At €78k ($82k), Ford's New Explorer PHEV Costs As Much As BMW's X5 PHEV In Germany
With 451 HP, it's Ford’s most powerful hybrid production vehicle to date
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 (451 HP). However, the peak torque is a tad lower at 825 Nm (608 lb-ft). These figures make the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid Ford's most powerful hybrid vehicle.
See Also: Does China's 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum Look Better Than America's?
The all-electric driving range has been WLTP-measured at 42 km (26 miles) 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 (5,511-lbs) 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.
Pricey in Germany
All these come at a (steep) base price in Germany: €76,000 ($81,980) for the ST-Line and €77,000 ($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 (388 HP/ 290 kW) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) starts from €77,300 (equal to $83,350 at current exchange rates).