The all-new and all-electric Ford Explorer will lead the company's charge into the mainstream EV market when it goes on sale in Ireland in early 2024. This striking mid-size SUV results from a broader collaboration between Ford and Volkswagen on electric and commercial vehicles. It sees the Explorer use the same 'MEB' platform that underpins models such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV. Ford has ambitious plans to reach electric vehicle sales of 600,000 units annually in Europe by 2026 with nine models in the pipeline.
This SUV isn't merely a Volkswagen ID.4 with a different badge; Ford has gone to some effort to make the Explorer stand out, and its exterior design is chunky without being overly aggressive looking. There are hints of Ford's North American models in the style, and the body-coloured front panel where the grille would normally be found demonstrates that this is unmistakably electric - it signifies a new look for Ford models in Europe.
View the Ford Explorer from the side, and its links to the Volkswagen ID.4 become more obvious, especially around the C-pillar. Chunky 21-inch wheels use a mixture of sporty and aerodynamic styling, while the black plastic cladding that circles the base of the car and wheel arches underlines the SUV image.
"Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles. Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road trip-ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives," said Martin Sander, General Manager, Ford Model e, Europe.
The Ford Explorer's practical and stylish interior
At the dashboard's core is a massive 14.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen that runs Ford's latest 'SYNC Move' infotainment system. It looks familiar to the setup in the Ford Mustang Mach-E, with one big exception: the screen can move outwards to reveal a hidden locker behind.
Beneath the touchscreen is a space for mobile devices, with two cupholders and a deep 17-litre storage compartment underneath the central armrest, ensuring that the Explorer has no shortage of interior storage space. Other features inside the cabin include a soundbar running across the top of the dashboard - as on the Mustang Mach-E again - and digital instruments, although it doesn't appear to have a head-up display. The steering wheel is a chunky, squarish design, and the drive selector is placed behind on a column stalk.
There's 450 litres of storage space available, and we expect upwards of 1,300 litres when the 60:40 split-folding rear seats are lowered. Ford hasn't communicated whether there will be any front storage (or 'frunk' if you're American) in the Explorer as there is in the Mustang Mach-E, but it should be noted that neither the ID.4 nor the Enyaq have storage space in this area.
Fast charging for the Ford Explorer
Ford has yet to reveal the full technical specifications for the Explorer. However, it is likely to use a battery similar to what already features on the MEB platform, so expect a 77kWh unit to begin with and possibly a more affordable 58kWh battery to follow. It is also likely to use a 150kW electric motor (204hp) to drive the rear wheels, with dual-motor versions offering increased performance and all-wheel drive, possibly as part of a sportier ST version.
Ford claims recharging from 10 to 80 per cent capacity could take as little as 25 minutes. Its onboard system will also assist with route planning to make charging along the way more convenient.