Ford Explorer road test: An American icon recharged for European roads

Although it’s not Ford’s first crack at electrifying a US staple, the new Explorer takes the next step in the brand’s march towards an all-electric future. Vicki finds out if the legendary American nameplate can do the business in Britain.

Strangely, despite being a US-only model for over 30 years, this all-new electric derivative won’t be sold across the pond. Instead, Ford hopes to use the Explorer badge — with all its rugged, outdoorsy connotations — to propel its EV strategy in Europe. Forget the semantics though, you want to know how it stacks up as an SUV. 

It’s certainly got road presence anyway. Despite having shrunk considerably in transit, the electric Explorer retains many of its big brother’s key styling cues — especially at the rear. And, dare we say it, the European Explorer’s compact proportions might be a little sharper than the original. But don’t just take our word for it, as the winner of a Reddot car design award and Vicki Butler-Henderson’s seal of approval, this could be one of the best-looking e-SUVs on the market. 

Handsome styling only gets you so far though, the Explorer needs a strong showing behind the wheel to lure British buyers out of accomplished Swedish and German rivals. Unfortunately, according to Vicki, the driving experience is more of a mixed bag. Available in 282-bhp rear-wheel drive or 335-bhp four-wheel drive guises, the DriverReviews’ host argues both models offer punchy performance.

However, you’ll need to decide whether power or range is your top priority. The base model Explorer offers the greatest distance between top-ups at 374 miles, while the four-wheel drive model sacrifices 22 miles for greater traction, power, and general off-road ability. 

Out on the road, more trade-offs are evident. Around town the ‘super light’ steering makes negotiating tight car parks and congested streets a breeze, but on faster roads Vicki doesn’t enjoy its over-assisted feel. Thankfully, knocking the Explorer into Sport mode does add useful weight and feel to the setup. Moreover, it’s clear the chassis has been tuned to better suit European roads and driving styles. Vicki commends the Explorer’s ability to both soak up jarring potholes and hold its line when making swift progress. 

But how practical is it – do the electric internals rob precious litres from the boot? And is there enough space inside for a family of five? Watch the video to find out. 

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