Overview & Reviews
Pickup? SUV? How about both? The specialized Ford Explorer Sport Trac was a vehicle meant to offer the best of both worlds, which is to say the cargo-hauling ability of a pickup and the comfortable interior of an SUV. It was, in essence, an Explorer with a pickup bed grafted to the back.
There have been two generations of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac. We were never very impressed by the original. Though clever in concept, it lacked in execution. The first Sport Trac was low-tech, underpowered and saddled with poor handling characteristics. The redesigned second-generation model, which debuted for the 2007 model year, was a much better package overall thanks to improvements in its power, cargo and towing capacity, and handling and comfort characteristics.
In most respects, Ford succeeded at its goal of building a vehicle that could act as both a pickup and an SUV. For consumers in need of a vehicle for hauling recreational gear or just something that can be used for light-duty trips to Home Depot, the Sport Trac should work just fine. We recommend shoppers take a look at some competing automakers' crew cab midsize pickups of the same time period, however, as they fulfilled much of the same role and offered advantages in refinement, performance and cab/body style configurations.
Most Recent Ford Explorer Sport Trac Models
The most recent generation of the five-passenger Ford Explorer Sport Trac was offered from 2007-'09. It came in a single body style: a four-door crew cab pickup. Although it shared the fundamental structure of the Explorer SUV, the Sport Trac was nearly 17 inches longer. The added length came from its longer wheelbase, which allowed room for the 4-foot cargo bed as well as plenty of rear legroom.
The Sport Trac's bed was constructed from sheet-molded composite (SMC), which was lighter than steel and wouldn't rust or dent. There were three integral storage compartments, and options included a folding cargo-bed extender and a hard tonneau cover. The bed contained a 12-volt power outlet.
Two trims were offered: base XLT and luxury Limited. The XLT's standard features included power mirrors and windows, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning and a CD player. The Limited adds larger 18-inch wheels, color-keyed bumpers and mirrors, foglights and side-step bars. Major options include a sunroof, dual-zone climate control and a navigation system.
There were two engines offered in this generation. The standard 4.0-liter V6 engine (210 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque) was matched to a five-speed automatic transmission. The available 4.6-liter V8 (292 hp and 300 lb-ft) came paired with a six-speed automatic. There was also a choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
In reviews of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, we found the vehicle competent, with no major faults. Acceleration is average, even with the V8, and handling pleasant enough to fulfill Ford's target of carlike driving qualities. In addition, the cabin was comfortable and worked well enough. Although adequate in most respects, the Sport Trac wasn't outstanding in any one area. Accordingly, we'd advise consumers shopping for a multipurpose crew cab pickup to check out the Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier before making a decision.
Changes throughout this generation's brief span were minor, with Ford adding the Sync system for 2008 and upgrading the optional navigation system for '09.
Past Ford Explorer Sport Trac Models
Sold from 2001-'05, the first Ford Explorer Sport Trac suffered from the launch-model blues. It was based on the old, second-generation Explorer and built around the Explorer's 4.0-liter V6 engine, chassis and suspension. At the time, we noted that we liked the vehicle's dual-nature configuration and many available features, but disliked its sloppy handling, limited towing and hauling capabilities, and subpar off-road abilities.
Changes to this generation were minor, so used-model shoppers should probably not feel a need to focus on any particular year.
User Reviews:
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Great Truck - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By L. Martin - November 30 - 2:00 amGreat Truck so far...............
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REAL truck wanted - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By CityslickerFramhand - November 30 - 2:00 amAn OK mom-mobile; kids in a true back seat with room for an antique chest in the toy-sized bed. 4.0 L engine: disappointing 16-17 mpg even with the 5-speed manual tranny, especially considering my 1991 5-spd Explorer DID get 20mpg. Still annoying: Fords windshield washer first wipes dry glass, THEN squirts fluid. New annoyance: Fords making AC cycle in all positions except heat-to-floor; no "fresh air to face."
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Awesome car! - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By cmcquade1974 - November 29 - 8:40 amLiving in Texas you need a truck, however living in the city you need a car. This truck is it! Best of both worlds!
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Bouncing around - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By papasmack - November 18 - 10:00 amI bought the sport trac because of its looks, size and features and think that it will suit my purposes of light hauling. I think the interior is average and a bit dated, and pales in comparison to the new f150 interior. I really enjoy the power rear window and its driving comfort. However, I must say suspension has the truck jumping all over on bumpy roads. I would really love this truck if the ride was a bit smoother and not as skiddish.
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Love My Sport Trac - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By STLOVER - November 10 - 11:20 pmBought a Ranger two years before the ST and couldnt use it for anything. The Sport Trac is great for hauling around my boat and snowmobile trailers. The four doors and easy in and out of the cab is excellent. The bed is very useful and more useful with a factory bed extender. The ST is great in the snow without the factory Goodyear tires.
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Good Lookin - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By mamudo - November 4 - 2:00 amWe think our truck is a "looker". It is great to have a smaller truck with people space and cargo space. Few things can be improved upon, and that is the brakes go really fast and the door lock pinches if you have your arm resting on the edge when the truck is put in drive and the automatic door lock engages.
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I love this truck - it saved my life - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By kemss - October 31 - 12:26 amI have very much enjoyed my truck... it has been perfect - fits all of my kids friends (big back seat) and I can haul things in the bed. It saved my life when an 18 wheeler decided to rear end me and push me into another truck. It has been great with maintenance... I just wish the paint didnt get chipped so easily when other cars bump their doors on my doors. Otherwise it has been perfect!
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Just what I wanted...sort of. - 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By K3 - October 26 - 5:23 pmThe 2008 Explorer pick-up is perfect for me and my high school aged daughter. I cannot complain about one thing other than gas mileage on the V6. I guess I would have purchased the V8 just to get the six speed transmission if I knew the mileage would not be all that different, although, my five speed seems fine for my purposes and the eight cylinder just added to the cost. My leather interior, the paint and trim are outstanding. Microsoft Sync and Sirius radio combined with the 6 disc changer gives me so much music through the trucks killer sound system that I dont know quite what to listne to sometimes. I love the handling, et. al. Really neat truck for a city boy.
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Luckier than Most? - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By vickist - October 24 - 10:00 amI currently have 54,000 miles on my Sport Trac. At 53,000 I had to have the dust shield on the front brakes replaced. Had to have the bolt holding the drivers seat to the floor replaced shortly after I bought the vehicle. The squeeking brakes gets me a lot of unwanted attention -- but the dealer also says that cant be fixed. Just read about the 2 new recalls. I presume that most of you had your hood latch replaced with the first recall.
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Wouldve never thought it - 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
By rd2007 - October 23 - 7:36 amI was a Ford hater and never would have considered buying one. I was initially looking at the Avalanche and while reading reviews I noticed some positive ones for the SportTrac. I went to the dealership and was also looking at the Expedition, but they could not get me the numbers I wanted so I decided to try out the SportTrac. I took a drive in it and was amazed at how well it drove. Its quiet, smooth, and the V-8 has plenty of go in it. So far I have had it for two months and its been perfect. My mileage has been about 15-16 overall, but that is mostly because I tend to have a little fun now and then. Its the same mileage my CX-7 got and that thing didnt have anywhere near the room.
