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In a world where SUVs dominate, one American-built three-row just flexed on the competition. The Ford Explorer, built in Chicago, didn’t just outsell every other three-row SUV in America—it outsold every model Subaru makes. That’s right, all of them. If you’re wondering how a family hauler just crushed an entire automaker’s lineup, you’re not alone. Let’s dig into the numbers.

The Ford Explorer is still the king of American three-row SUVs. Ford sold 194,094 Explorers in 2024, making it “America’s best-selling three-row SUV,” according to Ford itself. That’s more than any rival in its segment. And while Subaru sells plenty of cars, not one of its models outsold the Explorer—not the Outback, not the Forester, not the Crosstrek.

Built in Chicago, the Explorer has been a household name since the 1990s. Today, it offers buyers a choice of engines, including hybrid powertrains, something Ford calls its “Freedom of Choice strategy.” And that strategy is working. Ford’s hybrid sales jumped 40% in 2024, thanks in part to models like the Explorer Hybrid.

Ford’s Explorer is a three row SUV assembled in the US of A

Ford also credits strong SUV sales to keeping its lineup fresh. The company says it is “ready to launch” a new Expedition, and Explorer updates could follow. Meanwhile, Ford’s strategy to “bolster its vehicle inventory” ahead of 2025 ensures plenty of supply as demand remains high.

Even Lincoln, Ford’s luxury arm, is seeing a resurgence. The Lincoln Nautilus, built alongside the Explorer, was the brand’s bestseller, with “sales climbing 50% on sales of 36,544.” Lincoln’s overall retail sales hit their highest mark “since 2007.”

Meanwhile, the Explorer isn’t just selling well—it’s dominating. Its closest three-row competitors include the Toyota Highlander, which sold 186,462 units last year, and the Honda Pilot, which landed at 129,648. Ford stayed ahead of both.

Despite the SUV market shifting toward hybrids and EVs, the Explorer keeps proving that gas-powered, body-on-frame SUVs still have a place. While the market experiments with new technology, Ford is leaning on tried-and-true formulas. And the sales numbers suggest it’s working.

Trends come and go, but the Ford Explorer stays on top. While competitors tout hybrid tech, off-road gimmicks, and fancy infotainment, Ford just keeps selling Explorers. More than any other three-row SUV. More than any single Subaru model. And as long as Americans keep needing a do-it-all SUV, Ford will keep cranking them out of Chicago. Check out the Explorers rolling out of Ford’s Chicago plant for yourself in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Henry covers Ford models daily, including the F-150. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.