the rating.
- It is a real gravel and two-track package, not a Bronco. 2026 Tremors are on the lot; 2027 801A units are order-to-spec.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Take
The buyers who ask me about the Tremor already own a truck. They want the second vehicle to handle the section road and the boat ramp without being another pickup, and until 2026 the Explorer could not honestly promise that. Now it can. The 2027 801A just makes the V6 version easier to order and better equipped for the money.
My advice is to drive one of the 2026 Tremors first. If the all-terrain tires and the firmer, taller stance feel right, decide on the engine second. Most gravel-road drivers are happy in an 800A. The ones towing every weekend should go 801A and let us order it.
About the Author
Lexy Tabbert — Beadle Ford, Bowdle, SD
Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle Ford in Bowdle, South Dakota. She covers Ford vehicles, trim comparisons, and buyer guidance — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.
