Plenty of critics weren't happy about Ford's decision to use Volkswagen Group hardware for the new Explorer EV and Capri EV (or how the latter looks, although I myself find it quirky enough to be interesting.) But that move helped Ford get an electric foothold in Europe where it says it still has long-term plans. And here's the other surprise: the Explorer EV is actually quite good.
A new video review from our friends at Out of Spec reveals how this Explorer—which is a completely different animal than the U.S.-spec Explorer that's both larger and gas-powered—carves out an identity that's way more unique than just being some re-badged Volkswagen ID.4. It may use that car's MEB platform but it's actually built at Ford's plant in Cologne, Germany.
What does this get you? Host William explains that his tester has a 79 kWh (usable) battery with a respectable peak charging rate of 185 kW, dual-motor all-wheel-drive and a WLTP range of 329 miles. But Ford did try and make the car different from the ID.4 to avoid such direct competition—it's both shorter and wider than that car, bigger than an ID.3 yet relatively compact overall. Not what you think when you imagine an "Explorer," but that's what makes it interesting.
"Personally I think the car looks absolutely stunning," William says, complimenting his tester's shade of blue as well. Inside, it's pretty special too: his tester has diamond-stitched leather seats and other upscale touches.
Inside, the Explorer EV gets a different version of VW's button-less capacitive touch switches, which we've used with mixed results over here. It also suffers from the frustrating two buttons for window switches. But most interestingly, the Explorer EV has a movable touch screen that can be placed more upright or laid more flat. And it integrates Ford's own software and user experience, too, including access to its Blue Oval charging network. VW's latest ID.4 (in the upper trims, anyway) recently got a nice software upgrade but Ford's system seems to be at least as good, if not better.
So how does it drive? Pretty well, and similar to the ID.4, in fact—the first time William draws that direct comparison here. It's AWD here but rear-wheel-biased so reasonably fun in most conditions. The suspension is tuned to be more Ford-like, William says, although he couldn't quite nail down what that means. On the plus side: "It's definitely got some power," he says, "Amazing braking."
Would the Explorer EV do well enough in America? William thinks so, although I think that it's so close in size to the Mustang Mach-E—plus all the boring incentive and tariff stuff around where it's made—could make it a tougher sell over here in some ways. Then again, there's always a market here for a decent midsize EV crossover, and many people might like an electric Ford that looks and feels a bit more "mainstream" than the performance-focused Mustang.
A better question might be this: is the Explorer EV quietly the best electric Volkswagen yet? In my experience, the ID.7 sedan is tough to beat, but with Ford's own software and some unique touches, this car does prove that platform-sharing can make a lot of sense if it's done right.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
