Test Drive Ford Explorer: New Start in Cologne

The Ford Explorer will now be something entirely different from what has been known in Europe so far. Ford is reinventing itself, at least in the European market, sending traditional models like the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, or Galaxy into retirement and almost completely revamping its entire portfolio.

The hybrid-available crossovers Puma and Kuga, as well as the US-focused Mustang Mach E, are getting a mid-size model with the Explorer, which, like the ID models from VW, the Skoda Enyaq, or an Audi Q4 Etron, runs on the MEB platform of the Volkswagen Group. Their latest update is the main reason for the extended wait following the overhaul in Cologne-Niehl. But now, the 4.47-meter-long Explorer is finally rolling out to customers this summer at prices starting from 49,500 euros.

The golden mean is also here: the large battery with rear-wheel drive 

In line with the modular electric toolkit, the battery capacities are almost on par at 77 and 79 kWh, and the performance data is also familiar from the Volkswagen Group. While the rear-wheel-drive version delivers 210 kW / 286 PS and 585 Nm, the all-wheel-drive version offers 250 kW / 340 PS thanks to a second smaller electric motor on the front axle. Besides the performance difference, the slightly larger battery can be charged at up to 185 kW, while the base version's energy storage can be "tanked" at a rather average maximum of 135 kW. At the end of the year, an entry-level version will follow, which, with 125 kW / 170 PS and a 52-kWh battery, will be particularly interesting for price-sensitive customers without significant range requirements, starting at 42,500 euros.

The new, small Explorer with 210 kW rear-wheel drive accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h. The standard consumption of around 14 kWh per 100 kilometers should allow a range of 600 kilometers before needing to recharge. In reality, it's about 480 kilometers, and the all-wheel-drive version barely manages the 400-kilometer mark. This all-wheel-drive version, with the additional 109 kW power on the front axle, is not much faster, needing 5.3 seconds from a standstill and reaching only 189 km/h compared to 180 km/h.

Not a given in EVs: Fine braking feel

So, how does it drive? Clearly, the Explorer 4x4 brings its power to the road more confidently but is not much more dynamic in everyday use. Additionally, the 286 PS rear-wheel drive version has a turning circle one meter smaller, making it significantly more maneuverable and, unlike the other electric models of the VW Group on the same platform, is tuned for more comfort. There are also advantages in the braking feel, as the feedback is more direct and linear than in some higher-class electric models. Unfortunately, unlike models like the VW ID4 / 5, there are no paddle shifters on the steering wheel to vary the degree of regenerative braking. This is handled by the B driving mode or the sport program, and the Ford Explorer does without a one-pedal driving mode.

Unfortunately, the excellent and precise feedback of many Ford models hasn't fully transferred to the Explorer: In each driving mode, the steering feels a bit too light and slightly imprecise – disappointing for die-hard Ford chassis enthusiasts, as are the missing variable dampers, which are not influenced by changing the driving program.

The WLTP consumption values are hardly achievable in everyday life, but in summer with mild temperatures, gross values of under 20 kWh/100 km can be easily reached, making the Explorer one of the more economical options.