Ford’s new electric SUV, which shares parts with the Volkswagen ID.4, will start from under £40,000
The Ford Explorer EV has gone on sale in the UK, just six months later than planned. Initially, the Explorer will start from around £45,000, but an entry-level model costing under £40,000 will join the lineup in the next few months.
The delay is down to a new UN battery safety regulation, which the car’s initial battery didn’t meet. Now, the Explorer launches with a new battery pack, with a bonus boost in range to 374 miles – quite the jump from the initial 311-mile figure.
Ford’s new electric family SUV sits underneath the Mustang Mach-E. Rivals include the Skoda Enyaq, Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X.
Ford Explorer UK prices and release date
When the Standard Range model launches – thought to be before the end of 2024 – it’ll be the entry-level Explorer model. Priced from £39,875, it uses a single 168hp motor and the same 52kWh battery as equivalent Volkswagen ID.4s. Above that is the Extended Range version with a larger 77kWh battery, costing from £45,875.
Two trim levels are available – Select and Premium. Select includes heated seats, a massaging driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging. Premium will cost extra but also includes a B&O sound system, Matrix LED headlights and ambient lighting. We understand that only two options will be available – a panoramic sunroof and a driver assistance pack with features such as a 360-degree parking camera and lane-change assist.
Interior and practicality
Inside, the Ford Explorer boasts a huge 14.6-inch portrait touchscreen running the company’s Sync 4 infotainment system. As with many electric cars, the Explorer includes an EV trip planner and connected sat nav, allowing you to find vacant chargepoints nearby.
The screen is able to tilt forwards and backwards by up to 30 degrees, so you should be able to find a position you like – plus, there’s a storage cubby accessible when the screen is upright. Ford has equipped the Explorer with a ‘soundbar’ on the dashboard – so, if you like your music to sound as good as possible, it might be up your street.
There are clusters of controls on the steering wheel and a slim digital information display in front of the driver, but the Explorer features a minimalist interior design that’s a bit like a Tesla.
You won’t find too many shared parts with the ID.4 inside, except for the gear selector and the fiddly window control switches – there are two switches and a button to change their functionality from the front windows to the rear ones.
Measuring just under 4.5 metres long, the Ford Explorer EV is marginally shorter than a Ford Kuga. It sits right between the ID.3 and ID.4, which is so as not to directly compete with either car, and that’s evident in its interior and boot space. The Explorer is a strict five-seater, but has a decent 450-litre boot – more than the Mach-E – and a maximum load capacity of 1,400 litres.
While the Explorer misses out on a ‘frunk’ storage area under the bonnet, it does get a hidden storage box underneath the boot floor like the Ford Puma. There’s also a big storage zone between the front seats, so the Explorer should prove to be a practical option for families.
Range, charging time and performance
The Ford Explorer will have several different battery and motor options available. The range-topping version will come with 340hp, all-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds. This could be badged the Explorer ST or GT – in reference to Ford’s other performance models – and will come with a Sport driving mode. But even the 286hp Extended Range version will hit 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds.
Fast-charging at 135kW and 185kW is available for rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions respectively, with the more powerful figure enabling a 10-80% top-up in 26 minutes.
Find the Ford for you
Whether you’re after a Fiesta or a Galaxy, a Kuga or a Mustang, we have an exciting range of used Ford cars for sale. All come with low mileage and warranty cover included. Why not book a test drive at your local Motorpoint store?
