We spend a week in the new for 2013 Ford Explorer Sport

Pros:

Handsome interior and exterior
Smooth switchgear
Solid chassis

Cons:

Steering feedback
Touch sensitive controls

2013 Ford Explorer Sport

Getting past the past

Largely credited with being responsible for the surge in sport utility vehicle popularity during the 1990's, sales of the truck-based Ford Explorer languished in the mid to late 2000's.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport

That all changed in 2008, when Ford introduced the Explorer America concept at the Detroit Auto Show. Based on a unibody platform, it signaled the Explorer's migration from a sport utility to a crossover utility vehicle – a decision based on the company's own research that demonstrated that less than 3 percent of Explorer owners ever left the tarmac.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
2013 Ford Explorer Sport

The fifth generation 2011 Ford Explorer went on sale in January of that year while two years later in March of 2012 it was announced that a performance version of the model, the Explorer Sport, would go on sale later that year as a 2013 model.

Outside, cues that differentiate the Sport from the rest of the lineup include model specific 20-inch painted and machined alloy wheels, smoked headlamp and taillamp covers as well as giving the black treatment to roof rails, outside rearview mirror caps and the liftgate appliqué.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Up front, a special grill is finished with a low-gloss gray mesh with contrasting high-gloss black bars. The lower fascia features an aggressive yet functional opening for additional engine cooling while topping it all off, literally, is the "Explorer" logotype finished in black at the leading edge of the hood.

Other than the black-finished liftgate trim, the only other clues in back are subtle "Sport" and "EcoBoost" badges.

In keeping with its performance nature, Ford also limits the choice of exterior colors to just four: Tuxedo Black and Ingot Silver metallic plus extra cost Ruby Red metallic clearcoat and pearlescent White Platinum metallic tri-coat finishes.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Interior

Our first thoughts on entering the 2011 Explore were that it easily could've been an Audi it was that nicely finished. The Sport version is even more upscale. While the only color choice for the perforated leather seats is black, Ford also offers them with contrasting Sienna brown-colored inserts with white stitching like those on our tester – an option said to have been inspired by the design houses of Balenciaga and Prada – really. Soft touch surfaces abound while Explorer Sport models also feature unique steering wheel stitching, illuminated scuff plates and what Ford calls "a technical look" to instrument and door panel trim that's neither glossy nor flat but has an intricate embossed finished.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Like more proletarian Explorers, we found very little to quibble about in the Sport. But as with the other models, the 8-inch touch-screen in the center console as well as the nifty slide and capacitive-touch buttons below it can be aggravating.

The amount of information the screen is required to convey to the driver can, at times, be a bit overwhelming and finding just the right area on it to place your finger can be distracting.

At the same time, the touch buttons offer no feedback, while the two slider bars, although they look cool, are even more difficult to adjust while driving.

On the plus side, the front seats are very supportive and four adults will find plenty of room in the front and middle rows (our tester came with the middle row bucket seat option), while there's also plenty of room in the third row for two more.

Cargo space behind the third row is 21 cubic feet. Flip that row down and it expands to 43.8 cubic feet. With the middle buckets down that expands to a commodious 80.7 cubic feet – enough to carry a fully-assembled wardrobe from IKEA with the hatch door closed and room to spare – trust me on this, I know.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Powertrain

But the upgrades found on the Sport go far beyond mere interior and cosmetic tweaks. While more proletarian Explorers make do with either a standard 290 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with 255 lb.-ft. of torque or optional 240 horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-4 with 270 lb.-ft. of torque, Sport models come with the best of both worlds.

In this case, it's the very same 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 albeit in EcoBoost form, with direct injection added along with a pair of turbochargers that produces 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a maximum 350 lb.-ft. of torque found at a very usable 3,500 rpm.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
To handle the additional performance, all Explorer Sports get a uniquely tuned front suspension and upgraded strut tower support, while the rear SR1 independent multilink suspension gets a 22-millimeter stabilizer bar.

Larger brakes are also part of the package while paddle shifters are also added to the six-speed automatic transmission package. Only a four-wheel-drive layout is offered, and it features a Terrain Management System that offers drivers settings for sand, snow, rutted mud and hill descent.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Equipment

To say that our Explorer Sport was well equipped is an understatement. Its standard equipment included all the power goodies – windows, mirrors and locks – plus LED tail lamps, a rear spoiler, illuminated scuff plates, three rows of seats, Sync with MyFord

Touch, dual zone automatic climate control, push-button start, Sony 12-speaker audio with HD and Sirius satellite radio, rearview camera with reverse sensing, curve control and trailer sway control.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Our Sport also came with "Equipment Group 402A" which adds a power liftgate, power tilt and telescoping steering wheels, adjustable pedals with memory, ambient lighting, remote start, rear inflatable seat belts, rain sensing wipers, power folding outside mirrors with memory, voice-activated navigation system and heated and cooled front seats.

Base price was $40,720 with the option package adding another $5,845. But we're not finished yet. Ruby Red metallic tri-coat paint was another $395, the second-row dual buckets and a trailer towing package added $750 and $570, respectively, while destination and delivery tacked on $825. That brought the total MSRP to exactly $47,390.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
On the road

Although Ford may have done away with much of the Explorer's off-road capabilities when it switched over to a unibody, the Sport version of the latest gen model excels on the highway and in urban settings. The Explorer Sport feels well-plated on the highway, and its suspension soaks up potholes and railroad tracks with aplomb. Other than some wind noise at highway speeds, cabin noise is nearly library-quiet at all speeds. At the same time, turns and evasive maneuvers are executed with even less fuss than lesser Explorers courtesy of the additional chassis upgrades as well as stiffer springs and dampers.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
Keep in mind that at nearly 4900 pounds it's hardly something you'll feel like tossing around, but in any case drivers so inclined would probably not put an Explorer on their shopping lists.

Explorer Sports are rated by the EPA at 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Our evaluation week included a trip to, along with three days in, the Windy City. We were thus able to closely monitor both city and highway gas mileage which we computed to be, believe it or not, 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
The Bottom Line

The new Explorer is Ford's idea of an extreme makeover and, quite frankly, we'd have no problem tuning into this program every week. The Sport adds some sinister-looking, bad boy touches to the Explorer's handsome exterior and its interior is flat-out stunning.

It also raises the bar in the sporty crossover utility class - especially for buyers looking for a bit of fun and nearly the same performance as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 for around $20,000 less.

It looks to us like Ford has another real winner on their hands.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport