Overall, though, the 2012 Ford Explorer is very much attuned to what today's large crossover shoppers want. Look for Ford to make software updates to correct some of these issues - even to cars that have already been built and sold. The MyFord Touch interface found on most models is a neat idea, but we've found it slow to respond and difficult to use. Perhaps a more appealing selling point will be the abundance of electronic convenience features, including Sync, adaptive cruise control and an automatic parallel-parking system. The third row, though, isn't as roomy as that of some competitors. The second row features seatbelt airbags - a first for the automotive industry - that are meant to improve safety for smaller occupants. Inside the cabin, the Explorer offers a stylish, well-finished space for up to seven passengers. And in another nod to contemporary concerns, the new, turbocharged, "EcoBoost" four-cylinder engine option gives the Explorer best-in-class fuel economy, although at a cost premium over the standard V6.
Refined, carlike driving dynamics are the result, although maximum towing capacity has declined in the bargain. So last year the Ford Explorer became a car-based crossover instead of a truck-based SUV, enhancing its well-rounded personality.Īs such, the 2012 Ford Explorer features a carlike unibody chassis instead of the heavier, truck-based body-on-frame. The glory days didn't last, however, as SUV buyers changed their priorities from recreational capability to passenger hauling. Once as ubiquitous as Barney, the purple dinosaur who starred on children's TV, the original Ford Explorer was a staple in the garage of the American family throughout the 1990s.
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