2012 Ford Explorer Reviews-It's dramatically reworked its lineup of cars to be more fuel-efficient, while subduing its dependence on truck sales.
The case study for change in Dearborn is the Ford Explorer, new for the 2011 model year and with major news for the 2012 model year. The Explorer's V-6 outmatches its old V-8s--and for 2012, there's a turbocharged four-cylinder that still generates horsepower and torque to beat old Explorer V-6s into the dust, while posting EPA-estimated highway gas mileage of 28 mpg. Since it shares running gear with the likes of the Flex, even the Taurus, and the new Explorer can't quite hit the trails with the likes of the Grand Cherokee. It's one of the safest vehicles Ford builds, with inflatable rear seat belts and rearview cameras and blind-spot detectors. The 2012 Explorer also woos gear heads of another kind with My Ford Touch, the convoluted but promising system that uses voice, button or touch screen control to govern infotainment and other vehicle functions.
Trim levels include Base, volume XLT, and top-line Limited. A 240-horsepower "Ecoboost" turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is optional on all front-wheel-drive versions. Safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Power-adjustable pedals, driver-seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, remote engine start, and keyless entry/engine start are standard on the Limited.
Ford’s iconic Explorer has been completely reinvented to raise consumer expectations of SUV fuel efficiency, safety, technology, capability and quality.
“The all-new 2012 Ford Explorer delivers exactly what today’s SUV buyers are looking for, combining the capability, convenience, performance and technologies they want with the fuel economy these times require,” said Bill Gubing, Ford chief program engineer. “Explorer adds refinement to redefine what a modern SUV can be.”
Reengineered from bottom to top and revealed last summer, Ford Explorer enters the 2012 model year with an expanded color palette and is the first Ford model in North America to offer an all-new Ford Ecoboos four-cylinder engine delivering class-leading fuel economy and responsive performance.
New Ford Explorer exterior colors for 2012 include Ginger Ale Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl Metallic, Cinnamon Metallic and Black.
2012 Ford Explorer design – inside and out – is executed with world-class craftsmanship. Quietness – another significant advancement in the reinvented 2012 Explorer – also signals quality to customers. Explorer V6 models are also available with an intelligent 4WD system that adds terrain management. Driven by the commitment to give customers unsurpassed fuel efficiency with each newly launching vehicle,
2012 Explorer’s standard engine is a 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 delivering 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. Safe
Named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2012 Ford Explorer brings a stiff anybody structure and a class-leading suite of active and passive safety features and technologies, plus another Ford safety innovation – the world’s first second-row inflatable rear belts.
