Exclusive amber daytime running lights and a full blackout aesthetic define the Sinister package updates.
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Since its 2025 redesign, the Ford Explorer has become one of our favorite three-row mainstream midsize SUVs. We particularly appreciate its optional 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, which is standard on the Explorer ST trim; this engine helps deliver impressive performance for a family vehicle starting under $60,000. Now, Ford is embracing a more aggressive look for the 2027 Explorer ST with its new Sinister package.
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What makes the Sinister so, well, sinister? Primarily, a set of 21-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels wrapped in 275/45R21 all-season tires. Additionally, the ST badging receives the blackout treatment, swapping its usual chrome outline for gloss black, and exclusive amber daytime running lights have been installed in place of the standard white units found on other Explorers.
While the package doesn’t enhance the Explorer ST’s performance, it already has plenty of power thanks to that twin-turbo six producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic that sends power to the rear wheels or all four with optional AWD. In that latter configuration, a 2025 Explorer ST we tested accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 13.8 seconds at just over 100 mph.
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As an added bonus, Ford is also bringing back its Explorer ST Experience. This one-day professional driving program will be offered as a complimentary perk for 2026 and 2027 Explorer ST owners. The traveling high-performance driving school is scheduled to begin touring the U.S. this fall.
Ford will announce pricing for the 2027 Explorer ST Sinister package later in 2026, ahead of its arrival at dealerships. Expect it to add roughly $2,000 to the price of a standard Explorer ST.
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Having experience in many facets of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For over 15 years, he has worked as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and such).
Before his role as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He has also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He is best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also serving as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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