These 4 SUVs Are More Reliable Than The Ford Explorer

When it comes to buying a new (or new-to-you) car, what matters the most? For many drivers, reliability is a significant factor in the purchasing decision. After all, you need to be able to rely on your vehicle to get you where you need to go. Yet it’s tough to determine reliability without testing it out yourself. Fortunately, many consumers have tested a long list of SUVs, including the Ford Explorer.

Unfortunately for Explorer owner-drivers, the 2025 Ford Explorer did not exactly impress with its reliability. Consumers who report to industry aggregators like J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book (KBB) gave the Ford Explorer below-average reliability ratings. In SlashGear’s 2025 Ford Explorer review, we established that there are some things to love about the Explorer. Plus, changes to Ford in 2026 could be positive for multiple models in the manufacturer’s lineup.

The fact remains, however, that J.D. Power consumer ratings gave the Explorer a Quality & Reliability rating of 77 out of 100. At KBB, reliability ratings averaged 3.6 out of 5. All told, the Explorer did not perform well on the reliability metric for the 2025 model year — and there are a handful of SUVs that are considered far more reliable based on the same metrics. For more on how we compiled this list of more reliable SUVs, read through our methodology when the list concludes.

2025 Kia Telluride

Kia’s Telluride is known for many things, including a spacious interior and its range of trim options. Not only did the 2025 model year include 13 trim selections, but it also featured updates from the prior year. There are some things to know before buying a Telluride, like the fact that it’s one of the pricier SUV options on the market.

A 2025 Telluride at the low end of the feature range starts at around $36,000 MSRP, with the trim options topping out at around $53,000. At that price, however, J.D. Power reports a great driving experience and solid resale value. In addition, J.D. Power awarded the 2025 Telluride an 85 out of 100 for its Quality and Reliability. The category considers how many defects the vehicle has, such as malfunctions and design flaws. The figure suggests that the Telluride has far fewer issues than the Ford Explorer when it comes to reliability.

J.D. Power’s drivers aren’t the only ones who report a good reliability score for the Kia Telluride. KBB reports a 4.3 out of 5 Reliability rating from consumers. Though the Telluride isn’t perfect, it has far fewer reported problems than the Ford Explorer. Plus, although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents three recalls for the 2025 Telluride, none required immediate intervention.

2025 Nissan Pathfinder

While the 2025 Ford Explorer received 77 out of 100 on J.D. Power’s reliability ratings, the Nissan Pathfinder was awarded an 84. According to J.D. Power‘s collection of consumer feedback, the Quality & Reliability of the Pathfinder is great. Over on KBB, owner-driver ratings averaged 4.3 out of 5. The majority (80%) of owners recommended the Pathfinder, with other perks being the styling and comfort.

The Pathfinder’s resale value may not be the best, however, and consumers on KBB gave it a 4.2 out of 5 stars for Value. According to KBB data, the 2025 Pathfinder started at about $37,000, with various trim options. A search for certified used Pathfinders in the Sacramento, California, area seems to echo concerns about resale value. Some used Pathfinder SVs lost as much as $10,000 in value about a year and a half after manufacture, based on listing prices with Nissan USA. That said, J.D. Power‘s data suggests the Pathfinder should experience average depreciation over the three years following manufacture.

Your mileage may vary — not to mention the price tag — but in general, drivers might be happy enough to keep their Pathfinder given how high the reliability scores are. Not only that, but J.D. Power noted that consumers had an overall great experience at Nissan dealers, too.

2025 Subaru Ascent

Subaru has a lot going for it, including ranking as the second most reliable brand as of 2025, according to Consumer Reports. When it comes to the 2025 Ascent, there is a lot to appreciate. SlashGear’s 2025 Subaru Ascent review showcased the SUV’s spacious interior (three rows of seats fit adults), solid handling, and a price that is pretty competitive for the market. As the Subaru with the most interior space, the Ascent may earn accolades for its size alone.

