Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Hybrids Dropped, Update Coming Soon

• Ford and Lincoln confirmed that neither the Explorer nor the Aviator will be offered as hybrids for 2024.

• The Explorer previously offered a hybrid model with a 3.3-liter V-6, while the Aviator Grand Touring had a plug-in-hybrid setup.

• We also spotted a refreshed Explorer with no camouflage, which we expect to arrive for 2025.

The Blue Oval's pair of three-row mid-size SUVs, the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, are receiving several changes. The first update is for the 2024 model year, as Ford and Lincoln spokespeople confirmed to C/D that the hybrid versions of both models will be dropped. Soon, we expect to hear about refreshed 2025 Explorer and Aviator models, and we've already spotted the Ford's new styling out and about with no camouflage (pictured).

No More Hybrids

The Explorer previously offered a hybrid powertrain with a 3.3-liter V-6, while the Aviator Grand Touring model had a plug-in-hybrid setup with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 and an EPA-rated electric range of 21 miles. Neither hybrid will be offered for 2024. Ford cited high demand for the hybrid version of the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility, along with demand for other Ford hybrids, as the reason for the Explorer hybrid's discontinuation. Lincoln did not provide a specific reason, but the Aviator is built at the same Chicago factory as the Explorer, so it's likely that the causes for its discontinuation are related.

Notably, the Aviator Grand Touring was one of the few plug-in-hybrid models eligible for the full $7500 tax credit as part of the new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rules. The 2024 Aviator is now available only with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 gas engine, while the 2024 Explorer is offered with the same 3.0L V-6 or a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four base engine.