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Pros: good range, plenty of performance, nice interior
Cons: smaller boot than many rivals, standard equipment could be better
Ford Explorer Design
The Explorer is the first of several new electric models from Ford and is built using the ‘MEB’ platform from the Volkswagen Group. That means it shares the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Tavascan. Not that you’ll be able to tell from the outside, as Ford’s designers have given the Explorer a typically boxy SUV shape but with softened edges for a less aggressive appearance.
Ford Explorer Interior
The Explorer’s interior is modern and practical, with the main feature being a portrait touchscreen. This 14.6-inch display is set with this orientation as Ford’s designers believe it’s what most people are used to with smartphones. Its ‘Sync Move’ infotainment system is good to use and supports the latest smartphone connectivity and mirroring.
One surprise feature is that the screen’s angle can be adjusted by pressing a handle on its base. Users can slide it further inwards to put the screen at a more upright angle, which can help prevent glare on it. In doing so, another small storage area that includes USB-C charging ports is revealed. When the screen is placed at its shallowest angle, the storage area is sealed, and when the car is locked, so too is the screen’s mechanism, thus providing a secure storage locker of sorts.
Further storage is available in the versatile centre console. It’s possible to arrange its internals to fit bulky items as large as laptops or several big drinks bottles. A removable cupholder section can be stored separately and slots in place so that it won’t be rattling around when you’re driving. There’s a squarish steering wheel with touchpads on either side.
Elsewhere, there are some Volkswagen-sourced items, such as a touchpad for the headlight functions, the door window and mirror switches. The drive selector is also sourced from VW and is mounted onto the steering column in the same way as the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s is. Rear passenger space in the Explorer is quite reasonable, with decent legroom, though it falls short of some of its main rivals when it comes to boot capacity. It can carry up to 470 litres with all rear seats in place.
Ford Explorer Performance & Drive
From launch, two versions of the Ford Explorer are available: a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive option. These use two slightly different batteries: a 77kWh pack for the single motor and a 79kWh pack for the dual motor. Power outputs in both versions are respectable, with the single-motor Explorer producing up to 286hp, versus 340hp in the dual-motor, while both versions produce the same maximum torque output of 545Nm.
Range figures should be sufficient for most buyers. The 77kWh single-motor Explorer has a WLTP combined range of 602 kilometres, and the dual-motor Explorer records 566 kilometres with its 79kWh battery. When it comes to charging, the 77kWh and 79kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 and 26 minutes, respectively.
Our drive in the single-motor Explorer reveals that its power output is more than sufficient for average day-to-day driving situations. The performance delivery is smooth and not overly urgent, resulting in linear and predictable levels of acceleration and traction. The suspension setup is just on the right side of firm and the dampers do a respectable job of smoothing out the ride. Its steering is responsive and carries enough weighting to maintain a communicative connection between the steering wheel and the front axle.
As the peak torque is the same for both cars, the overall performance difference isn’t as great as expected. The dual-motor version does feel faster from a standing start, but not by a significant margin. In fact, in a 0-100km/h sprint, the dual-motor is only 1.1 seconds faster. Roll-on acceleration does feel more impressive, though, and there’s the added benefit of the front wheels providing traction when it’s lost or diminished on the rear.
On the move, both variants we drove were quiet, and you don’t get any gimmicky artificial sounds pumped into the cabin. It’s about as natural and normal as an EV can be these days. There’s only a small degree of body lean when you turn into a corner, too. The brake energy regeneration system can detect other vehicles in front and will slow the car down by first recuperating energy, though it won’t fully stop the car.
Ford Explorer Pricing
The single-motor Ford Explorer Select has a starting price of €43,591. For that, you get the 77kWh battery, the 286hp rear-wheel-drive setup and a total driving range of up to 602 kilometres. Ford doesn’t include items such as a heat pump as standard on the Explorer unfortunately, as that’s an additional €1,167. Several of the advanced driver assistance systems are also extra, coming as part of a €1,401 Driver Assistance Pack that also includes an electric tailgate.
Ford has not yet listed pricing for the more powerful Ford Explorer.
Carzone Verdict
The Ford Explorer has been coming for a long time, but has it been worth the wait? Yes and no. Being so reliant on its Volkswagen underpinnings, there are only so many aspects that Ford has been able to tune to its liking. Still, it drives nicely, but it’s not a class-leading car in any one particular area. It feels like Ford has done enough to get it to a good midfield standard rather than trying to set a new benchmark.