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By Jonathan Crouch

The Ford Explorer EV is at its most practical in this Van form. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 32

Ford's EV deal with VW sees Volkswagen provide the electric car technology, while Ford supplies the van engineering. So what are we to make of the Blue Oval brand's car-derived Explorer Van?

Backgroundword count: 126

'Customers wanted it; we built it'. That's Ford's explanation for the existence of this model, the brand's Explorer Van. The Blue Oval maker says the idea for this Explorer variant came out of conversations it had had with various large fleet partners. That may be, but we think it more likely that the real stimulus to create an Explorer LCV from its Explorer SUV lay in Skoda UK's move in mid-2025 to take the same approach in their creation of the Enyaq Cargo van. Given that the Explorer shares virtually all its VW Group MEB platform engineering with the Enyaq, there seemed to be an obvious opportunity for the Blue Oval maker to do much the same thing, hence this Explorer Van's launch in Spring 2026.

Driving Experienceword count: 241

Ford has limited the Explorer Van to the larger batteries in the line-up. Customers can choose between two versions. Things kick off with a 286PS rear-wheel drive version offering 545Nm of torque and energised by a 79kWh battery capable of taking the vehicle up to 373 miles (if payload is minimal). For reference, Ford's E-Transit Courier has a range of only 181 miles. The Explorer Van alternative is a 340PS twin motor AWD powertrain with 679Nm of torque energised by a 77kWh battery. The towing capacity is up to 1,000kg for the RWD version or up to 1,200kg for the AWD model. As with the Explorer SUV, this model's steering, brakes, dampers, springs and anti-roll bars are specifically tuned for 'Ford-ness'. As a result, thanks to relatively feelsome steering, it's a more involving thing through the turns than an equivalent Skoda Enyaq Cargo - for what that's worth in an LCV. There are no silly drive sounds (which is good) but disappointingly, no steering wheel paddles to control brake regeneration. Probably because there wouldn't be much to control; just a single 'B' setting on the gear selector, which doesn't arrest progress with much ferocity when you come off-throttle. A button to control the drive modes would be useful; you access them via the top of the touchscreen - Eco, Sport, Individual, Normal and Traction. You sit a little higher than with some rivals and refinement at cruising speeds is well controlled.

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