Ford’s second electric car is looking to make a name for itself with a fusion of American heritage and European engineering. By Natalie Middleton.

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WHAT IS IT? Family SUV   HOW MUCH? From £39,875  RANGE? 374 miles   How long to charge 10-80%? 26 minutes (185kW DC charger)

Of all the legacy nameplates that Ford has revived lately, the Explorer is working out the least contentious, compared to the furore caused by the return of the Capri and Mustang badges.

Likely that’s because the American Explorer SUV was only briefly sold in the UK, never becoming an icon over here like the hallowed Capri and Mustang. The fact that the new Explorer is also an SUV – as with its US namesake – no doubt factors too.

The second vehicle to join Ford’s electric car line-up alongside the Mach-E, the new Explorer is also built at the Ford Cologne’s plant, transformed via a $2bn (£1.5bn) investment into an Electric Vehicle Center that will also build the new Capri EV – again using the MEB architecture – and the forthcoming Puma Gen-E.

With the Explorer’s Volkswagen underpinnings and European focus, you might think that the SUV has lost its heritage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Described as combining German engineering with striking American style, it stands out from its Volkswagen siblings in terms of its bold looks. There’s big changes too in terms of the way it rides and handles. That chassis may originate from the German brand, but Ford has made its own mark when it comes to steering, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars – and it clearly shows.

Delayed a year to comply with UN battery regulations and reengineered to accommodate lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery chemistry, the Explorer was further refined and it’s an impressive package. It is available in two configurations: single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) or dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD). These versions are currently both solely offered with an extended-range version of the NMC battery.

The Extended Range RWD model, which is priced at £45,875, features a 286hp motor, delivering a top speed of 111mph and 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds. It’s connected to a 77kWh battery, giving it the maximum WLTP range of 374 miles. The battery is able to charge at 11kW AC or 135kW via DC public charger, the latter giving a 10-80% charge in some 28 minutes.

The Extended Range AWD model gets a 340hp twin-motor setup, which means it’s able to accelerate faster than a Ford Performance Focus ST, reaching 62mph from a standstill in 5.3 seconds. It’s fitted with a slightly larger 79kWh battery, again able to charge at 11kW max AC, but with a higher DC charging power of 185kW, cutting the 10-80% charge time to around 26 minutes. The Explorer AWD variant can also tow up to 1,200kg.

A Standard Range RWD powertrain with a 55kWh NMC battery arrives next year, delivering an expected 239 miles of range. It’s priced just south of £40k (£39,875), meaning it just misses the expensive car supplement for VED that electric cars will also be subject to from April 2025. Drivers also get access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which has over 36,000 charging points in the UK and more than 600,000 across Europe.

Ford has also made its mark on the interior. Various aspects are carried over from Volkswagen, including the German manufacturer’s column-mounted drive selector with ‘D’ and ‘B’ modes, the haptic controls on the steering wheel, the toggle button to shift between front and rear window controls, and the harder plastics lower down.

However, new features include Ford’s own infotainment touchscreen, which is portrait-orientated and a whopping 14.6 inches. It’s able to tilt by up to 30-degrees and, when fully upright, gives access to the secure My Private Locker. The interior also comes with a 17-litre MegaConsole’s clever storage that’s able to house multiple 1.5-litre drinking bottles or a laptop, Ford’s ‘squircle’ squared-off steering wheel and a driver-orientated soundbar that’s designed to look like a TV soundbar.

Space is down on its ID.4 and Enyaq brethren, due to Ford having shaved 120mm off the rear overhang. This gives it a more jacked-up look but does reduce boot space to 460 litres seats up and 1,460 in two-seat mode. There’s no frunk, but the moveable boot floor has room to house a cable underneath.

Which model is right for you?

With a focus on high levels of equipment, there are just two grades: Select and Premium.

The Select comes with the MegaConsole, tilting 14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-inch wheels, heated steering wheel and front seats, massaging driver’s seat, wireless phone charging and seven-speaker audio system with soundbar.

Premium specification ups this with panoramic glass roof, 20-inch wheels, a 10-speaker B&O sound system and ambient interior lighting, as well as upgrading the headlamps from LED with auto high beam to dynamic Matrix LED with glare-free high beam. A heat pump is optional on both trims.

The Explorer also comes with more than 15 standard driver assist technologies, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, as well as Clear Exit Warning.

The verdict

We only had the chance to drive the Extended Range RWD model. Trialled on roads around the New Forest, it felt well balanced with taut ride and direct steering, while its quick acceleration and comfort at higher speeds meant it hustled along well on motorways. I also adapted very quickly to the column-mounted drive selector, toggling from D to the B regenerative braking, although there’s no one-pedal driving.

The cabin is light and airy, aided by the panoramic roof, and there’s plenty of room for driver and passengers. The dash stands out with the huge touchscreen and the interior has some nifty features such as the MegaConsole. There’s also some bold exterior design elements and I particularly like the C-pillars that actually contain windows, disguised with graphics.

The choice of the Blue My Mind name for one of the exclusive paint colours is also a moment of genius.

Prices are on the high end, though, in a sector that’s becoming more crowded by the week. And it’ll be interesting to see how the imminently arriving Capri and Puma Gen-E flesh out Ford’s EV proposition.

The Lowdown

Ford Explorer

Key fleet model:  Extended Range RWD

Pros: Handling, clever cabin features, styling, range

Cons:  Smaller boot capacity, some harder plastics

Seven-word summary:  Forget Volkswagen; still a Ford at heart

Also consider: Volkswagen ID.4 / Skoda Enyaq / Kia EV6