2013 Limited vs. Sport - Features and Options

gobronx · August 26, 2012

Hi everyone. Great site here. I've been poking around for a few days now and have found some fantastic insight.

So, I'm all but committed to purchasing a new Ex. Wife likes the Limited, I'm more, shall we say, motivated by the Sport. I really do like the features and options available on the fully loaded limited (402A) package, although I'm not sure they are all necessary for our family. After an up close and personal on the showroom floor and a subsequent test drive, I've identified a few questions.

In particular, even after checking all the websites, I'm having a hard time with a line by line comparison of the Limited to the Sport.

Apart from the obvious external differences - engine, wheels, brakes, suspension, steering, sway bars, black out enhancements (love this, but why leave the "chrome" door handles?), EXPLORER on the hood (not so much) - what are the other differences?

And some specific questions:

Is the PowerFold third-row seat available on Sport?

Heated steering wheel?

Lane keep Assist?

Rain sensing wipers?

HID headlamps with auto high beams?

And as far as that PowerFold seat option in the Limited (really hoped to get it on Sport but doesn't look like it's available), the picture on the website (below) seems to indicate a tailgate option while I've read on this forum that it's only available on the Flex. Any insight?

Thanks for the feedback!

kaelin · August 26, 2012

Welcome gobronx.

Here is the list of unavailable options on the Sport

Park Assist (though the original press release says this is an option)
Auto High Beam Headlights
Lane Keeping Assist
2nd Row Console
Heated Steering Wheel
Powerfold Third Row
Rain-sensing Wipers (though the new Ford press release says this is an option)
HID Headlights

I don't know the answer on the tailgate option on the limited.

phareous · August 27, 2012

No tailgate option on the limited...so I doubt sport will have it either

CulturalInfidel · August 27, 2012

Do you mean the electric/power lift gate? ... That appears to be available on the Sport model, according to ford.com.

phareous · August 27, 2012

CulturalInfidel said:
Do you mean the electric/power lift gate? ... That appears to be available on the Sport model, according to ford.com.

No the button for power seats that does "tailgate mode". I don't think that has ever been available on Explorer...either it was an early feature they took out, or that photo is from the Flex

gobronx · August 27, 2012

kaelin said:
Welcome gobronx.

Here is the list of unavailable options on the Sport

Park Assist (though the original press release says this is an option)
Auto High Beam Headlights
Lane Keeping Assist
2nd Row Console
Heated Steering Wheel
Powerfold Third Row
Rain-sensing Wipers (though the new Ford press release says this is an option)
HID Headlights

I don't know the answer on the tailgate option on the limited.

Thanks Kaelin. That pretty much gives me the confirmation I was looking for, although I'm sad to hear some of it. I think I can live without everything. Of course, I would like the HID lights. Maybe the heated steering wheel for those really cold mornings and skiing.

The problem I've identified here, and it will be a hurdle, is the PowerFold seats. Seems my wife has fallen for the idea. So basically, I'd be trading off 75 horsepower and the fun factor so she doesn't have to manually raise/lower the third row seats (however infrequently this is likely to be required). :crazy:

The question for me is whether the want of keeping her happy and having a few extra conveniences will outweigh my need to drive a faster and more fun car. Turbo has all but become a must for me in the mountains!

Let me think about that for a seco... :popcorn:

Nope, I'm good with the Sport!:biggthump

gobronx · August 27, 2012

phareous said:
No the button for power seats that does "tailgate mode". I don't think that has ever been available on Explorer...either it was an early feature they took out, or that photo is from the Flex

Yes, I was referring to the electric PowerFold seating and the somewhat deceiving idea of the tailgate option. As determined above, not an option on the Sport. And thanks phareous for the info on the Limited.

Seems like some deceptive advertising - I pulled that picture above from Edmunds website specifically on the 2013 Explorer.

kaelin · August 27, 2012

gobronx said:
Let me think about that for a seco... Nope, I'm good with the Sport!:biggthump

That's what I did too. The HIDs would have been nice but I can fold my own seats down. They will be down most of the time anyway.

FordService · August 29, 2012

gobronx said:
...As determined above, not an option on the Sport. And thanks phareous for the info on the Limited...

Welcome to the forum, gobronx! I can see you already got the answer you were looking for. :thumbsup:

Here’s a quick addition from page 186 of the 2013MY Explorer Owner Guide 3rd Printing:

“The third row power seat buttons are located behind the third row seats on the left-hand quarter trim panel.

A. NORMAL: Press to return the seat to the normal seating position.
B. STOW: Press to stow the seat into the tub floor.
C. FOLD: Press to fold down the seatback.
D. RH / BOTH / LH: Press to select the normal, stow and fold modes to activate the right-hand seat, the left-hand seat or both.”

