Compare the2026 Ford ExplorerVS 2026 Tesla Model X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Explorer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Explorer ST-Line/Platinum/ST has a standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Explorer 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Explorer has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Explorer and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Tesla Model X:

	Explorer	Model X
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Tesla Model X:

	Explorer	Model X
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	101
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	573 lbs.	625 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Ford Explorer achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2026 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, pedestrian crash prevention testing, and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention testing. The Model X has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

Warranty

There are over 13 times as many Ford dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Tesla.

Brakes and Stopping

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Model X:

	Explorer	Model X
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (275/45R21 vs. 265/35R22).

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Model X doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Model X (119.1 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Model X pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Model X’s (38.4 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Tremor has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Model X (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Ford Explorer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 850 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 1.8 inches more front legroom, 3.5 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear hip room, 5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.7 inches more third row headroom, 2 inches more third row legroom, 2.3 inches more third row hip room and 13.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

Cargo Capacity

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Model X.

	Explorer	Model X
Behind Third Seat	16.3 cubic feet	14.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46 cubic feet	33.8 cubic feet

The Explorer’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Explorer’s (except Active) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

While the Model X w/22” Wheels can only tow 3500, any Explorer can tow a minimum of 5000 pounds.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Model X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Explorer’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

The Explorer’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Explorer to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model X doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Explorer has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The Explorer (except Active) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model X.

The Explorer is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model X, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Explorer offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model X.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Explorer optionally equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model X, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Ford Explorer empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The Explorer (except Active) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Explorer is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Model X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Ford Explorer retains 47.11% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 36.64% resale value of the 2026 Tesla Model X after five years, which can save the Ford’s owner up to $32664 in depreciation.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Model X because typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Model X, including $556 less for a water pump, $57 less for front brake pads, $166 less for front struts and $221 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Tesla Model X by over 14 to one during 2025.

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