I was contacted by Ford recently to test drive their all-new 2012 Ford Explorer. The last time I had driven an Explorer was ages ago and it was on a road trip from Montreal to New York and all I remember was how comfortable it was. Their new car looks a lot better and more exciting compared to their previous model which is why I was looking forward to trying it out.
The first thing I noticed when I started the car was the combination of an analogue and digital dashboard. The speedometer was analogue while the information on both its sides were digital which I thought looked very cool. The second thing I noticed was the large screen in the center console which turned out to be touch sensitive and featured something called SYNC which I’ll go into detail in a bit. So first impressions wasn’t bad at all.
Since I had the car with me all weekend I drove it down to Bnaider and as expected the ride was very comfortable. The Ford is pretty big and spacious with three row of seating with the last row of seats having ample leg room. When the last row is folded down you also end up with a pretty large and spacious boot which I like to call IKEA friendly. The model I had (XLT) came with a rear view camera which was practical although I wish it also came with a front cam or at least front sensors since the front of the car is pretty long and high. While we’re on the subject of wishes there are two things I really disliked in the Explorer. The first is the touch buttons on the center console. For some reason Ford decided to have all the physical buttons touch sensitive but I have something against touch buttons because I can’t tell if I’ve pressed them or not specially when my eyes are on the road. Although you hear an audible alert when you touch a button I always prefer to actually feel a button being pushed in which doesn’t happen with these buttons. The second thing I disliked about the car was that it was front wheel drive. I thought that was odd for an SUV especially since it was full time front wheel drive and didn’t have an option to flip into four wheel drive. That turns out is an extra option which the car I drove wasn’t equipped with.
Other than those two quirks I didn’t have any other major issues. The SYNC feature which I mentioned earlier is very cool although I wasn’t able to fully take advantage of it. Right below the center console is a small compartment which can easily hold an ipod or iphone with accessories. In that same compartment is an SD card slot, two USB ports and RCA (video and audio) inputs. The car also has built in bluetooth and Wifi. I’m not sure why all the cars don’t come fitted with Wifi, it should really be a standard feature nowadays. I was also able to connect the car to my phones 3G connection using bluetooth but the car can also connect to internet using USB 3G modems and Wifi. You could also have the car connect to your phones internet via bluetooth and the car can then share the connection over wifi for other passengers to use. My problem is once the car connected to my internet I didn’t know what I could do with it. I’m guessing I need to download apps or widgets but since it wasn’t my car I didn’t spend too much time experimenting.
The car I drove had a pearl white exterior with a beige interior. If I was getting this car I would definitely go for a gray or black interior since it would make the car interior look a lot trendier but I’m not sure if they carry those colors locally. The starting price for the new Ford Explorer is KD9,999 and goes up to KD14,000 depending on the features and model. For more information on the Explorer click [Here]
Ford if you’re reading this.. I WANT TO TEST DRIVE THE RAPTOR!
32 replies on “My Ford Explorer 2012 Experience”
I bought my wife a new Ford Expedition last year. That is the Explorer’s bigger, better brother. Have every option available on it. We absolutely love it!! Very nice ride, quicker than expected acceleration, easy to understand controls, and the pulling capacity of a train(almost;). Don’t see too many here in Kuwait.
“The fist is the touch buttons on the center console. For some reason Ford”
Fist = First*
“Their new car looks a lot better and more exciting compared to their previous model which is was I was looking forward to trying it out.”
was I was = why I was*
grammar nazi’s unite!
Grammar Nazis unite!
๐
Touchรฉ.
spelling errors should not be confused with grammar.
Was just gona write that:p
thanks
you need some advertising skills ๐
Nissan is going the same direction with their pathfinder unfortunately. I guess not too many people actually use their offroad vehicles to go offroad.
The new generation SUVs (actually they’re crossovers due to the monoqoque chassis) from US car makers place more emphasis on on-road handling and fuel milege. Thats why you find some vehicles like the Explorer and Traverse having all-wheel drive only as an extra option.
Btw the Acadia and the new Durango are also monoqoque chassis vehicles.
very very over priced compared to other competitors actually if compared to some 8 cyl in the market 10K for a 2X4 6 cyl with a low towing capacity
” KD9,999 and goes up to KD14,000 ”
This is ridiculous .. the price in USA including full options is 10.000 KD .
https://www.frankom.com/?p=29237
Probably because it’s made in America? Plus don’t forget to add taxes and shot over there. Not defending the local price just saying its probably not that big a difference plus what’s 9,999 here is probably full options over there. We have more stuff standard in the gulf.
