Ford Explorer UK price and specification announced
Ford has opened orders on its new all-electric Explorer, confirming that the family SUV will cost between £40,000 and £50,000.
The pricing announcement was made as adventurer Lexie Alford completed her circumnavigation of the globe at the wheel of a pre-production version of the new family SUV.
Ford said that UK models will cost from £39,875 for a standard range model, and from £45,875 with an extended range battery, which is the first version to go on sale.
The Explorer is Ford’s first passenger EV developed and built in Europe and is based on the same MEB platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq. Its launch was delayed by six months due to issues with the original battery pack, which led to Ford waiting for a newer unit to become available.
As a result, the Explorer now offers up to 374 miles – significantly more than the 311 miles Ford had initially been targeting.
That range is achieved by the extended range, single-motor version of the car, which uses a 77kWh battery shared with the ID.4. Power from the rear-mounted motor is 282bhp, with 402lb ft of torque, allowing for a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds.
An all-wheel-drive variant uses two motors for a total of 355bhp/402lb ft and shares the recently launched 79kWh battery found in the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX. That gives it a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds and a maximum range of 329 miles, as well as a 1,200kg towing capacity. Both versions can charge at up to 185kW, taking their batteries from 10-80% in around 26 minutes.
A single-motor variant with a smaller ‘standard’ range battery will join the range later, bringing with it the sub-£40,000 price tag. Two trim levels are available to order now – Explorer and Explorer Premium – priced from £45,875 and £49,975 respectively.
All versions come with an adjustable 14.6-inch centre touchscreen that can be raised and lowered and features wireless smartphone mirroring, plus a ‘soundbar’ that runs the width of the dashboard. Every Explorer also gets sports seats, a heated steering wheel and front seats, massaging driver’s seat and wireless phone charging.
Explorer Premium adds a 10-speaker B&O sound system, panoramic sunroof and ambient interior lighting, as well as upgrading the LED headlights to adaptive matrix units.
Ford has kept the options list simple, with a handful of extras including a panoramic sunroof for Explorer-grade cars and driver assist pack comprising a hands-free powered tailgate, a head-up display, 360-degree camera and new assisted lane change technology.
Orders are open now on Ford’s website, with first UK deliveries expected in the autumn.