Yet the 2025 Ascent has another thing going for it: better reliability than the Ford Explorer. Consumers reporting to J.D. Power rated the Ascent with an 84 for Quality & Reliability. Echoed in the driving experience rating, however, is SlashGear’s observation that the steering is less than responsive on tricky terrain. However, the resale value is solid, per J.D. Power’s consumer ratings, and the dealership experience is top-notch.

Consumer ratings at KBB echo favor for the Ascent, with a 4.1 out of 5 rating for overall reliability. The Ascent also scores high for styling, quality, and comfort, though value is lowest-rated at 4 out of 5. Sure, it might not be the best fit for every consumer (or their wallet), but the Ascent has a lot going for it — and the $39,000+ MSRP may be worth it for many.

2025 Toyota Highlander

It’s probably no surprise that Toyota has an entry that outranks the Ford Explorer for reliability. At least, anyone who has had a Toyota last more than 250,000 miles (as I have) probably isn’t shocked. Toyota was also the most reliable brand as of 2025, according to Consumer Reports, based on problems reported by consumers and categorized by Consumer Reports.

Unsurprisingly, drivers who gave their feedback to J.D. Power largely agreed that the Highlander has great Quality & Reliability; the SUV received a score of 84 out of 100. KBB reports also reflect a 4.1 out of 5 rating for the Highlander, significantly higher than the Ford Explorer’s 3.6 ranking in the same category.

Toyota Highlanders may have good resale value, too, according to J.D. Power data. Perhaps due to the higher MSRP — 2025 Highlanders opened at just over $41,000 — KBB respondents rated value the lowest of any category. With J.D. Power, the resale value is rated great with a 90 out of 100. One caveat is that the driving and dealership experiences were not rated “great” by consumers; both categories received figures that equate to “average.”

Methodology

To determine the top four SUVs that are more reliable than the Ford Explorer, we first looked at the top rankings for Best Upper Midsize SUV of 2025 with J.D.Power. Then, we selected the models with the highest Quality & Reliability. After that, we cross-referenced KBB’s consumer-reported reliability rankings and ranked/eliminated models based on those averages.

Other SUVs rated higher for reliability than the 2025 Ford Explorer (but with lower ratings than the SUVs we selected above) include the 2025 Hyundai Palisade, 2025 Dodge Durango, and 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe.

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Stephan Dorsey

Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.

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Recent Reviews

A Firsthand Guide to Skiing Deer Valley’s New East Village Terrain

Deer Valley’s new terrain expansion is one of the most ambitious projects in modern skiing. The resort plans to nearly double its skiable terrain while maintaining the industry-leading standards it’s known for. We spent an extended trip in early 2026 skiing the new footprint alongside Deer Valley representatives and Olympic skier Fuzz Feddersen to see how it all came together.

Construction is still ongoing, and this season marked the worst snow year in Deer Valley’s history. Even so, we found the new terrain diverse and distinct, yet seamlessly integrated into the legacy Deer Valley experience.

This guide introduces the terrain, lifts, and base-area amenities in Deer Valley’s East Village so you can make the most of the Expanded Excellence initiative.

East Village: A Second Front Door

Keetley Express Opening Day — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

Deer Valley East Village is seamlessly connected on the slopes, but geographically separate from the main resort, and that separation works in its favor. Accessed via US-189, it bypasses Park City traffic entirely.

Yes, it’s still a work in progress. You’ll see active construction throughout the base area. But the core infrastructure is already in place, and it functions like a fully supported ski base. What’s here now works and what’s coming will only enhance it.

The East Village base area delivers the Deer Valley essentials: free parking, rental shop, ski valet, and East Village Restaurant, where a bowl of the resort’s signature chili tastes especially good on a cold afternoon.

Where to Stay in East Village (25/26 Season)

High hot chocolate at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley Utah — Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.

For the 25/26 season, the clear lodging choice is the newly completed Grand Hyatt. It offers a signature restaurant, on-site Ski Butlers rentals, a full spa, and shuttle service to Park City and Snow Park. There’s no ski-in/ski-out access yet, but a short shuttle brings you directly to the East Village base.

