2017 Ford Explorer Limited for Sale in Orlando — $12,900 | Next Gear

The Limited is the family Explorer — leather, heated second-row seats, panoramic sunroof, premium technology. 148,488 miles, and the bones of one of Ford's most proven mid-size SUV platforms. $12,900.

The Explorer Limited's Identity

In the 2017 Explorer lineup — Base, XLT, Limited, Sport, Platinum — the Limited sits at the pivot point between practical and premium. It gets everything the XLT has, then adds leather seating throughout, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a power-folding third-row, hands-free power liftgate, front-view camera with parking sensors, and the SYNC 3 system on an 8-inch screen. This is the family SUV, fully loaded.

What the Limited does not have: the EcoBoost 3.5L twin-turbo engine. The Limited runs the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 with 290 horsepower. That distinction matters for the Orlando buyer — more on that below.

Engine and Drivetrain: The Right Motor for This Car

The 3.5-liter Cyclone V6 is the heart of the standard Explorer. 290 horsepower, 255 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 6-speed SelectShift automatic. This engine has been in Explorer production since 2011 with a well-documented reliability record and a widespread service network. At 148,488 miles, the 3.5 Cyclone is in normal territory — Ford engineers built this motor to go past 200,000 miles with conventional maintenance.

This unit is front-wheel drive. For year-round Orlando use — no snow, regular rain — FWD is the mechanically simpler and more economical choice. The 2017 Explorer Limited in FWD has fewer components to service and lower long-term maintenance costs than the AWD version.

Third Row, Tech, and Daily Usability

The Explorer seats seven across three rows. The third row on this generation is genuinely functional for adults on shorter trips — not the cramped afterthought you find on some competitors. Power-folding means you don't touch it: button press, third row folds flat for cargo mode.

The SYNC 3 system (introduced in 2016 to replace the troubled MyFord Touch) is a substantive improvement — faster response, better voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 8-inch screen is large for the year. The front-view camera adds a dimension of spatial awareness in tight Orlando parking situations that most drivers don't realize they're missing until they have it.

See Also: The 2016 Explorer Sport

We also carry a 2016 Explorer Sport on the lot — same price, different personality. The Sport runs the twin-turbo 3.5 EcoBoost with 365 horsepower and a sport-tuned suspension. If you want performance and towing, that's the one. If you want a comfortable, well-equipped family SUV with full luxury features, the 2017 Limited is your car. They're not competing — they answer different questions.

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Come see the Limited in person. Seven seats, full leather, all the tech — and a test drive tells the story better than any spec sheet. WhatsApp or stop by.

Browse our full inventory or apply for financing. We work with all credit types — OAC.

Price listed is + tax, tag, title, and dealer fee per Florida F.S. 501.976. Estimated payments based on approved credit.

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About the author: Eduardo Nabut is the owner of Next Gear Remarketing, a licensed Florida independent dealer based in Orlando. With over 10 years in the local market, he specializes in finding clean used inventory at honest prices for Orlando families and buyers across Central Florida. Next Gear Remarketing is located at 5130 Old Winter Garden Rd, Orlando FL 32811. Call or text: (407) 434-1330.