Ford Explorer review

If the Explorer's outside hides its VW roots, the cabin does so slightly less. It has VW-common stalks, and a VW driver display with VW fonts. The main centre screen obeys largely VW logic (the new improved logic of the ID.7 and Cupra Tavascan) but has Ford graphics and fonts and it's in portrait orientation unlike any VW Group car.

Still, let's not kick it for commonality. You won't notice unless you also own a VW Group rival. Which would surely be overdoing the mid-size electric crossovers. And even if you did own both you'd be glad you don't have to learn a whole new operating system. Mind you, Ford uses VW's idiotically counter-intuitive window and light switches, which trust us can never be learned.

The general theme of the cabin design is to make it feel light, thanks to some grey finishes and the fabric soundbar; a feature that, like the portrait screen, gives it a family feel with the Mustang Mach-E. You wouldn't know from the outside, but the decorated panel behind the rear doors is actually a tinted window, improving the view for people in the back.

The front seats have a tall back and good supportive curves, and the driving position is fine – straight-ahead pedals and lots of seat and wheel adjustment. The squared-off wheel is a bit of an acquired taste, mind. The concise driver display is small enough to be seen beneath its rim.

Enough space?

Yup, plenty. As much people room as rivals except the Scenic and there's plenty of boot space at 470 litres to seatback height.

The pivoting screen has another trick. It acts as a lid for a little cupboard behind, so that space is covered when the screen is lowered. The screen locks when you lock the car, for security. Other storage boxes for smaller stuff include a removable cupholder that clips either on top of the console, or below it to free up a vast, laptop-sized covered bin.

The B&O Play sound system on the Premium spec is spacious and immersive.

How's the touchscreen system?

We've banged on often enough about the manifold pratfalls of the early VW ID screen, so we need to say it's much better here (as it is on recent VW Group cars). It's quick-acting and very configurable.

Ford has designed its own graphics, and made good use of the huge vertical screen's real estate. We ran it with a map taking up the top half of the screen, and three tiles below: song track on one, plus shortcuts to driver assist and drive modes on the other two. Trip computer we leave on the driver's screen as it's useful for range prediction.