The All-Electric Ford Explorer Review: How I Moved a Small Library—Stylishly
This Ford Explorer Earned Its Badge in Cardboard Boxes and Country Roads
All-Electric Ford Explorer Review
So how do you truly test the mettle of Ford’s all-electric Explorer? Morocco’s dunes? Too cliché. A cross-continent expedition? Predictable. No, we decided on the ultimate endurance test: moving house. Six bedrooms, a two-car garage’s worth of gear, four kids, one wife (non-negotiable), and—just for fun—a 10,000-book collection. Challenge accepted. And remarkably? The Explorer not only took it all in stride, it did it with a bit of swagger.
Welcome to Ford doing what Ford does best: build something tough as nails, surprisingly quick, and unflinchingly practical—then casually shrug when you point it out.
First Impressions: A Defender in Disguise?
Visually, the Explorer is playing in Range Rover Defender territory—let’s not kid ourselves. The stance, the chunky silhouette, the go-faster double stripes on the back... it’s all rather obvious, and all rather brilliant. It looks expensive. You could absolutely roll up to the polo in it and park in full view of the champagne tent without anyone blinking. And the new 20” alloys are gorgeous.
There's no front boot (or frunk, if you're in tech bro territory), and, bafflingly, no three-pin plug option for charging at home, which is a minor scandal in an electric car (though I’ve since learnt it does come with one as a paid extra). But the boot? A generous 470 litres, and when you drop the seats, it swallows boxes like a magician’s hat. We fit everything in but the kitchen sink—literally.
Interior: Built to Survive, Not Seduce
Now, let’s address the elephant-shaped VW in the room. Yes, this shares its platform with the VW ID.4—but Ford has injected it with a healthy dose of testosterone and made it feel more suited to the rugged explorer vibe than its Teutonic cousin.
Inside, it’s... functional. The steering wheel has had its top and bottom trimmed, giving it a mildly rebellious look, while the enormous 14.6-inch touchscreen slides up and down like a magician's prop. Useful? Slightly. Cool? Definitely.
Materials are on the plasticky side, especially the grey bits, which feel like they were borrowed from a 90s office printer. But the black dash is decent, with a textured strip wrapping a B&O sound system that delivers serious audio quality—especially since the cabin insulation is excellent. The seats are the real win here: 12-way adjustable with massage function, supportive for long drives, beautifully shaped and likely the most luxurious part of the cabin.
Storage up front is plentiful. You’ll find odd nooks and crannies that feel like they were designed for families who hoard protein bars and Lego bricks. Also, let’s give Ford a point for the silhouette projection on the road when you open the doors at night—pure theatre.
Tech: A Mixed Bag, Mostly Gold
This is where Ford lets loose a bit. You get heaps of tech for the money—an adjustable infotainment screen, a crystal-clear HUD, adaptive cruise, 360-degree cameras, park assist, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aids (which are enthusiastic to a fault), and regenerative braking via ‘B’ mode.
However, the lane assist felt like it had downed a triple espresso—helpful in theory, but a bit brutal in practice. And the speed recognition system once declared a 50mph road to be a sleepy 10mph zone. But there’s charm in these quirks. It’s not perfect, but it's working hard—and that counts.
Everything powers down gracefully when you exit the driver’s seat—a small but welcome peace-of-mind touch most EVs fail to offer.
Performance: Properly Punchy
Here’s the surprise: the Explorer moves. Fast. Touch the accelerator and you’re off with a jolt—thanks to 545 Nm of instant torque. It’s not supercar fast, but it feels rapid because all the power arrives right away. Perfect for impressing (or terrifying) the kids. Or the dog.
Handling is sharp, steering responsive, and it grips well—especially given its size. Even in Eco mode, it corners confidently and sticks to the road like a well-trained Labrador. Yes, the suspension is a bit bounce-happy, and the brakes feel soft, but you adapt.
As for range, Ford claims up to 374 miles (292 motorway), and it’s not far off. We happily hovered around the 300 mark, which is the magic number for touring and, crucially, for compensating for all the broken chargers in Britain. (Yes, Lidl—we’re looking at you. Thank goodness for Waitrose.)
Need more grunt? There’s a dual-motor, 79 kWh version with faster charging and all-wheel drive, for those who want even more capability—or live somewhere with actual weather. Though the RWD is grippy already.
This Explorer Earned Its Badge in Cardboard Boxes and Country Roads
At a starting price of £49,985 (this model £53,135 with options), the Explorer lands in a sweet spot between premium SUV and practical family hauler. It has Defender looks, Tesla-challenging range, and the kind of everyday usefulness most electric SUVs only pretend to offer.
It might not win any awards for cabin opulence, but it’ll carry your life across the country and look damn good doing it. Over 40 back-and-forth trips for our house move, loaded to the brim with furniture, books, bikes, and children, and not once did it flinch.
The Ford Explorer is the SUV for the adventurous dad, the minimalist mum, or the style-conscious family who still needs to tow a trailer and fit in all the swimming gear. It’s handsome, reliable, impressively capable—and just that little bit American in all the right ways.
Would I buy one? If I had 10,000 books, four kids, and a taste for adventure? Absolutely.
