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USCar Trader import service
Choose a specific vehicle. Where data is available, its detail page shows the import cost calculation. We assess any possible duty benefit with you before purchase.
Important: A 0% EU import-duty rate may be available for a vehicle covered by Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 that has US origin and is imported directly into the EU. CETA may apply to a vehicle with preferential Canadian origin. Whether the requirements are met is assessed for the individual case. Please contact us before purchase; we review the possible duty benefit and provide non-binding support through the process. Import VAT and other costs are assessed separately.
CarHub · Ford
The Ford Explorer is one of the vehicles that defined the modern SUV, and it remains a genuinely American product built primarily at Ford's Chicago Assembly plant.
Model profile
The Explorer arrived in 1990 and grew through five body-on-frame generations before Ford switched direction. The fifth generation (2011-2019, the U502 platform) moved to a unibody structure shared with the Taurus and marked the point where the Explorer became a car-based crossover rather than a truck.
Powertrain and equipment
American Explorers are overwhelmingly petrol. The volume engine in recent years is the 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo, good for roughly 300 hp, paired with a 10-speed automatic.
The Explorer is a three-row, seven-seat SUV throughout. US trim ladders have included Base, XLT, Limited, ST-Line, ST, Platinum and King Ranch depending on the year. XLT and Limited make up the bulk of used inventory and offer a sensible balance of equipment.
Vehicle selection
Explorers are plentiful in the United States, which keeps selection wide.
A used Ford Explorer suits a buyer who wants a large, genuinely seven-seat SUV with American road manners and a strong petrol drivetrain, without paying European-market premiums for the same generation.
Vehicle data
| Vehicle class | Mid/full-size SUV, three rows |
|---|---|
| Seating | 6 or 7 |
| Length (6th gen) | approx. 5,050 mm |
| Wheelbase | approx. 3,025 mm |
| Platform (6th gen) | CD6, longitudinal, RWD-based |
|---|---|
| Base engine | 2.3 L EcoBoost I4 turbo, ~300 hp |
| Performance engine | 3.0 L EcoBoost V6, ~400 hp (ST) |
| Legacy engines | 3.5 L V6 NA / 3.5 L EcoBoost V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive | RWD or intelligent 4WD |
| Fuel | Petrol (hybrid variant exists) |
| Generations on US market | 5th (2011-2019), 6th (2020-) |
|---|---|
| Towing (properly equipped) | up to ~2,540 kg |
| Country of build | USA (Chicago Assembly) |
Values are reproduced verbatim from the existing article table. The documents for the specific vehicle govern.
Pre-purchase review
Explorer reliability is generally acceptable but generation-specific. The fifth generation drew complaints about exhaust fumes entering the cabin under certain conditions, which prompted a Ford campaign; check that any fix has been applied. The 2.3 EcoBoost is robust but demands disciplined oil changes, as turbocharged fours punish neglected maintenance.
Germany and Europe
US Explorers use amber or combined rear lighting and typically lack a rear fog lamp, both of which German registration requires.
Selection comes first: we identify suitable used Explorers and share condition reports.
Typical work includes fitting or activating a rear fog lamp, adapting the headlights to European aiming, and confirming the speedometer and odometer readings.
USCar Trader services
As a buyer based in Germany, you do not have to inspect the vehicle yourself in the United States or Canada. Within the agreed scope, USCar Trader can coordinate document review, a separately commissioned on-site inspection and purchase processing.
Covered inspection points are agreed in advance. An on-site inspection records condition at the appointment and is not a guarantee.
Next step: Before commissioning, USCar Trader and the customer agree which document, history, inspection and transaction checks suit the vehicle and are included in the service. This records what was actually checked.
Import process
The import process for a Ford Explorer is planned around the specific listing, location, documents and commissioned service scope.
Questions and answers
Yes. As a broker we source the vehicle, verify it and manage transport and clearance into Germany.
No, not automatically. A 0% EU import-duty rate may be available for a vehicle covered by Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 that has US origin and is imported directly into the EU. CETA may apply to a vehicle with preferential Canadian origin. Whether the requirements are met is assessed for the individual case. Please contact USCar Trader before purchase; we review the possible duty benefit and provide non-binding support. Import VAT and other costs are assessed separately.
Import VAT and other taxes or costs are assessed separately under the applicable rules and the circumstances of the individual case. A blanket answer for every vehicle would not be reliable.
The 2.3 EcoBoost covers most needs efficiently, while the 3.0 EcoBoost ST suits buyers wanting performance.
Wear and service parts are widely available; some US-specific trim may need ordering from the States.
From purchase to registration typically several weeks, driven mainly by ocean transit and clearance timing.
Usually yes for US models without EU type approval, which is a routine TÜV process.
Available VIN, title and history information can be reviewed in the vehicle profile. USCar Trader can also arrange a separately booked on-site inspection within a scope agreed in advance.
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