New Ford Explorer van gets 19-inch steelies and over 370 miles of range
The Ford Explorer van has arrived as a car-like alternative to the Ford E-Transit with up to 373 miles of range and a £40k starting price.
Visually similar to its SUV counterpart, the Ford Explorer van is a conversion developed to match fleet customer demand by the Ford Pro Special Vehicles unit at its Dagenham Conversion Centre in Essex.
The Explorer van’s rear door glass has been panelled off to prevent breakage, and Ford offers four option packs depending on the vehicle’s purpose. The Wheel Pack introduces 19-inch black steel wheels, fluorescent wheel nut indicators, and all-weather tyres.
The Welfare Pack comprises a First Aid kit, plus an eye-washing and hand sanitiser station. The Utility pack adds frunk storage, a roof rack, rear window security mesh, seat covers, and front rubber floor mats.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Pack offers an amber light bar, tailgate work lamp, and tailgate beacons for high-risk, low-light working environments.
Inside the Ford Explorer van, the rear seats are removed, and a permanent copolymer bulkhead divides the front seats from the rear compartment, transforming the Explorer from SUV to van.
It offers 1,235 litres of rear space and a 650kg maximum payload. A durable flat floor is designed to accommodate larger items, and smaller cargo can be secured via adjustable dividers and lashing points.
The cabin differs very little from the passenger version of the Ford Explorer, and valuables can be kept in the 17-litre, MegaConsole storage bin or a hidden locker. The Ford Explorer van retains the 14.6-inch vertical touchscreen of its sister car.
The Ford Explorer van is available with two powertrains: a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) single-motor with 282bhp and a tonne towing capacity, and an all-wheel-drive (AWD), twin-motor variant with 335bhp that can tow up to 1.2 tonnes.
Ford says its newest commercial vehicle can manage a maximum range of 373 miles, but this is likely the RWD version carrying a minimum payload. The range for the more powerful of the two has yet to be confirmed. Pricing for the Ford Explorer van is reported to start at £40,262.50 for the RWD variant.
The Explorer is the latest in a line of electric-only van conversions. Towards the end of last month, Volvo introduced its stylish EX30 Cargo minivan, while Renault unveiled a one-off concept van version of its Twingo for French energy provider, EDF.
