Ford Explorer Van (2026) Review

Introduction

The Ford Explorer Van is one of the more unusual electric vans on sale, because it’s not really a van. Instead, it is a two-seat commercial conversion of the Ford Explorer SUV, with the rear seats removed and replaced by a flat load area, bulkhead, and lashing points.

That gives it a very different role from Ford’s more conventional electric vans, like the E-Transit Courier and E-Transit Custom. It’s not designed for maximum cargo space or heavy-duty work, but for businesses that need to carry tools, parts or technical equipment, while also giving drivers the comfort, refinement and range of an electric SUV.

We spent a week with the Explorer Van across motorways, country roads and urban routes to find out whether it’s really up to the job of a commercial vehicle, or if it’s better off as an SUV.

What are the pros and cons of the Ford Explorer Van?

Pros

• It really does feel like a normal car
• Range and efficiency are strong
• The load area is more useful than you might expect

Cons

• At around £40,000, the Explorer Van is expensive
• SUV-based layout limits practicality
• Touch-sensitive controls are irritating

What are the key features of the Ford Explorer Van?

The Ford Explorer Van is a fully electric, two-seat commercial version of the Ford Explorer SUV. Rather than being a purpose-built panel van, it uses the same basic SUV body and electric platform, but replaces the rear passenger area with a dedicated load space.

There’s just one battery choice, a 77kWh unit, that feeds either a single-motor rear-wheel-drive or a twin-motor all-wheel-drive model. The former produces 286hp, with the AWD taking that to 340hp. Stick to the former, and you get an official WLTP range figure of up to 373 miles.

The load area is created by removing the rear seats and replacing them with a flat floor, lashing points and movable divider panels. Those dividers can also be removed, making the space more flexible depending on what you need to carry. Payload is quoted at up to 650kg.

The cab is carried over from the Explorer SUV, so it feels more car-like than any compact van, with a digital driver display, large portrait touchscreen, comfortable front seats, and tech you’d usually only find in a plush car.

How does the Ford Explorer Van drive?

Nothing like a van, that’s for sure. From behind the wheel, it feels almost exactly like the Ford Explorer SUV, which means it is quiet, smooth and very easy to drive.

We’ve got the rear-wheel-drive version in for testing, and performance is more than strong enough for business use. It has the instant response you expect from an electric vehicle, with enough power to join motorways, overtake slower traffic, and climb hills without feeling strained. The conversion to a commercial vehicle hasn’t blunted the Explorer’s performance.

Around town, the Explorer Van is simple to place and easy to manage. The steering is light and accurate, forward visibility is good, and the electric motor responds smoothly rather than aggressively. There’s plenty of traction in normal driving, though you can get the rear moving slightly if you plant your foot to the floor.

It’s even better on faster roads. Motorway refinement is excellent, with low noise levels and a settled ride that makes the Explorer Van well suited to longer-distance work. That could be key to the Explorer’s success, and this is clearly not a vehicle for local multi-drop delivery routes. It makes more sense for drivers who spend much of the day travelling between sites.

We put a 350kg load in the back for part of our test, and the extra weight had very little effect on the way the Explorer Van drove. If anything, it made the ride feel slightly softer and more settled, with no obvious drop in performance or refinement, although we could definitely feel the van’s weight in the corners. But then the Explorer SUV isn’t known for its sporting prowess, so a bit of body movement here or there is to be expected.

What are the Ford Explorer Van’s running costs?

The Ford Explorer Van isn’t a cheap way into electric van ownership. Ford is treating it as a fleet-order vehicle rather than a normal retail model, so pricing is less straightforward than with most vans, but expect it to start from around £40,000 — if you order a few at a time.

Efficiency was impressive during our test. Over a week of mixed driving, including motorways, country roads and urban routes, the Explorer Van returned 3.8 miles/kWh, and that was with around 350kg onboard for much of the test.

With a 77kWh battery, that suggests close to 300 miles is possible in real-world conditions, although the weather was favourable. That’s still short of Ford’s official WLTP figure of 373 miles, but should be enough for most drivers to complete a full working day without charging.

Running costs will depend heavily on where you charge, with home, work or depot charging on a low-cost tariff making it significantly cheaper to power than a traditional diesel vehicle. If drivers rely mainly on public rapid chargers, the saving will be much smaller, and maybe non-existent.

Maintenance costs should also be lower than with a diesel van, because there are fewer moving parts, no oil changes and less brake wear thanks to regenerative braking. Tyres will need watching, because the Explorer Van is a heavy and fairly powerful electric vehicle, but that’s true of most EVs.

The Explorer Van’s commercial vehicle status will also matter to business users. It qualifies as a van, with low BIK rates, VAT reclamation, strong capital allowances, and other business benefits.

Warranty cover is a little light, though. Its 100,000-mile limit is par for the course, but it’s covered for just three years. Rivals like the Toyota Corolla Commercial can see their warranty coverage last for up to 10 years.

What’s the Ford Explorer Van like on the inside?

Somewhat expectedly, the Ford Explorer Van feels much more like an electric SUV than a compact van inside, which is arguably its biggest strength. The cab is carried over almost entirely from the passenger-carrying Explorer, so you get a smart dashboard, comfortable seats, a digital driver display and a large portrait touchscreen.

The driving position is low and car-like, and it’s easy to get comfortable. Forward visibility is good, the front seats are supportive, and the cabin feels well suited to drivers who spend long periods on the road. There’s also enough storage for phones, drinks, paperwork and the usual everyday clutter.

