First announced in April 2019 for Europe,
the Ford Explorer Plug-In Hybrid went on sale late last year but is only now
beginning to arrive in local dealerships. Compared to the specifications
released more than a year ago, the automaker has operated some changes which
are mostly related to the powertrain. The Explorer Plug-In Hybrid combines a
3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 petrol engine with an electric motor, a generator and
13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery.
The combined available output is slightly
higher than initially advertised, reaching 457 PS. However, the peak
torque is a tad lower at 825 Nm. These figures make the Explorer
Plug-In Hybrid Ford’s most powerful hybrid vehicle.
The all-electric driving range has been
WLTP-measured at 42 km while the average fuel economy is 3.1 l/100
km (91.1 mpg UK / 75.9 mpg US), with corresponding CO2 emissions of 71 g/km.
Both figures are WLTP-certified and made possible by the intervention of the
electric motor.
The battery can be recharged from an
external 230-volt socket in less than 5 hours 50 minutes, and in less than 4
hours 20 minutes from the optional wall-mounted Ford Connected Wallbox or a
compatible public charging station.
The EcoBoost engine is mated to a standard
10-speed automatic transmission, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and Terrain
Management System with seven Drive Modes, enabling a 2,500-kg maximum towing rating. Combine that with the standard seven-seat layout and you
get a very versatile SUV.
Offered in Platinum and ST-Line trim
levels, the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid is well equipped as standard, featuring a
10.1-inch portrait capacitive touchscreen for the SYNC 3 infotainment system,
12.3-inch instrument cluster, Ford Pass Connect modem, Tri-Zone Electronic
Temperature Control and 14-speaker B&O Sound System as standard.
Driver assistance technologies include
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane
Centring, Reverse Brake Assist, Active Park Assist 2, Blind Spot Information
System with Cross Traffic Alert, Pre-Collision Assist with Active Braking,
360-degree camera, and more.
All these come at a (steep) base price in
Germany: € 76,000 (US$ 81,980) for the ST-Line and € 77,000 (US$ 83,030) for the
Platinum. For comparison, BMW’s new X5 xDrive 45e that pairs a 3.0-liter
straight-six engine to an electric motor for a combined output of 394 PS and 600 Nm starts from € 77,300 (US$ 83,350)