Want to download a digital version of the Owner Guide? Go here to grab a free copy:

http://Owner.Ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/OwnerGuidePage

kaelin said:
...Here is the list of unavailable options on the Sport...

phareous said:
...I don't think that has ever been available on Explorer...either it was an early feature they took out, or that photo is from the Flex

CulturalInfidel said:
Do you mean the electric/power lift gate? ... That appears to be available on the Sport model, according to ford.com.

kaelin, phareous, & CulturalInfidel,

Thanks a bunch guys for your due diligence!

Cory

Fmesposito · August 30, 2012

Any thoughts as to why Park Assist, Auto HID Headlamps and Lane Assist and Heated Steering Wheel were excluded as options? Doesn't seem like there would be a design different between the models which would have prevented them being options.

13Sport · August 30, 2012

Fmesposito said:
Any thoughts as to why Park Assist, Auto HID Headlamps and Lane Assist and Heated Steering Wheel were excluded as options? Doesn't seem like there would be a design different between the models which would have prevented them being options.

I think it was marketing decision, not a design difference. Those features are more in line with "luxury", which is who the limited is geared toward. I'm pretty sure it's to create a distinction between the two models, and keep the "fully loaded price" similar on both. If you could get all of those features on the sport it would put the sport price around 60k (or higher), this would make Ford competing in a different market based on price.

Mdanielswv18 · October 28, 2012

It would be nice if Ford would train all of their salespeople on facts like this. I ordered my Sport last night and the guy told me it would come with the power folding seats. This and the HID headlights should come in the 402A package with the Sport.

13Sport · October 28, 2012

Mdanielswv18 said:
It would be nice if Ford would train all of their salespeople on facts like this. I ordered my Sport last night and the guy told me it would come with the power folding seats. This and the HID headlights should come in the 402A package with the Sport.

Yeah, manual seats and halogens, sorry. I prefer the manual seats, but I would have liked a HID option too

Mdanielswv18 · October 28, 2012

13Sport said:
Yeah, manual seats and halogens, sorry. I refer the manual seats, but I would have liked a HID option too

Why would you prefer the manual seats? Is there some advantage to the manual seats that I am not aware of?

13Sport · October 28, 2012

Mdanielswv18 said:
Why would you prefer the manual seats? Is there some advantage to the manual seats that I am not aware of?

Can be folded into more configurations, no worries about motors going bad over time, seats fold/unfold very quickly and without any effort. No issues with accidental switch presses, and the list goes on. I played with the powerfold in the limited and ultimately was sold on the manual fold version. I was actually relieved when I found out the sport didn't have them.

peterk9 · October 28, 2012

Mdanielswv18 said:
It would be nice if Ford would train all of their salespeople on facts like this. I ordered my Sport last night and the guy told me it would come with the power folding seats. This and the HID headlights should come in the 402A package with the Sport.

There is no mention of the Power Folding Seats or HID being available in the 402A package on the Ford website.

Peter

tazcubed · October 28, 2012

HID switch?

13Sport said:
Yeah, manual seats and halogens, sorry. I prefer the manual seats, but I would have liked a HID option too

Does anyone know if it's possible to switch it over HID without losing the black surround that's found on the Sport package headlights? Is there anything else that might be required to do this - electrical modules, etc? I, too, would've preferred the HID option. Are there aftermarket solutions that are an easy switchover? That said, I'm quite happy with the Sport package and don't find the headlights that bad but would've liked a bit brighter view. Most of the other stuff that's missing from the Limited isn't a concern to me (although would've loved the heated steering wheel this winter). If I can't turn a knob when it starts to rain then I probably shouldn't be driving any more...

Mdanielswv18 · October 28, 2012

What a bad move on Fords part with the HID lighting though. The main people that would be interested in the HID lighting would be the people interested in the Sport model. I feel that both of these should be options available in the sport. I am also pissed that the Sport does not come in the dark grey color.

13Sport · October 28, 2012

peterk9 said:
There is no mention of the Power Folding Seats or HID being available in the 402A package on the Ford website.

Peter

Doesn't help if your talking to a salesperson at a dealership instead of building the car online. He's correct that the sales people know nothing about the available options, and the differences from the limited.

peterk9 · October 28, 2012

tazcubed said:
Does anyone know if it's possible to switch it over HID without losing the black surround that's found on the Sport package headlights? Is there anything else that might be required to do this - electrical modules, etc? I, too, would've preferred the HID option. Are there aftermarket solutions that are an easy switchover? That said, I'm quite happy with the Sport package and don't find the headlights that bad but would've liked a bit brighter view. Most of the other stuff that's missing from the Limited isn't a concern to me (although would've loved the heated steering wheel this winter). If I can't turn a knob when it starts to rain then I probably shouldn't be driving any more...

It would be quite a bit cheaper to invest in some good aftermarket bulbs. I did that on my Highlander and it made such a difference that when I got the HID in the Limited, I was somewhat disappointed in their performance.

Peter

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