"The experience at Dewey Ford was hassle free, no pressure, from our salesman to the finance man. you are not treated like a number like some dealerships but with respect and the awareness that you are there main concern, like they are happy to make sure that you know they are there to make sure that your concerns were always there priority." 9/7/2011

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2012 Ford Explorer Des Moines

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A 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is newly available for 2012 and the new generation of the Ford Explorer is 4 inches longer, 5 inches wider, and makes the third row standard. Yet it's 100 pounds lighter. Its engine has 80 more horsepower and gets 25 percent better fuel mileage.  There are three Explorer models, Base, XLT and Limited. Each seats 7 passengers, and uses the new 3.5-liter V6 engine, 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The chassis is super rigid, using twice as much high-strength steel as the old. There's also some Boron steel whose strength is not only high, it's also thin and it bends more easily, to form the Explorer's front bumper beam, allowing the fenders to wrap gracefully and fade away at the corners. Such curves also help to transmit crash energy down and outside, away from the cabin.

Handling of the 2012 Ford Explorer

The new 3.5-liter V6, a DOHC all-aluminum mill with variable cam timing, was first used in the Ford Edge; called Ti-VCT, it's been pumped up to 290 horsepower in the Explorer, with 255 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with optional manual shifting, we found the power and acceleration to be smooth and responsive, with plenty of torque to maintain 80 mph on an uphill freeway, after a smooth and welcome kick down to fifth gear. The Explorer will tow 5000 pounds when equipped with the tow package, a spendy option, but it includes things you might wonder how you lived without. There's trailer sway control, which works with the stability control, and is another thing that could save your life. There's also a rearview camera with zoom, which will guide you to position the hitch ball directly under the trailer hitch cap, and make you feel like an astronaut docking his spacecraft.

2012 Ford Explorer Design

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.

Inside the '12 Explorer

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 ratcheted headrests are great, because they meet safety standards but don't push your head down at the chin. It's a problem with other vehicles that Ford solves with ratchets. There's a segment-leading 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, with the split rear rows folded, which they do like magic at the touch of a button on each side, bouncing back up with the pull of a lever; and outstanding second-row legroom of 39.8 inches, with good third-row space at 33.2 inches. Two kids will be happy in the third row, with that legroom to squirm and their own cup holders and bins. Because the doors swing wide and open easily, and because the second-row seat flips forward in a heartbeat, reaching the rear row, even for adults, is an easy climb.  The Ford Explorer is equipped with clean and slanted center stack using stylish satin-finish trim materials, with attractive climate vents and audio speakers. The doors have metal speaker grilles, and curve into the dash panel. There's a big glove box with shelf, leather grab handles and armrests, and long door pockets with space for a bottle.

'12 Explorer Lineup

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 side view mirrors, roof rails, hill start assist, 175-amp alternator, 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers.  The Explorer XLT adds upgraded cloth seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, 18-inch painted aluminum wheels, automatic headlamps, heated side view 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, Select Shift manual mode for the 6-speed automatic transmission, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, power folding side view 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.

Conclusions

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. For more on this model, visit the official 2012 Ford Explorer website.

 

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com