The shocking thing is that about 4-5 years ago the explorer was 6500 KD … The Expedition started around 7999 and a full option Eddie Bauer Edition was a bit more than 10,000 KD… now the explorer is 9,999 KD, thats just too much for a V6 Ford
Guys haven’t you noticed how ALL the cars have increased in price?
When the original Lexus LX470 came out over 10 years ago it was around KD15,500. Now it’s what 29,000? I bought my FJ 2 years back for around 9500, now the same model is like 11,600.
The new Wrangler cost like 7 or 8,000. I had gotten mine for 5,500 (with the hard top).
How much did the previous M3 cost? How much does the new M3 cost…
How much did the previous generation Prado cost? How much does the new Prado cost?
Actually the only car I think is decently prices is probably the Fiat 500 and i probably find it decently priced because its just cheaper than everything else and looks cooler.
I’ve been telling people the prices of cars has become ridiculous but no one is listening!
I think some vw cars are reasonably priced too like the GTi and the new jetta…
The current explorer comes packEd with a lot more standard goodies than previous outgoing models which only adds to the cost.
And a good review mark!
OOOOAAH YEAAH
My name is Mohamad and I am the General Sales & Marketing Manager for AMG. Thanks for the professional test drive and the unbiased review. I have been reading all the comments of 248am bloggers on the price and I need to clarify this. the KD. 9999 is a sticker price. The 2012 model years was announced at a promotional price of KD. 8888 with a full service package of 3 years or 60,000 km, as we are trying to offer the be value for money deals in town.
At these prices German cars make more sense today, slightly more expensive but needs 60% less servicing, cheaper spare parts than Japanese, durable (10 years of daily use is normal) and fairly reliable. Of course its German means quality, comfort, safety, handling and elegance.
Iโm saying this because I owned 6 German cars, one Japanese and one American and not to mention our family cars. One of these Germans I used for 10 years and did 200,000 km and sold it just because I wanted to change.
I know of 3 different friends who had older models of explorer and these cars burst into flames while they were sleeping. There was a recall on these models but Ford Kuwait said it was only a problem in USA!
One of our friends wanted to dump the burnt out in front of the dealership!
Why would someone buy Explorer when we can get Tahoe for same price ! And there is no way explorer can compete Tahoe !
Hi guys .. I jus got a new.toyota sequoia 5.7 v8 and I think its a real good buy for the money .
it is still overpriced…one of the reasons why they made the engine smaller is that to lower the price compete w/ other car makers..sales of Ford in US became very low…if you will notice the new one is cheaper in US than the older model…but here in kuwait..it is the other way around…maybe because..car dealer here knows that kuwait market can still afford a higher price and most(but not all) people here are still fond of the latest models irregardless of price….
u cant buy a Raptor if ur not kuwaiti
wtf??
The near entirety of the car market in Kuwait is overpriced. I spend a lot of time comparing car prices in Kuwait with those in the US [probably the cheapest place in the world to buy a car] and I constantly get shocked with what I find.
Examples:
1. A Range Rover Evoque Dynamic coupe costs 18000 KD in Kuwait, but you can still tack on about 7000 KD in options to push it into Range Rover Sport territory. The same car in the US with every option box ticked will set you back 16500 KD.
2. An option-free Porsche Cayenne V6 begins at 20100 KD in Kuwait compared to 13388 KD in the US.
3. A Porsche Panamera V6 retails at 29800 KD here with nothing in it, while the same car in the US is 20888 KD.
I can go on, but the point is clear. Strange how we pay a lot more given that we don’t have taxes or emissions/congestion charges or anything. It could be a European car thing or due to dealers buying vehicles in Euros and then charging more for them on the Kuwaiti market for profit… or it could just be dealers ripping us off and more in their pockets. I know a few people who have purchased new Porsches in the US and brought them back here to avoid paying thousands more for less.
^B
Agree with you, Cars are generally getting more expensive. but the prices here in Kuwait are highest in the world, and with a big MARGIN. all because of lack of business ethics and that its actually a MONOPOLY! its 2012 and its still happening.
That’s one good thing that might come if the GCC integrates its markets…Low prices
Trust me, with the amount of ponies this thing has got, it IS better then the tahoe. 290hp and lighter weight vs the heavier tahoe, at 320hp? Not to mention the previous explorer had 210hp, and could keep up with a tahoe.