The Explorer’s most unusual feature is its sliding centre screen. This can be moved up and down, revealing a hidden storage area behind it. It is a neat idea, and the concealed storage could be useful for keeping smaller items out of sight, but it feels more clever than essential. Most drivers will probably find a position they like and leave it there.

The bigger issue is the control layout. The Explorer Van inherits plenty of Volkswagen Group influence from the SUV (the SUV is built around the underpinnings of the Volkswagen ID4), and not all of it is welcome. The touch-sensitive steering wheel controls are irritating, especially when making small adjustments on the move, and too many everyday functions rely on the touchscreen. That’s annoying in a car, and no less annoying in a van.

There are also a few reminders that this is a converted SUV rather than a van designed from scratch, like the inexplicably complicated window switch arrangement. The Explorer uses a single set of switches for the front and rear windows, with a third button to toggle between them. That button still works in the Van, even though the rear windows no longer operate, because the back has been converted into load space.

The conversion itself is much more convincing. Behind the front seats, there is a solid metal bulkhead with a mesh section, which means you can still see through the vehicle using the rear-view mirror. That makes the Explorer Van feel much less enclosed than a typical van.

What’s the payload and practicality like for the Ford Explorer Van?

The Ford Explorer Van isn’t designed to carry as much as a conventional small or medium van, but its load area is more useful than you might expect from an SUV-based conversion.

Behind the two front seats, the rear passenger space has been replaced by a flat load floor, with lashing points and movable divider panels. Those panels can also be removed, so you can either section off smaller items or open up more of the load area when needed. It is a neat setup for tools, parts, diagnostic equipment, survey kit or safety gear.

Ford quotes a maximum payload of up to 650kg, which is well short of what purpose-built vans can carry, but it should be enough for the sort of users the Explorer Van is aimed at.

The solid metal bulkhead is one of the best parts of the conversion, as it includes a mesh section that still lets you see through the rear-view mirror.

However, there are some limitations, as the Explorer Van keeps the SUV’s lifting tailgate, so not only do you need space behind the vehicle to open it fully, but the opening is more awkwardly shaped than that of a vertical-backed van. There are obviously no sliding side doors, either, although the original rear passenger doors remain and can be useful for reaching for smaller items at the front of the load area.

The rear side glass is obscured, but it is still glass, and businesses carrying expensive equipment may prefer the reassurance of a fully panel-sided van, or even the metal-shielded windows of the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial.

Towing capacity is useful rather than exceptional, limited to 1,000kg.

How safe is the Ford Explorer Van?

The Ford Explorer Van benefits from the same safety and driver assistance technology as the Ford Explorer SUV, as you would expect from a conversion.

Standard equipment includes the usual mix of electronic stability control, traction control, airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, along with parking sensors and camera support to help with manoeuvring.

The safety experts at Euro NCAP put the Explorer SUV through its testing regime in 2024, where it scored the maximum five stars. 

There are still some practical safety considerations with the van conversion, such as the rear side windows being obscured, which reduces visibility, but there’s nothing you wouldn’t find on any traditional van.

What are the options available for the Ford Explorer Van?

The Ford Explorer Van range is refreshingly simple, with one trim level and two powertrain options. Both use the same 77kWh battery pack, driving either a 286hp rear-wheel-drive model or a 340hp all-wheel-drive version.

As a fleet vehicle, Ford is likely to consider specific modifications in the build — one fleet is having sanitising stations installed on the bulkhead — but there’s no specific options list or pricing.

The buying decision is less about choosing the right trim and more about deciding whether the Explorer Van suits the job.

What are the Ford Explorer Van’s rivals?

The Ford Explorer Van sits in an unusual part of the market, so its rivals depend on what you need from it. If you want maximum load space, there are plenty of better electric vans. If you want long range, comfort and a modest but useful load area, there are far fewer direct alternatives.

The Skoda Enyaq Cargo is the closest rival in spirit. Like the Explorer Van, it’s an electric SUV converted for commercial use and sold through fleet channels. It’s got a similarly sized load area and a range of up to 359 miles.

Volvo is also getting into the mix with the EX30 Cargo. This is smaller than the Ford, and priced from just over £36,000, so it could appeal to similar users who need comfort, image and compact dimensions more than outright van practicality.

The Ford E-Transit Courier is a viable van-based alternative. It’s a more conventional small electric van, with proper van access, a squarer load area and a significantly lower starting price, but a small battery pack and limited range of 181 miles will leave some wanting.

What's the verdict of the Ford Explorer?

The Ford Explorer Van is a niche product, but it’s a niche product that makes sense.

Its SUV origin story defines it, so it’s not a direct replacement for a conventional small electric van, and it will be hard to justify if your business needs maximum load space or the lowest possible purchase price.

Where it works is as a long-range electric support vehicle for drivers who spend more time travelling between jobs than loading and unloading. Think engineers, surveyors, technicians and utility users.

It is also one of the most refined vehicles you can buy with a van badge. It’s also efficient and practical.

But there are compromises. It is expensive for the amount of space you get, the touch-sensitive controls are frustrating, and the rear glass and lack of sliding side doors will also rule it out for some operators.

Even so, the Explorer Van feels like a smart addition to Ford’s electric commercial range. It won’t suit every business, but for the right fleet user, it could be a very convincing alternative to a small electric van.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of theFord Explorer

**Correct as of 10/07/2026 . Based on 12  months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £5,100.24  (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. The Arrangement Fee for our services, which you will have to pay at order is £295.00 exc. VAT. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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