Why do we humans hate making changes? It happens when we have to change jobs, houses etc. I was going to say it’s the same with cars, but that’s probably not correct as most people do look forward to buying a new car. However, some have a great love for their old cars and are reluctant to change.
So, I had to resort to our old friend Google for an answer and this is what I found. “Resistance to change is not a conscious act. Instead, we resist change because of our evolutionary survival instinct and, as humans, we are inherently cautious about change.”
I don’t think that resistance to change policy exists in the boardroom of Ford, but the company are definitely latecomers to the electric market.
I do realise that electric cars are probably better for the planet we live on, but why did Ford have to discontinue production of some great old favourites like the Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta?
The only non-electric Ford cars now on sale in Ireland are the Kuga and Puma. These decisions are probably taken in the United States, certainly not in Cork, which has strong connections with the Ford family.
The Mach-e, which is part of the famous Mustang range, wasn’t a great seller here for Ford while the Explorer has done better and Ford are expecting to do much better with their new Capri, a name that will resonate with many older Ford customers.
I had a brief drive in a yellow-coloured version of the Capri recently and it’s certainly a very attractive car. Prices for the Capri will start at €45,798, but I will have to wait a few weeks for a proper test. So, in the meantime I was offered another drive in the Ford Explorer.
The Explorer has a somewhat boxy look to it and that famous blue oval badge sits proudly at the front of the car, where you normally find a grill in a non-electric car. The car is similar in looks to many other electric cars I have driven from brands like: Kia, VW, Tesla and most recent XPeng. And therein lies the problem for Ford, they are late to the electric market.
When I am driving an electric car, my neighbours have just two questions, price and range. Prices for the Explorer start at €42,119, which is about average for an electric car of this size and the range is officially 602km. For car reviewers it’s difficult to say for certain what the range is, as much depends on the driving habits of the previous driver. But after a week in the Explorer I found that the range was well over 600km.
As with most new cars, the dash is dominated by the infotainment screen and I found the 14.6-inch portrait screen in Explorer easier to manage than the huge screens in some other models. Still, old-timers like myself, would I think, prefer a few old-fashioned buttons to change radio stations etc. There are plenty of cubby holes to store drinks, notebooks, pens etc in the cabin.
The seats are comfortable and can be easily adjusted. Plenty of head and leg room for five well-built adults. A huge boot, officially 532 litres of space, but as usual with most modern cars, no spare wheel.
I have always had a soft spot for Ford cars and maybe because I began my working life in Cork, I still feel a sense of loyalty to the brand.
