Did You Know Every New Ford Explorer Has a Secret Price?
...It's the low price you'll never see published in the paper...
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2012 Ford Explorer Overview

Price Range: $28,280 to $39,855

Your Price: Ask Us

After a 2011 redesign, the Ford Explorer is back and the reigning North American Truck of the Year raises the bar once again with a brand-new engine that breaks new ground in the Explorer family.

The 2012 Explorer’s changes come under the hood, in the form of a new, turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. This engine is designed to provide the horsepower and torque of a V-6, while simultaneously offering the fuel efficiency of a low-displacement four-cylinder. Essentially it’s a quest to allow SUV shoppers to finally have their cake and eat it too. And with figures like 240-horsepower, 270 pounds-feet of torque, 20 mpg/city, and 28 mpg/highway, it seems that they’ve succeeded.

Back for 2012 is the 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 from last year. Keep in mind that the EcoBoost four-cylinder is an option and you’ll have to pay a premium for it while the V-6 remains the base engine. Both come mated to a standard six-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder is also front-wheel drive only, so if you want all-wheel-drive you'll have to go with the V-6. A Terrain Management System which adapts the car to pavement, snow, sand, or mud driving, is optional. Expect to get 17 mpg in the city and 23-25 mpg on the highway with the V-6.

The 2012 Explorer also continues to offer one of the most technologically advanced interiors found on the road today. Seating for seven passengers is standard, but if you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs in the Limited trim that number falls to six. Standard features include an auxiliary audio input jack, air conditioning, power windows and locks, and remote keyless entry. The Explorer is also available with luxurious options like a dual-panel moonroof, heated and cooled front seats, premium audio system with HD radio, a navigation system, Bluetooth® connectivity, MyFord Touch, and Ford’s SYNC connectivity suite.

MyFord Touch, which debuted last year, combines with SYNC to change how drivers interact with their car. It puts two LCD screens in the instrument panel on either side of the speedometer than can be customized to display different information such as a tachometer, current audio track, or directions from the navigation system. There is also a larger touch-screen in the middle of the dash that houses audio, climate, and navigation controls. SYNC allows you to also control many of these functions with voice commands, which allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

The Explorer’s tech-savvy focus also extends to its approach to safety. In addition to the usual safety features (antilock brakes, six airbags, electronic stability control), the Explorer can also be outfitted with adaptive cruise control, a blind spot warning system with Cross Traffic alert, backup camera, and even an automatic parallel parking system.

As the reigning champion, one would have thought that the 2012 Ford Explorer could have rested on its laurels for a year and be fine, but with a new, more efficient engine and great technology in the cabin the Explorer stays firmly in the spotlight.
2012 Ford Explorer

2012 Ford Explorer

"...This was my first time buying a new car, and I really didn't know where to start. I used your site to get quotes from dealers near me and compared them to the Market Price. Then, I used the knowledge I got from reading your Secrets book to make sure I didn't pay more than I should. It was so easy! I love my new car!"

-Sonya S.
Los Angeles, CA

 

Uncover Rebates & Incentives

Want to keep even more money in your pocket? Find available Rebates & Incentives in your area by entering your ZIP code above.

These additional manufacturer savings programs can help you get your best deal.*

  1. Cash Rebates
  2. Low Interest Financing
  3. Special Leasing Options

Some manufacturers also provide first-time buyer, military, and other programs to target specific customer segments.

*Incentive programs are subject to change at any time by the manufacturer.

Secret 1
Consumer Incentives

Zero percent financing, employee discount, cash back, out-the-door price tags...

Most dealers work hard to offer the public competitive prices. These incentives can grab your attention, but they can also obscure the actual terms you're getting on your purchase.

How can you fully understand incentives to get the lowest possible price on your car?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 2
Finance & Insurance

Most state franchise laws prohibit manufacturers from selling cars directly to the public, so the dealer will be your middleman. But in terms of financing and insurance, you can choose a bank or the dealer directly.

How can you determine what's in your best interest?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 3
Additional Costs

Destination charges, taxes, license and title fees, advertising fees... When going to a dealership, you must ask for an explanation of any fee you don't understand. But you need to choose your battles wisely. Your local car dealer may have taken a loss or slim profit along the way, and your fighting over something like a doc fee when the deal is nearly wrapped up may be counterproductive.

In any case, there are many fees and charges in the sale process: some inevitable, others questionable. How do you tell them apart?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 4
Trade-in Value

If you currently own a car, it probably represents profit. The question is, whose profit will it be?

With few exceptions, you'll get the most money for your used car by selling it privately. That's because dealers pay wholesale prices — not retail prices — for used cars, and they sell them at retail.

Your current car's value can be used to lower the price on your new car. However, most people underestimate their used car's value when going to a dealership. How can you maximize your value?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 5
Dealer Holdback

The car manufacturer holds back a fraction of the price of all vehicles the dealership sells. Then, it returns the money to the dealership, usually on a quarterly basis.

Dealer holdback began its life as a safety net that ensured the manufacturers would have a security deposit of sorts if a dealership missed payments, and the dealerships would have money on hand to cover overhead costs when the holdback was returned.

How can you take advantage of dealer holdbacks to get the bottom line price?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 6
Dealer Incentives

Unlike consumer incentives, dealer incentives are factory-to-dealer incentives that reduce the dealer's true cost to buy the vehicle from the factory to below invoice.

Manufacturers offer these incentives on a regional basis to generate sales on specific models. These incentives are sometimes referred to as "spiffs," and they can touch off competition among dealers to move slower-selling stock.

For instance, a dealer incentive may kick in when a certain sales target is reached, with each subsequent sale resulting in a higher factory-to-dealer rebate. How can you benefit from that?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Why Enter My ZIP Code?

Our state-of-the-art technology uses your ZIP code to find accredited dealers in your area that can sell vehicles below sticker price.

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