How Does Ford’s Electric Explorer Measure Up To Cheaper EVs?

By Jeremy Taylor & Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby

1 week ago

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby charge up a mass-market, family-friendly Ford

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How does Ford’s second electric SUV measure up on a forecourt crowded with battery-powered competition? Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby find out.

Car Review: Ford Explorer

JT-P – No more Ford Fiesta, the Focus is about to be killed off – what’s left of Ford that we know and love?

JT – Well, there’s the popular Puma, Kuga and the brand’s other electric SUV – the pricey Mustang Mach-E. I could mention the electric Capri launched last year but…

Yes, a Capri in name only. What were they thinking!

This new electric Explorer is part of a collaboration between Ford and Volkswagen. It sits on VW’s MEB electric car platform, used for the ID4 and also the Explorer’s sleek-roofed, Capri sibling.

The Explorer looks pretty smart parked on our driveway. That said, you might say the same about the Peugeot E-3008 and the Kia EV6 – they’re all quite handsome SUVs.

Buyers can choose from a variety of Explorer models to suit their pocket. That includes a single motor rear-wheel drive, or a dual motor all-wheel drive. The 79kWh battery model we have can officially cover 323 miles between charges.

It drives pretty well on the road. Nothing remarkable but 5.3 seconds to 60mph is fast enough, plus the suspension can cope with British pothole, although it’s a bit bouncy on rough surfaces. Shame the tiny rear window impacts visibility.

Rightly or wrongly, I think most people rely on reversing camera systems to park these days. The boot isn’t that big and rear legroom could be better, too.

I like the sculpted dashboard and designers have worked hard to maximise storage in the cabin. The infotainment screen is huge but finding the functions you need can be frustrating at times.

Clever the way it tilts at different angles to avoid reflections. There’s extra storage space behind the bottom of the screen, too. It’s a nice cabin, all the same.

So, our Explorer Premium model cost £58,000, which included some expensive extras, such as 21-inch alloy wheels (£1,000) and a clever heat pump to warm up the interior on cold mornings (£1,050).

At that price, there are many different makes and models to choose from – it will likely be a matter of personal taste for many people. With a flood of cheap electric SUVs from China coming, the Explorer will have its work cut out.