Four-tiered 2013 Ford Explorer range is a comprehensive one, with the base variant offering enough standard and optional features to suffice. It’s at the higher end of the range that you’ll find the best-used options, though.
Key Points
- The 2013 Ford Explorer was offered in four trim levels: Base, XLT, Limited, Sport. The Sport model was new for 2013.
- Explorer Base features a few niceties including a powered driver’s seat and individual front and rear climate controls. Its basic tech is a little dated today, though.
- XLT models don’t offer much more over the Base as standard, but can be optioned up to incorporate nicer materials and extra tech.
- The Limited model previously sat at the top of the range and features leather upholstery and the biggest screens on offer.
- The range-topping Sport added a twin-turbocharged engine and a number of chassis enhancements and was targeted toward younger, more affluent buyers.
2013 Ford Explorer Base Offers Powered Driver’s Seat and Two-zone Climate Controls, but Looks a bit Cheap Outside
Right from the entry-level, the 2013 Ford Explorer offers an acceptable level of standard equipment. That’s despite it clearly looking the most basic in the range, riding on 17-inch steel wheels and only wearing black plastic door handles, mirror caps, roof rails, and body cladding.
Inside, it may only have cloth upholstery, but there is a six-way powered driver’s seat as standard. To keep all passengers happy, there are also individual air conditioning controls for both front and rear passengers. Additionally, find 4.2-inch color LCD screens in both the instrument cluster and center stack, the latter serving as an infotainment system with MP3 compatibility and six speakers. Though small by today’s standards, they were fitting for the time.
Given the Explorer’s size and positioning, three rows of seats are standard, with seven seats in total. All rows of seats have map lights and 12-volt outlets.
Kelley Blue Book currently values the Explorer Base at around $13,271 when priced fairly.
2013 Ford Explorer XLT Adds Better Styling, Nicer Materials, but not Much Extra Tech as Standard
Stepping up to the 2013 Ford Explorer XLT, the changes can clearly be seen outside. 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome door handles and lower body cladding accents, gloss black mirror caps, fog lights, satin silver grille, and silver roof rails. It also adds the SecuriCode entry system on the driver’s door, allowing for use of a pin code rather than the key to unlock the vehicle.
Inside, though, there aren’t terribly many noteworthy changes, even if there are a few additions. It does gain unique cloth upholstery, a six-way powered front passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, rear parking sensors, and automatic headlights for convenience. However, there’s no other extra tech beyond SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility as standard.
A larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, nine-speaker audio system, and dual-zone climate control could at least be added with Equipment Group 201A. Heated leather seats could also be added on top of that with the 202A group.
The fair purchase price for an Explorer XLT would be around $15,589 – nearly a $2,000 step up over the Explorer Base on the used market.
2013 Ford Explorer Limited is Luxurious Enough for Most Buyers Thanks to its Larger Screen and Heated Leather Seats
Prior to 2013, the Limited sat at the top of the range. As such, it looks pretty slick wearing 20-inch aluminum wheels and body-colored grille, and wing mirror caps.
It gets a real uptick on the interior, however, adding leather upholstery (in Light Stone), faux wood trim, and ambient lighting for a classier look and feel. Heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, and power-adjustable pedals also come as standard.
The 2013 Ford Explorer Limited adds plenty of extra tech as well, including a larger 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with voice activation, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, dual 4.2-inch instrument cluster screens, dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry with push-button start, and remote start.
Available options included heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, power-folding third-row seats, and active safety tech including adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.
If you’re looking to buy a 2013 Explorer Limited, expect to pay around $16,594 – just $1,000 more than an XLT.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport Adds Unique Sports Suspension Setup and Maintains Well-equipped Interior
Aimed at attracting younger, more affluent buyers to the brand, the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport nailed its objective as the Maritz Research New Vehicle Customer Study revealed. Sporting 20-inch diamond-cut aluminum wheels with black-painted pockets, a blacked-out grille, and door trims, and black badges front and rear. The looks are distinctly performance-oriented to match its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and sports suspension, both exclusive to this model.
Inside, its equipment mirrored that of the Explorer Limited, although there were minor enhancements. A unique Sienna brown leather interior is available, there is Sport badging on the floor mats and illuminated door-sill scuff plates. Being the performance model, it also adds paddle shifters for its six-speed automatic transmission on the steering wheel.
Some features that probably should be standard on this range-topping model are only optional, however. A panoramic moonroof, powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control, and satellite navigation are all examples of this.
A fair price to pay for an Explorer Sport would be around $17,194 according to Kelley Blue Book, making it not much of a step up over the Limited.
Upper End of the 2013 Explorer Range is where You’ll Find the Best Used Buys
The 2013 Ford Explorer range is clearly quite comprehensive. From the Base variant all the way to the top-spec Sport, it offers everything from something basic but comprehensive to luxurious and sporty.
Keeping the used values of the Explorer range in mind, the two bet bets in the range look to be the Limited and Sport. With little price difference between them on the used market and almost identical specs, they are both going to offer all the luxuries most buyers want, especially over the more basic entry-level models. Whether you want the turbocharged V6 of the Sport model or not will be the main defining factor.
Photos: Ford
