2012 Ford Explorer - Review

The 2012 Ford Explorer isn't the typical green car. A seven-seat crossover vehicle, the Explorer gets an intriguing new option this year in the form of a turbo four-cylinder drivetrain, rated at up to 28 mpg highway--and that's why it earns our attention, and a rating of 7 here at GreenCarReports.

The standard-issue drivetrain in the 2012 Ford Explorer pairs a 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. It's rated at 17/25 mpg, not bad numbers for a traditionally styled and sized off-roader. Opting for all-wheel drive lowers those numbers to 17/23 mpg, though.

New for the 2012 model year, Ford's EcoBoost four-cylinder gives green-car shoppers a reason to be more interested in the Explorer. For $995 extra, the EcoBoost brings direct injection and turbocharged along with its downsized displacement. The net: 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, which give the EcoBoost Explorer competitive acceleration with the V-6 version. The gulf widens in fuel economy, where the front-drive-only EcoBoost model is rated at 20/28 mpg. Our test drives of the new EcoBoost model show it's a suitable alternative for crossover drivers who don't regularly tote a full complement of people or cargo. The EcoBoost model gets winded more quickly, and in fact it's rated at only 2000 pounds of towing capacity, while the V-6 model has a 5000-pound rating. The turbo four also generates a fair amount of noise under full throttle, with turbo whistle and four-cylinder grumbling blending into a reasonably muted voice.

With its top fuel economy rating, the Explorer also brings some of the best dynamics in its class. The electric power steering helps to save fuel, and its light and quick tuning brings the crossover something approaching sharpness. Plus, with an optional system, it lets the Explorer park itself, using sensors and cameras, with the driver maintaining control over braking. The Explorer's ride quality is very good, and its brakes are strong.

The Explorer seats up to seven passengers, which helps even the V-6 model in its quest for efficiency. Those passengers will have plenty of room, especially in the front two rows, where bucket and bench seats are surrounded by good leg and in particular, good head room. The middle-row bench can be swapped out for bucket seats, while the child-sized third-row bench folds away by hand or at the touch of a button. The Explorer's cargo space of 21 cubic feet with the third-row seat raised, expands to about 81 cubic feet when the second- and third-row seats are folded.

Even among top-rated crossovers, the 2012 Explorer has leading safety scores and features. The IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick; in addition to standard curtain airbags and stability control, the Explorer has options for Bluetooth, a rearview camera, blind-spot monitors and inflatable rear seatbelts, as well as adaptive cruise control. The mirrors are large and so are the glass areas, for good visibility, but the view to the rear is compromised by thick C-pillars.

Those safety features are joined by luxury amenities you can't find on some $100,000 sedans. Every Explorer comes with power features, a CD player and air conditioning. A standard media hub includes dual USB ports, an SD card slots and RCA jacks; you can plug a 3G dongle into the USB ports for mobile hotspot activity. Moving into XLT and Limited versions brings satellite radio, Bluetooth and leather upholstery, with options for a DVD entertainment system, a power third-row seat, a moonroof, and the Ford MyTouch system, which replaces knobs and switches with an LCD screen and steering-wheel controls. With MyFord Touch, drivers can control phone, audio, navigation and climate with voice, touch or steering-wheel-button commands, but the complex system has been a controversial addition. Ford will sell you its Bluetooth-connected SYNC system as a stand-alone feature, leaving the old-school buttons and knobs in place.

With this Explorer, Ford's remade its family favorite into a greener vehicle. It's more attractive and more nimble than before, and it's also more efficient, thanks to EcoBoost.

For more on its styling, comfort and utility, safety, performance and features, see TheCarConnection's full review of the 2012 Ford Explorer.