Additional hotels are expected to open for 26/27, which will further transform East Village into a true walkable ski hub.

We found the Grand Hyatt welcoming and highly functional, particularly with Ski Butlers on-site and a massive locker room that makes gearing up painless. Their High Hot Chocolate service, modeled after high tea but featuring locally processed cocoa, may become a new tradition for us. It’s indulgent enough to stand in for a light meal or serve as a sweet reset between Park City’s famously rich dinners.

The only logistical wrinkle is shuttle coverage. Service does not extend to Empire Canyon (Fireside Dining) or Silver Lake (Stein Eriksen Lodge, Mariposa), so a bit of planning is required. Still, between Snow Park (St. Regis, Cast & Cut) and downtown Park City, dining options are abundant. With new hotels opening next season, you may soon be able to walk to a different restaurant every night and still not try them all.

Snow Science: The Engine Behind the Expansion

Expanded Terrain snowmaking gun — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

Deer Valley’s reputation has always been built on snow quality, from immaculate corduroy to sophisticated snowmaking. The expansion continues that legacy in a serious way.

The new terrain draws most of its water from Jordanelle Reservoir. Roughly 80 miles of new snowmaking pipe now support more than 1,200 high-efficiency snow guns. The reservoir isn’t just scenic, it’s foundational.

What’s more impressive is the sustainability loop. Deer Valley is allocated just 1% of the reservoir’s available water. Through dedicated irrigation channels, approximately 80% of that allotment is returned by season’s end. Combined with an expanded grooming fleet, that system allowed the resort to open a record number of runs during a historically hot and dry winter.

If you’re wondering how the terrain skied so well in a lean year, this is your answer.

East Village Gondola: The Spine of the New Terrain

The 10-passenger high-speed East Village Gondola is one of the two primary lifts out of the base area. It’s a 15-minute, 3,000-vertical-foot ride to Park Peak (9,350’), with a mid-station at Big Dutch Peak (8,170’).

From Park Peak, you access some of Utah’s longest runs along with terrain served by Pinyon Express and the Vulcan Express / Revelator Express lifts.

Green Monster is the headline act: a 4.85-mile green descent between Park Peak and Baldy Mountain, nearly 40% longer than Park City Mountain’s Home Run. It weaves between two blues: Carbonite, which drops along the ridge, and Age of Reason, which follows the valley floor.

Deer Valley partnered with longtime Mountain Host Michael O’Malley to name the new terrain in ways that honor both local mining history and the resort’s evolving identity. “Green Monster” references a Wasatch County copper mine, though you’ll never convince me there isn’t a double entendre for the 37-foot-tall wall in Fenway Park that has foiled many home runs. Common sense tells us that “Age of Reason” is an homage to Thomas Paine, and I could imagine cruising down the exposed ridge would freeze you like the compound that imprisoned Han Solo. However, “Carbonite” is a nod to Park City’s silver mining legacy.

Names aside, the terrain progression is smart. Carbonite offers a manageable ridge experience before committing to Redemption Ridge. And if confidence wavers, Green Monster provides a bailout.

Another thoughtful touch is Corduroy Lunch. Select freshly groomed terrain off the gondola’s mid-station remains roped until noon. Carving fresh tracks midday is a true afternoon delight.

Keetley Express: The Connector

Keetley Express lift Deer Valley Ski Resort Utah — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

Keetley Express is the other primary East Village lift and likely the fastest gateway back to legacy Deer Valley terrain. After the 1.25-mile ride up, a short ski down Road to Sultan brings you to Sultan Express.

Of course, you have to take Sultan up the mountain before you get back to skiing. That sets you up for over 5 continuous miles of green runs if you combine Homeward Bound with McHenry, or take a run on the classic black Stein’s Way. You could also use connectors to access the lower half of Green Monster or McHenry directly, or try the plethora of intermediate runs off Keetley Point.

Advanced skiers should keep Keetley on their radar as well. When conditions align, it’s a sneaky access point to Mayflower Bowl and its quiet pocket of expert terrain.

Aurora: Small but Essential

McHenry / Aurora area Deer Valley Ski Resort Utah — Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.

