We get behind the wheel of Ford’s much-anticipated 100% electric family SUV…
In the music business, they say the second album is always the most difficult. Ford has a similar problem with the all-new Explorer.
Not only are there high expectations for the long overdue family-sized EV (it suffered a six-month delay earlier this year), but a lot hangs on it because Ford has fallen behind rivals in the electrification race.
The Mustang Mach-E was launched in 2021, and good though it is, up until now it’s been Ford’s only fully electric car.
There’s also the perception from some that the Explorer is a badge-engineered Volkswagen ID.4. Yes, it’s true that it also uses the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, but the good news is that the Explorer couldn’t be more different and it’s very much a Ford.
You only have to look at it. There’s none of the blancmange styling of the VW. Slightly shorter, wider and lower than the ID.4, it’s a distinctively boxy SUV with short overhangs and an athletic stance.
The bluff front end is dominated by a large Ford badge and there are smooth curves all over the body, while the light signature is instantly recognisable.
There are big wheels, a nice pert rear end with a slim window, and the roofline is a little lower than most competitors.
Inside, the Ford Explorer boasts a big 14.6-inch portrait touchscreen which is unique in that can tilt forwards and backwards by up to 30 degrees, and there’s a small storage area behind. The soundbar on top of the dash is pretty novel too.
I suspect the tilting touchscreen is more of a gimmick because it will probably stay where it is once it’s been positioned initially, but there you go.
The screen resolution is good and the graphics are slick, but navigating beyond the initial screen isn’t always intuitive.
Just like the Mustang Mach-E, Ford has thankfully stuck with a small digital display ahead of the driver (it shows essential info such as speed and range) as well as the main touchscreen.
Unlike the Mach-E, some of the Explorer’s switchgear is shared with its ID cousins. Not a VW strong point. So, a stubby gear selector replaces the right-hand stalk, the steering wheel has touch-sensitive, haptic controls, and the window switches are fiddly.
Overall, there’s plenty of space inside the Explorer up front and for adult passengers behind. It’s even possible for rear passengers to tuck their feet under fully-lowered front seats, which isn’t always a given.
The 470-litre boot capacity is smaller than some rivals, but on the plus side, there’s no load lip, there are 60/40-split rear seats and a ski hatch.
Load capacity increases to 1,400 litres with the rear seats flipped down. Additionally, there are various cubbyholes dotted around the cabin, and there’s a handy 17 litres of stowage space in the “MegaConsole” under the front centre armrest.
It was hard to fault the build quality of our test cars, though the interior doesn’t have the wow factor of some rivals and there are a few too many hard surfaces high up for my liking.
Priced from £39,875, you can choose from three versions of the Explorer – an entry-level Standard range model with a 52kWh battery and rear-mounted 168bhp electric motor, offering a claimed 239 miles on a full charge.
A single-motor Extended Range with a 282bhp motor and a 77kWh battery that’s good for a superb 374-mile range, plus the range-topping dual motor Extended Range, which has a combined output of 335bhp, all-wheel drive and a 79kWh battery pack giving it a 329-mile range.
The 52kWh model is equipped with a 135kW onboard DC charger, and takes 28 minutes to go from 10-80%. The 77kWh and 79kWh variants can be charged at up to 185kW, which results in a 10-80% time of around 26 minutes. Impressive times in theory, but as ever, variables such as ambient temperature and driving style will dent those charge times.
There are two trim levels, Select (available with the Standard Range car and the RWD Extended Range) and Premium (also on the RWD Extended Range, and the only way to get the AWD Extended Range).
I tested the two Extended Range models, and frankly I was virtually won over from the moment I sat in the driver’s seat.
I prefer a low driving position, which is a rare experience these days with EVs, because you tend to sit perched above the battery back.
Not only was I comfortable, but once on the road, it was far more involving than your average electric SUV to drive.
It would be an exaggeration to say that the Explorer is as dynamic as the best Fords of the past, but in EV terms, it’s very good.
Tuning the dampers, suspension and roll bars, Ford’s engineers have clearly worked their magic. Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual drive modes are available too.
Sure, the ride is on the firm side, yet it’s forgiving over potholes, and composed for the most part, while body lean is well controlled in more challenging corners.
There was slightly more road noise than I was expecting, but then it always seems unfair to pick on this with EVs, given that they are so quiet.
The steering has just the right amount of weight for it to remain light but still feel precise, though the brakes are on the spongy side (another quirk of VW’s ID cars).
Effortless on the motorway, it’s a doddle to drive in town too. The turning circle is tight, visibility is good and there are plenty of cameras and sensors to help you manoeuvre.
Ultimately, there’s little to choose between the two models. Naturally, the all-wheel drive has more traction and it’s swifter (0-62mph in 5.3 seconds), but the RWD is cheaper, has more range and is more than fast enough (6.4 seconds).
If anything, the heavier dual-motor version’s ride seemed a tad more supple at low-speed, but that’s splitting hairs.
So, the Ford Explorer drives well, easily making it more agile than rivals including the Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Driven sensibly, it’s quite possible to extract as much as 4.5 miles/kWh out of the Explorer, which is excellent.
The only slight disappointment is that there are no steering wheel paddles to adjust the brake regeneration levels. Instead, you have to rotate the gear selector from ‘D’ to ‘B’, which is clunkier than it could be.
Verdict: The Ford Explorer is a very impressive package and has definitely been worth the wait. Distinctive, comfortable, safe and engaging to drive, it’s one of the best electric family SUVs on the market.
