2026 Ford F-150® XLT vs. Lariat®: Where Does the Extra Equipment Go?

If you're shopping for a new Ford Explorer in Ypsilanti, MI, you’ve made a great choice. But now you need to figure out what trim works best for you. Let’s take a look at the Explorer’s Active and ST Line trim levels. Both trims offer a lot to love, but there are differences between the two trims. Understanding what sets them apart can help you decide which one is right for you before you visit our Ford dealership. Ford Explorer Active vs. ST Line – What They Share Both The Explorer Active and ST Line are powered by a 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine producing 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Inside the cabin, both models come standard with the 13.2-in Ford Digital Experience touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and a 12.3-in digital driver cluster. What Makes the Active Different Designed as a practical and comfortable foundation, the Active features 18-in Sparkle Silver aluminum wheels, a dark gray grille with chrome bars,  heated 10-way power front seats, and a power liftgate—making it ideal for daily commuting and weekend family road trips. How the ST Line Sets Itself Apart The ST Line takes a different approach. It emphasizes athletic styling. It upgrades to 20-in Ebony-painted aluminum wheels, blacked-out exterior accents, a black honeycomb grille, dark tint headlamps/taillamps, red interior contrast stitching, a flat-bottom sports steering wheel, a 10-speaker B&O® Sound System, and available BlueCruise® hands-free highway driving. Think of the ST Line as the Explorer that turns heads in the city while still being perfectly capable for drivers in Ypsilanti, MI, who want something that feels energetic and comfortable on the daily commute. Interior and Feature Differences Both trims come well-equipped, but their interior priorities differ. The Active emphasizes durability and daily practicality with cloth sea ts, a heated 10-way power driver seat, a 4-way power passenger seat, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The ST-Line adds ActiveX® seats featuring red contrast stitching, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, and a 10-speaker B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen. Practical space is identical across both configurations, with 16.3 cu ft of cargo volume behind the third row, 46 cu ft behind the second row, and up to 85.8 cu ft of maximum cargo capacity with all rear seats folded flat. Both trims anchor their cabin tech around a standard 13.2-in Ford Digital Experience touchscreen with Google built-in and a 12.3-in digital instrument cluster. They also come standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360® driver-assist suite—including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping System, and Adaptive Cruise Control. Visit Gene Butman Ford Sales to Explore Both Trims The best way to feel the difference is to see both trims in person. The team at Gene Butman Ford Sales is ready to walk you through every detail and help you find the Explorer that fits your life. Stop by or browse our current Ford Explorer inventory online and learn more.

At first glance, there isn't a great mechanical gulf between the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport ® Big Bend® and Outer Banks®. Both use the same turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, the same 8-speed automatic transmission, and standard 4x4, while their principal displays are identical. The differences emerge in the details: Big Bend® provides the simpler specification with several routes into additional off-road equipment, while Outer Banks® brings more comfort as standard and can make a substantial mechanical leap through the available Sasquatch® Outer Banks® Package. For Ypsilanti, MI drivers dealing with winter roads as well as weekend travel, it's worth examining the equipment beneath the trim badges. The Standard Mechanical Package Is Identical Both models use a 1.5L EcoBoost® 3-cylinder producing 180 hp and 200 lbs. ft. of torque, connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission and 4x4. Ford's Terrain Management System™ provides 5 G.O.A.T. Modes®—Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Off-Road—and standard ground clearance is 7.8 inches. EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. Fit the available Class II Trailer Tow Package and either trim can provide up to 2,200 lbs. of towing capacity. In standard form, then, neither model holds a meaningful performance advantage over the other. Big Bend® Leaves Space to Choose Your Equipment Big Bend® uses 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted aluminum wheels and HOSS 1.0 off-road-tuned suspension, an appropriate combination for a compact SUV expected to encounter broken surfaces, dirt roads, snow, and lighter trails. Its technology specification is hardly basic: a 13.2-inch SYNC® 4 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility accompanies an 8-inch digital cluster display. Buyers wanting more trail equipment can add the available Black Diamond® Off-Road Package. Ford also offers new Bronze and Bronze + Black Diamond® Off-Road packages for 2026, expanding the ways Big Bend® can be configured without moving to Outer Banks®. Outer Banks® Concentrates on Everyday Comfort Outer Banks® doesn't alter the standard powertrain, but it changes the environment around the occupants. Its 18-inch machined-face Ebony Black-painted aluminum wheels and Shadow Black-painted roof create a different exterior character, joined by LED fog lamps and heated power side mirrors. Inside are an auto-dimming rearview mirror and dual-zone automatic climate control. Crucially, the move up the range doesn't bring a larger standard touchscreen. Outer Banks® retains the same 13.2-inch SYNC® 4 display and 8-inch digital cluster found in Big Bend®, so the additional equipment is concentrated elsewhere. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 is available for drivers seeking further assistance on longer journeys. Sasquatch® Changes More Than the Appearance The available Sasquatch® Outer Banks® Package is the point at which this comparison becomes mechanically more interesting. It adds Advanced 4x4 with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, giving Outer Banks® more specialized hardware for demanding terrain. There are consequences to that extra capability: EPA-estimated fuel economy changes to 23 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The package also replaces the standard 8-inch cluster with a 12.3-inch display. This creates a clear distinction from Big Bend® and its available Black Diamond® equipment, making the package selection at least as important as the trim selection for drivers planning regular trail use. Choose the Specification, Not Just the Badge Big Bend® makes a persuasive case if standard 4x4, HOSS 1.0 suspension, the 13.2-inch touchscreen, and access to additional off-road packages cover the intended use. Outer Banks® suits drivers who value its added climate, mirror, lighting, and exterior equipment before options enter the picture. Add the Sasquatch® Outer Banks® Package, though, and the discussion changes from cabin amenities to more specialized 4x4 hardware. That's why comparing the finished configurations is more revealing than treating Outer Banks® as simply a better-equipped Big Bend®. Compare Bronco Sport® Trims at Gene Butman Ford Sales Visit Gene Butman Ford Sales in Ypsilanti, MI to compare 2026 Ford Bronco Sport® Big Bend® and Outer Banks® models, including their available off-road packages and technology. Schedule a test drive to experience the 4x4 system, cabin equipment, and driving characteristics firsthand before choosing the Bronco Sport® specification that suits your plans.

There is an appealing simplicity to the 2026 Ford Maverick: a compact pickup with a 4.5-foot FLEXBED®, manageable dimensions, and powertrains that don't pretend every truck owner needs a V8. Yet the distinction between XLT and Lariat® is more interesting than cloth versus ActiveX® seating. XLT offers greater freedom in how the powertrain and drivetrain are configured, while Lariat® starts with hybrid AWD and layers on comfort and driver-assistance equipment. For Ypsilanti, MI buyers, the first decision should therefore concern the hardware, not the upholstery. XLT Offers the Broader Drivetrain Menu XLT starts with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain, Power-Split electronic continuously variable transmission, and FWD, with hybrid AWD available. The alternative is a 2.0L EcoBoost® producing 250 hp and 280 lbs. ft. of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic and offered with FWD or AWD. Lariat® removes some of those choices by making the 2.5L hybrid with AWD standard. Its available 250-hp EcoBoost® also comes with AWD and the 8-speed automatic. So moving up to Lariat® doesn't unlock a more powerful engine; it establishes AWD as part of the basic specification. XLT Keeps the Working End Well Equipped The XLT specification is straightforward: cloth seating, 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted aluminum wheels, Intelligent Access with push-button start, and approach detection. More interesting is what happens behind the cab. The 4.5-foot FLEXBED® provides 33.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, 10 tie-downs, and a passenger-side storage cubby. A 2K trailer hitch receiver with a 4-pin connector is standard. For owners expecting more time away from paved roads, the available FX4® Off-Road Package adds an off-road-tuned suspension, skid plates, front tow hooks, Hill Descent Control™, and selectable drive modes. Lariat® Changes the Experience, Not the Basic Truck Lariat® replaces cloth with ActiveX®-trimmed seating and adds heated front seats, an 8-way power driver's seat with power lumbar, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ambient interior lighting. An acoustic windshield should also be appreciated for what it tells you about the trim's priorities: this Maverick® is aimed at buyers who expect to spend plenty of time in it. An 8-speaker B&O® Sound System with a subwoofer handles the audio, while Pro Power Onboard™ provides up to 400 watts for compatible devices and equipment. Outside, 19-inch machined-face bright aluminum wheels provide the clearest visual distinction from XLT. You Don't Need Lariat® for the Large Touchscreen Both trims receive a 13.2-inch SYNC® 4 touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, which keeps one of the most visible pieces of cabin technology consistent across the pair. Lariat® earns its technology advantage elsewhere, with standard Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering. Available equipment includes a 360-Degree Camera, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist™, Pro Trailer Backup Assist™, and Trailer Reverse Guidance. Those additions are more significant than another inch or two of screen because they can change how the truck behaves during longer journeys and trailer maneuvering. Tow Ratings Belong to Configurations, Not Badges Properly equipped Maverick® models can provide up to 4,000 lbs. of towing capacity with the available 4K Tow Package, while maximum available payload reaches 1,500 lbs. The crucial qualification is configuration. Powertrain, drivetrain, and equipment affect the final rating, so an XLT or Lariat® badge by itself tells you very little about what a specific truck can safely carry or pull. Buyers with a known trailer should begin with its loaded weight and work backward into the appropriate Maverick® configuration. Pick XLT for Choice, Lariat® for Standard Equipment XLT is compelling because it allows FWD or AWD configurations and leaves room to add towing or off-road hardware around the intended use. Lariat® makes the stronger case for drivers who already want hybrid AWD, heated ActiveX® seating, upgraded audio, additional climate equipment, and more standard driver assistance. Mechanically, the two remain closely related; it's the starting specification that changes. Compare Maverick® Trims at Gene Butman Ford Sales Visit Gene Butman Ford Sales in Ypsilanti, MI to compare 2026 Ford Maverick® XLT and Lariat® configurations, including their hybrid and EcoBoost® powertrains and available towing equipment. Schedule a test drive to see how each trim feels on the road and decide which combination of drivetrain, cabin equipment, and FLEXBED® versatility fits your plans.