Ford Explorer EV… Anyone driven it or own one?

Seeking Help
1

I’m considering leasing a car through work again and spotted the Ford Explorer EV. It caught my eye with its alleged 370-mile range (probably closer to 300 for highway driving), 550Nm torque, and 0-60 in about 7 seconds for the RWD version. The cost seems reasonable too—less than £500 a month, including insurance, for 20k miles a year.

I currently pay close to £1k annually for insurance on a much smaller car, so this could save me money there. Plus, I’ve got free charging at work and solar panels at home with a charger already installed, so the running costs could be minimal.

I plan to test drive one soon, but does anyone here own or have driven the Explorer EV? Would love to hear some real-world experiences.

2

It’s based on the VW ID platform, so expect the usual quirks and glitches. But since it’s a lease, you can hand it back if things go south, so that’s a plus.

3

It’s essentially built on the ID4 platform with a Ford-styled interface. The interior controls feel similar, but I found the center console a bit cheap. It looks good if you like the boxy SUV style, but since this is Ford’s first EV on this platform, there might be issues like software bugs or early production problems. Warranty repairs could also take time if parts are scarce. In my opinion, the KIA and Hyundai EVs still offer better specs and reliability for the price.

4

You might want to check out the Cupra Born or the Skoda Enyaq. They’re essentially the same cars and might come at a lower cost.

5

I’ve ordered one and it’s supposed to arrive next week.

6

Bennett said:
I’ve ordered one and it’s supposed to arrive next week.

We went to see both versions in the showroom today. I was quite impressed and will probably book a test drive.

7

Griffin said:

Bennett said:
I’ve ordered one and it’s supposed to arrive next week.

We went to see both versions in the showroom today. I was quite impressed and will probably book a test drive.

What impressed you the most? I’ve watched a bunch of reviews, but they tend to focus on the same things—like the moving screen.

8

@Bennett
I’ve had some rough cars in the past, so I’m easily impressed, but here’s what stood out:

  • It’s not as big as I feared based on the photos. I didn’t want something huge like a Range Rover.
  • My wife and I like crossovers (we’ve owned two Kugas, a Skoda Yeti, and a Kia Niro in the past).
  • Rear legroom was great. I’m almost 6’2” and my wife isn’t much shorter, so front seats need to go back quite far, but there was still plenty of space in the back.
  • The boot was spacious without losing too much to cable storage—something we found annoying in the Niro.
  • The fit and finish felt premium, though we looked at the high-spec version.

For us, it was about making sure there weren’t any deal-breakers. Some other cars failed at this stage because of tiny rear legroom, for example.

9

@Griffin
Thanks! I’m glad to hear your thoughts—it’s reassuring. I ordered it without seeing one in person, so I’ve been nervous. We’re about the same height, so it’s good to know it’s comfortable. I also checked the specs before ordering and noticed it’s not much bigger than a Focus and smaller than a Kuga. That helped convince me…