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2012 Ford Explorer CT

For 2012, the Ford Explorer offers an optional turbocharged four-cylinder engine that promises six-cylinder performance with four-cylinder fuel economy.  The 3.5 Liter V-6 Engine has 290 horsepower and 255 ft lbs. of Torque.  It is also accompanied by a six speed automatic transmission.  The 20 Liter Turbochaerged I-4 engine has 237 horsepower and 250lbs. ft. of Torque.  The optional 4WD Terrain Management System uses no transfer case. The driver selects the terrain with a knob, and the car does the rest. The system includes Hill Descent Control.  The rigid chassis and careful tuning of the independent suspension produce a superb all-around ride.  The new Explorer takes corners and undulations flat (without excessive leaning), and the speed-sensitive electric power steering enables it to turn relatively tight and quick.  The front seat elevates high. The Explorer will be a versatile family vehicle, so the seats have memory for the XLT and Limited, while the steering wheel and pedals adjust for different drivers in the family.

Exterior Features of the'12 Ford Explorer

Rear taillamps are LED, and also look good. Black rockers on the sides allegedly lift the eye.  The hood looks short from the side but long when looking straight down it; it's got twoparallel humps and a scoop in the center, smoother than it sounds.  The window outline is clean, bold and symmetrical, with blackened A-, B-, and D-pillars, and with body-colored C-pillars that slant down and back and impart forward motion to the vehicle. With the dark privacy glass, from the shoulders up, in white at least, the Explorer looks like a sleek and powerful yacht. The fender flares are inspired by the Mustang, body sides follow the lines of the Taurus, and new three-bar grille strikes clearly of Range Rover (formerly in the family). The plastic grille is gray on the Base, body-colored on the XLT (the best looking), and satin-coated on the Limited.  Wheels are 17-inch steel with wheel covers on the Base, 10-spoke 18-inch painted aluminum on the XLT (best looking), and 20-inch painted aluminum with spokes like flower petals on the Limited. There are optional 20-inch polished aluminum wheels with spokes like shriveling flower petals

Interior Features of the '12 Ford Explorer

Safety features are headlined by the new curve control, which applies braking to individual wheels as needed to correct corner trajectory. Also standard are first-row airbags, side seat airbags, and side curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; tire pressure monitoring system, and front ratcheting headrests. Optional safety equipment includes inflatable rear seatbelts, blind spot system with cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and collision warning with brake support.  The front seat elevates high, which is good because the hood looks long from the driver's seat. The Explorer will be a versatile family vehicle, so the seats have memory for the XLT and Limited, while the steering wheel and pedals adjust for different drivers in the family.  The doors have metal speaker grilles, and curve into the dash panel. There's a big glovebox with shelf, leather grab handles and armrests, and long door pockets with space for a bottle.  The only version that does not use the MyFordTouch option is the base Explorer, the other two versions use the MyFordTouch option.  MyFord Touch uses an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack to do the configuring. According to Ford, it replaces many of the traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, colorful LCD screens and five-way buttons. The screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each individual driver using a simple button click, voice command or touch screen tap. We beg to differ with two words in that description: clear, and simple.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Ford Explorer comes in three models: Explorer, Explorer XLT, and Explorer Limited.

The Explorer comes standard with cloth seats with 6-way power driver including lumbar and recline; 60/40 split rear and 50/50 third row; tilt/telescoping steering wheel with controls; 6-speaker AM/FM/CD MP3 sound system, air filtration, speed-sensitive wipers, power windows, power locks, power seats, overhead console, cargo hooks, four 12-volt outlets, privacy glass, LED taillamps, halogen projector-beam headlamps, folding sideview mirrors, roof rails, hill start assist, 175-amp alternator, 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers.

The 4WD Terrain Management System is optional.

TThe Explorer XLT adds upgraded cloth seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, 18-inch painted aluminum wheels, automatic headlamps, heated sideview mirrors with LED turn signals and security approach lamps, backup and perimeter warning beepers, and 400-watt Sony sound system.

Explorer Limited adds leather seats, SelectShift manual mode for the 6-speed automatic transmission, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, power folding sideview mirrors, ambient lighting, adjustable pedals with memory, cargo net, dual zone climate control, 10-way power driver seat, rearview camera, remote start, 110-volt outlet, push-button start, garage door opener, and last but not least MyFord Touch driver connect technology. Second-row captain's chairs are available.

Options include a power liftgate, navigation, and a Tow Package that includes trailer sway control that works with the stability camera, and a backup zoom camera that can guide your ball precisely to the hitch.

Conclusions

The 2012 Explorer is a very nice looking vehicle inside and out.  They also accelerate quickly due to the V-6 or the optional I-4 turbocharged engine, and they have superb handlling due to the rigidness of the chassie.  To learn more about the Ford Explorer, go to the official website of the 2012 Ford Explorer.

Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive