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Ford Explorer vs Mercedes-Benz GLB
Selected trim250+ Electric380 mi · 85 kWh · £46,100
At a glance
In this comparison, Ford Explorer leads on city driving, while the Mercedes-Benz GLB leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Ford Explorer if...
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
Choose the Mercedes-Benz GLB if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz GLB leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueMercedes-Benz
Ford
6.1
Mercedes-Benz
7
Motorway RangeMercedes-Benz
Ford
3.5
Mercedes-Benz
6.3
FamilyMercedes-Benz
Ford
6.7
Mercedes-Benz
8.7
ChargingMercedes-Benz
Ford
4.6
Mercedes-Benz
9.1
Cost Per Mile
Ford
3.5
Mercedes-Benz
3.5
Too close to call
City DrivingFord
Ford
5.4
Mercedes-Benz
4
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
250+ Electric
- 107 miles more WLTP range
- 70 litres more boot space
- 215 kW faster rapid charging
- 60 kW more power
- 2 more seats
- 500 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £35,185 (better) | £46,100 |
| Official range | 273 miles | 380 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 470 L | 540 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 25 min | 20 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.4 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Ford Explorer
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Length
Ford Explorer4,468mm-264mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB4,732mm
Width
Ford Explorer1,872mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB1,861mm-11mm
Height
Ford Explorer1,630mm-57mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB1,687mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,468 mm | 4,732 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,872 mm | 1,861 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,063 mm | 2,029 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,630 mm | 1,687 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.9 m (better) | 11.2 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 528 mm spare | 539 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 7 (better) |
| Rear legroom | 916 mm | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 470 L | 540 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1460 L | Not available |
| Frunk | Not available | 127 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,000 kg | 1,500 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Ford Explorer
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
- A 127 L frunk, one of 4 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 127 L or more.
- 380 mile WLTP range, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 320 kW, faster than 90% of SUVs in our catalogue.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Ford Explorer Style 58kWh |  Mercedes-Benz GLB 250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.47m | 4.73m+264mm |
| Width | 1.87m | 1.86m-11mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.06m | 2.03m-34mm |
| Height | 1.63m | 1.69m+57mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.77m | 2.89m+121mm |
| Ground Clearance | 193mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 470L | 540L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1460L | Not available |
| Frunk | Not available | 127L |
| Seats | 5 | 7 (better) |
| Rear Legroom | 916mm | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.9m (better) | 11.2m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,908kg (better) | 2,270kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1,000kg | 1,500kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 58kWh | 85kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 273 mi | 380 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 105kW | 320kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £35,185 (better) | £46,100 |
| Price after EV grant | £33,685 (-£1,500) | £46,100 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 273 miles | 380 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 183 miles | 268 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 25 min | 20 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 105 kW | 320 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 22 kW (better) |
| Energy consumption | 164 Wh/km | 164 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 58 kWh | 85 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.4 sec (better) |
| Power | 140 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 335 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Ford Explorer
Style 58kWh
Mercedes-Benz GLB
250+ Electric
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Ford Explorer
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Ford Explorer Style 58kWh
Tested 2024
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist72%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Mercedes-Benz GLB 250+ Electric
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant88%
Vulnerable Road Users78%
Safety Assist74%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
Ford Explorer
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB worth the extra £10,915 over the Ford Explorer?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB costs £10,915 more than the Ford Explorer. For that premium it adds 107 miles more WLTP range, 215 kW faster peak rapid charging and 70 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Mercedes-Benz GLB comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Ford Explorer or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The Ford Explorer is £10,915 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £176 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Ford Explorer comes out roughly £10,915 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 183 miles for the Ford Explorer and 268 miles for the Mercedes-Benz GLB - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz GLB goes roughly 85 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 20-25 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Ford Explorer or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The two are within 11 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 539 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz GLB and about 528 mm of total clearance for the Ford Explorer.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Ford Explorer or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Ford Explorer and 84% for the Mercedes-Benz GLB. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Ford Explorer comparisons
More Mercedes-Benz GLB comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best family EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best city EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Ford Explorer and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among EVs with the biggest boots
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .