Ford Explorer - Interior, design & technology

There are some VW-sourced parts in the Explorer’s cabin – the most obvious being the driver’s display with drive selector, the touch panel for controlling the lights and the keyfob – but overall Ford has made the Explorer’s cabin its own.

What is the Ford Explorer like inside?

Considering Ford had some fixed parameters to work with when creating the Explorer, it’s not obvious from the cabin that its tech and running gear is shared with any VW models. One big factor in that is the cabin layout, which has a large central tunnel separating the front seats – by comparison, the VW ID.4 has a more open feel up front. Of course, the other big difference is the addition of Ford’s vast 14.6-inch portrait touchscreen.

What is the interior quality like?

That display is one place where the cabin finish takes a bit of a backward step, because the mechanism for the sliding screen leaves exposed edges that spoil the appearance of the centre console when the display is vertical. But overall the cabin feels well constructed and features plenty of decent, high-quality materials.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

With so much tech on offer, it’s no surprise that the majority of the Explorer’s functions are controlled via the portrait screen. The Ford’s vast 14.6-inch touchscreen is so large that the climate controls at its base only take up a fifth of the display, but they’re still harder to use than conventional buttons. The screen has plenty of room for big buttons to select different sub-menus and these are easy to locate when you’re on the move.

A carry-over from VW is the touch-sensitive volume slider, which needs a firm press to activate. The volume can be adjusted via the steering wheel, too, although this slider is inconsistent in its responses. 

The long piece of trim across the top of the dashboard is actually a sound bar, and is similar in concept to the home audio device. Premium models have a great-sounding Bang & Olufsen set-up, but the Select comes with an unbranded system that still offers decent quality.

Ford’s SYNC Move software is responsive and offers quick loading times, while voice control is available if you’d rather not use the screen. A row of shortcut buttons across the top of the screen allows quick access to important functions, and there’s a Home button lower down that gets you back to the main screen, if needed.