Taking The Detour: Why Adventure-Seeking Families Choose The Ford Explorer® SUV

Family vacations come in all shapes and sizes, but road trips have one undeniable advantage: nobody can tell you you're doing them wrong.

See a sign for the World's Largest Petting zoo? Merge away. Decide everyone's too invested in the audiobook to stop for lunch just yet? Keep driving. Change your plans halfway through the day because someone spotted a waterfall on the navigation? That's the beauty of having your own set of wheels, they leave room for some spontaneity. The only real requirement? A vehicle that's just as ready to pivot as your family is.

That's why families like Susan Kikuli's rely on the 2026 Ford Explorer® ST SUV. The Las Vegas mom of two and creator of @mama_and_minis_adventures spends her weekends chasing trails, lakes, and campsites with her sons, Christopher and David. She tells Scary Mommy that the Ford Explorer® ST SUV gives her the confidence to keep saying "Sure, let's see where this road goes." And it’s no wonder why. Ford happens to be ranked #1 in Initial Quality among Mainstream Brands by JD Power & Associates.*

*Ford received the lowest rate of reported problems among mass market brands in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study of new vehicle owners’ experiences after 90 days of ownership. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more information. Awards based on 2026 model year. Newer models may be shown.

"Having the Explorer® ST SUV, a vehicle with adventure capabilities, has enabled us to venture off and try new things, new trails, and new experiences," she tells Scary Mommy. Here's why it's become her family's ultimate road-trip companion.

Plenty Of Room For Everyone

Any parent knows the people aren't the only passengers on vacation. There's the cooler. The snacks. The backpacks. The emergency bag. The "just in case" sweatshirt nobody wears until they absolutely need it. Somehow, it’s all supposed to fit in one car.

The 2026 Ford Explorer® ST SUV makes that part a whole lot easier.

With third-row seating for up to six passengers (or seven with the available second-row bench seats), everyone has room to spread out without spending three hours negotiating invisible seat boundaries. An available Cargo Organizer helps keep everything in its place, so when someone inevitably asks, "Mom, where are my headphones?" you don't have to unload half the cargo area just to find the one thing they're suddenly incapable of living without.

For Susan, that space isn't a luxury. It's what makes the whole trip run more smoothly. "The Explorer® ST SUV has given us the space,” she says, “Not to mention comfort to pack up our gear, spread out, and simply enjoy the ride.” And isn’t enjoying the journey what it’s all about anyway?

Comfort That Goes Beyond Comfortable Seats

Anyone who's survived six hours of "Are we there yet?" knows comfort isn't a luxury — it's survival. Luckily, the Explorer® ST is basically giving VIP lounge on wheels. Think heated and ventilated front seats, plus roomy, heated second-row captain's chairs, complete with armrests, climate controls, and cup holders.

For Susan, though, the biggest luxury isn't a heated seat. It's feeling less mentally exhausted when they finally reach their destination.

Available Ford BlueCruise enables hands-free highway driving on 97% of controlled-access highways across the U.S. and Canada while monitoring the driver's gaze to help ensure they stay engaged. It can even assist with lane changes, making long stretches of highway feel a little less tiring. Susan credits this feature with giving her the ability to navigate busy highways while still feeling confidence behind the wheel.

"This feature truly makes me more comfortable and less stressed, so I can arrive feeling relaxed," Susan says. That matters because the less energy she spends managing the drive, the more she has left for the adventure waiting at the destination.

"More than anything," Susan says, "our outdoor experiences are teaching them the importance of being present."

Navigating Life, Even When The Map Ends

The best family adventures rarely stick to the beaten path. One minute you're cruising down the interstate. The next you're winding toward a hidden lake, a campground, or a trailhead someone recommended online. Fortunately, the 2026 Ford Explorer® ST is designed for both.

Its six standard drive modes — including Eco, Sport, Slippery, Trail, Normal, and Tow/Haul — help Susan stay confident whether she's navigating highways, dirt roads, loose gravel, or muddy trails.

That's important because her family's adventures rarely look the same twice.

"From camping, to kayaking, to hiking, to biking, we love it all, and we're always open to learning and experiencing new things," she says. "The Explorer® SUV has given me the confidence to take on almost any terrain."

The best family vehicles do more than get everyone from Point A to Point B. They help make it easier to say yes to the scenic route, one more hike, the weird roadside attraction, or the last-minute campground someone recommended five minutes ago.

Learn more about the 2026 Ford Explorer® ST SUV.