New Ford Explorer Costa Mesa, CA
* Plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, $85 dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charges..
** Special factory financing in lieu of Ford factory rebates. *** Ford special offer rebates include all available Ford Factory Rebates. Some customers may not qualify for all Ford Factory Rebates.****Prices do not include government fees and taxes, any finance charge, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge and any emissions testing charge*
Factory rebates include all available Ford Factory Rebates some may not qualify for all Ford Factory Rebates. Special factory financing in lieu of Ford Factory Rebates. Picture of the vehicle is for illustration purposes only. Vehicle Specification may vary if the vehicle has been Modified or Altered. Actual dealer price may vary. Availability subject to change. The dealer is not responsible for any errors or omissions concerning any information represented.
All Pricing and Advertised Prices for all new and used vehicles offered for sale does not include dealer installed accessories which can be purchased for an additional cost.
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Who Should Buy the Ford Explorer?
The Ford Explorer is ideal for Orange County families needing three-row seating, commuters traveling between Irvine and Anaheim, and drivers wanting an SUV capable of weekend trips to Big Bear, Joshua Tree, or the Southern California coast.
Why Costa Mesa Drivers Choose Huntington Beach Ford for the Explorer
- Minutes from South Coast Plaza About 10 miles from central Costa Mesa via CA-55 then CA-1/Beach Blvd, so a test drive fits easily around a shopping trip or a Newport Beach afternoon.
- Deep Explorer selection Multiple trims and powertrain combinations available, from the standard 2.3L EcoBoost to the available 3.0L EcoBoost, so Costa Mesa families can compare builds side by side in one visit.
- Trade-in & financing on the spot Get an instant online KBB Cash Offer and pre-approval applied directly to your Explorer build.
- Test drives & delivery Schedule here, or ask about delivery for shoppers coming from Newport Beach, Irvine, or elsewhere in the area.
- Service that travels to you Ford Pickup & Delivery and mobile service (where available) keep upkeep easy for Costa Mesa families who don't want to lose a weekend day to the service lane.
Ford Explorer Overview: Trims, Engines & Features
The 2026 Ford Explorer lineup starts from $38,465 MSRP and spans six trims up through $54,905. The standard powertrain is a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 making approximately 300 hp, with an available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 on the ST and Tremor trims reaching a max available 385 hp. Every Explorer offers three-row seating, giving families genuine room for passengers and cargo without stepping up to a larger SUV.
Whether it's a value-focused base trim for daily errands or the ST/Tremor for buyers who want extra power alongside the practicality of three rows, the Explorer lineup covers a wide range of family needs from one showroom visit.
Why the Explorer Fits Life in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa sits just inland from the coast, home to South Coast Plaza's dense retail and dining and a short hop from the beaches of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. An Explorer owner here might load the third row with grandparents and cousins for a South Coast Plaza dinner on Friday, then fold those same seats flat on Saturday morning to haul beach chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards down to the sand. That kind of flexibility — real passenger room one day, real cargo room the next — is exactly what a 3-row family SUV is built to deliver in a coastal city where retail errands and beach days share the same weekend.
For Costa Mesa's active-lifestyle households — beach volleyball leagues, youth sports carpools, weekend trips to Newport Beach's harbor — the available 3.0L EcoBoost's extra passing power is genuinely useful on the freeway stretches between home, school, and the coast, while three-row seating means one vehicle covers the whole group instead of splitting into two cars for a single outing.
Explorer vs the Competition
Updated 2026-07-24 · Sources & last updated: July 2026
| Feature | Ford Explorer | Toyota Highlander | Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | From $38,465[1] | See manufacturer specifications[2] | See manufacturer specifications[2] |
| Seating | 3-row, 7-passenger[1] | 3-row, seats vary by trim[2] | 3-row, seats vary by trim[2] |
| Base engine | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4, ~300 hp[1] | See manufacturer specifications[2] | See manufacturer specifications[2] |
| Max available power | 3.0L EcoBoost V6, 385 hp (ST/Tremor)[1] | See manufacturer specifications[2] | See manufacturer specifications[2] |
| EPA fuel economy | See current EPA rating by trim[3] | See current EPA rating by trim[3] | See current EPA rating by trim[3] |
| Safety ratings | See manufacturer specifications[4] | See manufacturer specifications[4] | See manufacturer specifications[4] |
Sources:
- Ford.com — official 2026 Ford Explorer specifications (MSRP, trims, engine hp, seating), as of July 24, 2026.
- Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com) and each manufacturer's official site — Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride trim, engine, and MSRP specifications (approx.).
- EPA (fueleconomy.gov) — official EPA fuel economy ratings by trim and powertrain.
- NHTSA (nhtsa.gov) and IIHS (iihs.org) — official crash-test and safety ratings by model year.
Figures current at the time of publication.
The Highlander, Pilot, and Kia Telluride are all well-established 3-row family SUV choices — the Highlander for Toyota's reliability reputation, the Pilot for Honda's cabin flexibility, and the Telluride for its value-forward feature content. Where the Explorer stands out is available power: the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 on ST and Tremor trims reaches a max available 385 hp, well above the naturally aspirated V6 outputs typical of this class, while every Explorer trim still delivers genuine three-row seating for seven.
For Costa Mesa families splitting time between South Coast Plaza errands and Newport Beach weekends, that combination of family-sized seating and available performance gives the Explorer a real edge over rivals that emphasize efficiency or value over outright power. See our full Ford Explorer comparison for a trim-by-trim breakdown.
Popular Explorer Configurations for Costa Mesa Shoppers
The base Explorer and XLT are the practical picks for Costa Mesa families who want three-row seating and the standard 2.3L EcoBoost without stepping up in price. The Limited adds comfort and tech features for daily South Coast Plaza and school-run duty, while buyers who want more power for freeway merges and weekend trips are increasingly asking about the ST and Tremor for their available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 and its max available 385 hp.
Getting to Huntington Beach Ford from Costa Mesa
From central Costa Mesa, take CA-55 toward the coast, then connect to CA-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) or Beach Blvd (CA-39) to 18255 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach — about 10 miles, typically a 15–20 minute drive. The route runs close to Newport Beach, so it's an easy add-on to a South Coast Plaza shopping trip or a coastal errand run.
Financing & Offers for Costa Mesa Shoppers
Get pre-approved online, value your trade with an instant offer, and ask our team about current Explorer incentives and lease programs. Call us at 888-516-4195 or stop by 18255 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, to see what you qualify for.
Related Explorer & Ford Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Huntington Beach Ford from Costa Mesa?
Huntington Beach Ford sits at 18255 Beach Blvd (CA-39), about 10 miles from Costa Mesa — typically a 15–20 minute drive via CA-55 then CA-1/Beach Blvd.
Which route gets Costa Mesa Explorer shoppers to Huntington Beach Ford?
Take CA-55 south toward the coast, then connect to CA-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) or Beach Blvd (CA-39) north to 18255 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach.
Does the Explorer's third row make sense for a family based near South Coast Plaza and Newport Beach?
Yes. Three-row seating means a Costa Mesa family can carry weekend beach gear, extra passengers for a Newport Beach outing, or a full carpool to South Coast Plaza without swapping to a second vehicle, while the available 3.0L EcoBoost gives that same family real passing power on the freeway home.
How does the Ford Explorer compare to the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride?
All four are 3-row family SUVs, but the Explorer's available 3.0L EcoBoost V6 tops out at 385 hp on ST and Tremor trims, ahead of the naturally aspirated V6 outputs typical of the Highlander, Pilot, and Telluride. Starting MSRP is $38,465. See the comparison table below for a trim-by-trim breakdown.
Can I trade in my current vehicle toward a new Explorer at Huntington Beach Ford from Costa Mesa?
Yes. Costa Mesa shoppers can get an instant online KBB Cash Offer or bring the vehicle to our Huntington Beach showroom for an appraisal, then apply the value toward a new Explorer.