Aurora is easy to underestimate. It’s only about 700 feet long and takes two minutes to ride, but it plays a crucial role.

It’s the return lift from McHenry, which connects directly to Silver Lake Lodge, and it services Keetley Point terrain. There’s also a confusing sign near the top of Aurora on Green Monster directing skiers left toward East Village. If you follow it, you’ll earn a short Aurora ride, and remember to hang right next time if you want to return directly to Keetley and the gondola.

Tiny lift. Big utility.

Vulcan Express & Revelator Express: Commitment Terrain

Woman carving Ridgeline at Deer Valley — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

These lifts rise from one of the steepest valleys in the Deer Valley footprint, so steep that lift towers had to be installed by helicopter.

Redemption Ridge is the signature descent, often described as Stein’s Way on steroids. At roughly twice the length of Stein’s, it drops 2,700 vertical feet over 2.5 miles. Once you commit, you’re in it, with steeper, more technical lines breaking off the ridgeline into the valley.

If that feels ambitious, start on Stein’s to calibrate. Carbonite also offers a similar exposed-ridge experience that’s much more forgiving. But If the snow is right and you can hang, Redemption could be your saving grace from the Bambi Basin blues.

Pinyon Express: High-Alpine Access for Everyone

Pinyon Express Chairlift — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

Pinyon Express and Revelator both reach Park Peak, but their personalities diverge from there.

Pinyon serves a beginner-friendly zone on the north side of Park Peak, allowing newer skiers to experience high-mountain terrain without intimidation. Clipper stands out because it also connects the East Village Gondola back into legacy Deer Valley terrain, but there are multiple easy route options.

Because Pinyon sits right at the boundary between old and new terrain, it functions as a seamless crossover point. Novice skiers and ski classes can access this alpine playground from either side of the resort.

The Future of Deer Valley Is Already Underfoot

Fuzz_Ski_with_a_Champion — Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.

It would be easy to judge an expansion like this on acreage alone. Nearly doubling skiable terrain is headline material in any snow year, let alone the driest season in resort history. But what impressed us most wasn’t the scale; it was the intention.

Expanded Excellence doesn’t feel bolted on. It feels studied. Deliberate. The lift placements make sense. The terrain progression makes sense. Even the names tell a story. You can ski a 4.85-mile green down Green Monster, test your mettle on Redemption Ridge, duck into legacy terrain off Keetley, and end the day with corduroy that rivals anything Deer Valley has ever groomed, all without feeling like you’ve left the original footprint of the resort.

That’s no small feat.

Skiing with Olympic veteran Fuzz Feddersen gave us an insider’s lens, but even without that access, the throughline is obvious: Deer Valley isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. They’re building a second front door that will eventually feel as iconic as Snow Park or Silver Lake, and they’re doing it with the same snow science, guest service, and meticulous grooming that built their reputation in the first place.

East Village still hums with construction equipment. You’ll see cranes on the skyline and fresh dirt where hotels will soon rise. But beneath that temporary noise is something permanent: infrastructure that works, terrain that skis well in lean years, and a blueprint that positions Deer Valley for the next several decades.

If this was Expanded Excellence in the worst snow year on record, it’s hard to imagine what it will feel like in a banner winter.

One thing is certain: the future of Deer Valley isn’t coming. It’s already here!

Ready to Book Your Trip? These Links Will Make It Easy:

Airfare:

Insurance:

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Our Packing Favs:

We LOVE Matador Equipment for their innovative products and sustainability focus. Their SEG45 is a game changer when you need large capacity while packing light.
Travel in style with a suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or handbag from Knack Bags
Packing cubes make organized packing a breeze! We love these from Eagle Creek

Disclosure: A big thank you to Deer Valley Resort for hosting us, setting up a fantastic itinerary, and usage of some of the images throughout (image credit in hover text ).

For more travel inspiration, check out Deer Valley Resort’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.

As always, the views and opinions expressed are entirely our own, and we only recommend brands and destinations that we 100% stand behind.

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Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.

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