The 2012 Ford Explorer uses a six-speed automatic transmission, not a manual gearbox. It’s paired with the 3.5-liter V6 engine and is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. A 2.0-liter EcoBoost option would arrive later, with the 2013 model year, but 2012 is built around the six-speed automatic setup.
Drivetrain fundamentals
In 2012, the Explorer relied on a 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The system offered SelectShift manual control that lets drivers click the shifter to simulate manual gear changes, and it was compatible with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.
Key transmission details for the 2012 model year include:
- Six-speed automatic transmission (not a manual)
- SelectShift adaptive/manual shift capability
- Standard with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts
- Designed to handle the 3.5-liter V6 powertrain as the baseline configuration
In summary, the 2012 Explorer’s transmission remains a conventional, electronically controlled six-speed automatic that supports changing gears manually via SelectShift when desired.
Engine options and transmission pairing
For the 2012 model year, the Explorer’s only engine option paired with the transmission was the 3.5-liter V6. Ford later expanded the lineup to include a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder in the 2013 model year, but that configuration also used a six-speed automatic transmission.
Key details of the 2012 engine-transmission pairing include:
- Engine: 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6
- Transmission: six-speed automatic with SelectShift
- Drivetrain options: rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
- Note: EcoBoost 2.0L option was introduced in 2013 and uses the same six-speed automatic transmission
The 2012 model therefore relied on a robust six-speed automatic configuration, a hallmark of Ford’s mid-size SUV approach at the time.
Summary
In short, the 2012 Ford Explorer uses a six-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift, paired with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and offered in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations. The EcoBoost option arrived in the following year and also uses the same transmission family.