The Ford Explorer is a newcomer to Europe. If he is a big one among the small ones in our regions, it is quite astonishing to realize that this juggernaut of 5 meters long and 2.28 meters wide (with the mirrors) is a small among the large ones across the Atlantic . It then seems totally disproportionate, parked in a Parisian campsite (Editor’s note: yes, it does exist). But the Ford Explorer has unsuspected resources that should interest more than one. This is what we will discover together.
It’s a big jig to handle around Paris. It is true that quickly, I take myself for the terror of the bitumen. If it does not pass, it still does, I say, passing a poor little Smart. But when I then cross a semi-trailer, I suddenly remember that we always find bigger than is, fortunately without incident.
Consumption in the city is probably the first thing that will scare you, moving its 2.5 tons. However, imagine that under this shell hides a 13.6kw rechargeable electric motor. This invaluable help makes it possible to severely limit one’s appetite in town and during recovery phases. This 100 horsepower engine has a range of over 40km in all-electric mode. We have seen this in real conditions. Note that the Ford Explorer is a plug-in hybrid since it is a PHEV. On the other hand, when the electric motor is no longer active, do not expect to drop below 10l / 100km. This is the case, for example, on a motorway at stabilized speed.
During a toll exit, the Ford Explorer catapults us in 6 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h. The noise would have nothing to envy a Ford Mustang. Indeed, the 357 horsepower V6 gasoline has just woken up. All in all, it’s 457 horsepower and 825Nm of torque that pass through the 4-wheel drive of the Ford Explorer. As much to tell you that it surprises!
The American SUV atmosphere is unmistakable, characterized in particular by its large chrome grille, its rectangular lights or its rear quarter windows in the trunk. Either way, he’s assembled in Chicago, hard to be more chauvinistic. Unfortunately, it also benefited from the usual poor level of finish in this country. But let’s not be too hard on them, the efforts are notable from year to year. We simply should not expect to find there the enormous progress made by the French in recent times. Even less to find a semblance of German finish.
The Ford Explorer is not intended to be used on sidewalks or in the city. Even though it’s pretty cool to look at, it’s meant to be useful. It is not stingy in crossing, as we have seen in the park of Marquenterre, in the heart of the Bay of Somme. Sandy terrain is not the easiest, especially for a vehicle with such a large mass. However, he is doing brilliantly thanks to his good level of power. However, you will have to be careful to respect a few rules. It is necessary to put the thermal mode only, in order to avoid the too brutal torque and the power of the electric, deactivate the traction control and put the snow and sand mode. With this, you don’t even need to deflate the tires or have specific tires. But make no mistake, this is not aLand Rover Defender
With the best will of the city dweller that I am, I found a way to go tank myself in a beautiful tank of water without probing the depth. It was to make you a beautiful shot! But I quickly felt the Ford Explorer fail. As we were taking our photos, a troop of tourists and locals stopped to watch how we were going to get out of there. With the aforementioned precautions, a good dose of acceleration and we were out as if to laugh. Onlookers did not have a great story to tell when they returned from their walk. But apparently a smaller car had stuck there shortly before.
If the Ford Explorer is doing very well in crossing, it is all the same a little brittle on the rough edges. We would have really appreciated more comfort on this type of vehicle, especially when the terrain deteriorates. On the road, this translates as a quality since its weight does not cause it to roll excessively when cornering. I imagine that it was necessary to meet European standards in terms of handling.
On the other hand, the interior has all the desirable comforts and the level of basic equipment is astounding. The front seats are electric, heated, cooled and massaged. The steering wheel is heated. The windshield is de-icing. It has front and rear radars, keeping in line, blind spot warning, anti-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The sound system is provided by B&O. CarPlay and Android Auto are in the game and so on.
Of course, we have mentioned the few sales that such an atypical vehicle could represent in the European landscape and a fortiori in the French one. But it might interest you because it combines criteria that others are not able to meet. The Ford Explorer is a 7-seater SUV which is already crowding out many competitors. It should be added that these 7 seats have exemplary modularity.
The first row is divided into three independent seats which can each move forward, backward and fold down. The last row of two seats can of course also be folded down independently. In 7-seater mode, there is still enough to load 240 liters or even 380 liters if you manage to load up to the roof. It is more or less the trunk of a city car. In 5-seater mode you can load from 635 liters to 1137 liters. And in 7-seater mode, 2,274 liters are available to you.
Where the Ford Explorer really stands out and drives the point home on its utility side is that it is able to tow the equivalent of its weight. You read correctly, this juggernaut of 2.5 tons is approved to tow 2.5 tons, or a 5-ton convoy. What his power should achieve without difficulty.
Ford is well aware that this is an atypical car and that it is a niche within the niche. The Ford Explorer has a target that constitutes only 3% of the SUV market. But the Ford Explorer has very few competitors. They are in a completely different sphere both in terms of price and positioning. I am thinking here of the BMW X7 and Volvo XC90 which are on much more luxurious ranges.
The Ford Explorer offers a very attractive package but reserved for a marginal segment of the population. Especially since its price is dissuasive. The starting price is 77,000 Euros for the ST-Line finish and 79,000 Euros for the Platinium finish. The latter quite frankly does not offer much more. Nevertheless, it remains less expensive than all the competition with an unparalleled level of basic service. This SUV from another continent is not that expensive once you have reviewed all the elements that differentiate it.
I will conclude with the fact that, like me, you are probably not a buyer of this type of vehicle. However, if you are, I can guarantee that the Ford Explorer will be a great product that will meet all your expectations. Surprisingly enough, I had a lot of fun aboard this mega-SUV and believe it or not it turns heads in its path. Either because you will have won a standing start against a small sports car at the start of a red light, or because we will wonder if your Ford Explorer has really been marketed beyond the United States.
Many thanks to Ford for organizing this test in such special sanitary conditions.