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Christopher Jackson | 9/7/2007 | Ford
When versatility is the name of your game, you've got to be ready for anything. You need a vehicle that's going to swallow four friends one day and an entertainment center the next. Got to tow a trailer? Carry a Jet-Ski? Fight your way down a gravel road? You need to be prepared for any of it, and to roll in style at the same time. Leather, tunes, a comfortable ride, you need it all.
If this is an adequate description of your automotive needs, Ford would like to introduce you to the redesigned Explorer Sport Trac. This SUV slash pickup truck has been redesigned for 2007, with a longer wheelbase, a new V8 engine and a more modern chassis. The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac's X-Games sensibility has been notched up as well, and it's easy to think of this trucklet in the same category as the Nissan Xterra or Honda Ridgeline. That's not too far from the truth, as the Explorer Sport Trac has finally moved onto the more refined chassis of Ford's mid-size Explorer SUV, ditching the archaic frame it has ridden since its introduction.
An evolutionary design helps to signal the improvement, as well as linking the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac to the F-150 visually. It's five inches longer and two wider, but this is still basically an Explorer with a small pickup bed in place of the cargo area, and the external cargo hooks help to highlight this fact. A chrome soul-patch and grille surround up front are shared with the Explorer, while more chiseled lines give it a more mechanical look than its predecessor. The 4.5 foot cargo bed is made of a scratch-resistant composite and incorporates handy built-in cargo boxes. The available hard tonneau cover is lockable for added security, and as before, a flip-out cargo extender adds to the bed's length and enables the Sport Trac to carry real pickup-sized loads. The tonneau cover folds out of the way (sort of) to make way for large cargo. The release mechanism for the bed extender has been simplified as well, making it easier to use.
Inside, the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac takes advantage of the redesigned Explorer's interior as well. A new center console holds the shifter and is big enough to carry plenty of gear; the handsome dash offers a stronger family resemblance to the Explorer and Expedition. Elbow room is increased by the wider cabin as well. Ergonomically-styled chrome door handles are nicely fashionable, though the door pulls themselves are mounted low, and difficult enough to grab to annoy most passengers. Still the Sport Trac is more stylish than the Xterra or Ridgeline, with more varied materials and colors, though the sturdy and workmanlike rubber floormats are still available for the active set. Don't want to get muddy? The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is available with a leather interior, Sirius satellite radio, a subwoofer-equipped sound system and even a heated windshield. Dress it up and the luxurious interior is actually somewhat at odds with the Sport Trac's utilitarian nature, but compared to the Nissan and Honda it's arguably the most comfortable.
Another advantage the Sport Trac offers over the competition is power. The standard powerplant in the new 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is Ford's great new three-valve 4.6 liter V8. Output is a healthy 292 horsepower. When it comes to outright ability, the eight-cylinder Sport Trac impresses, with the ability to tow up to 6800 pounds and haul 1390 in the bed. With gas prices still on the rise, however, we're glad for the available 4.0 liter six-cylinder engine, which offers 210 horsepower and slightly better fuel economy, as well as excellent emissions. The V6 is connected to a smooth five-speed automatic; the V8 gets a new six-speed autobox. A manual transmission would be nice, but the six-speed is smooth enough that we didn't miss the ability to shift by ourselves too much. On the freeway, the additional gears keep the revs low and the mood calm. The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is well-mannered on pavement and a good long-distance companion. The available pushbutton four-wheel drive has a low range in its transfer case.
The Sport Trac features an independent short-long arm suspension front and rear, and doesn't ride much like a pickup. There's no hint of looseness in the rear end, even when it's unloaded. Coil-over shocks are used at both ends as well, helping to further dilute rough behavior from the ride. It's similar to the layout used on the new Explorer, but the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is more stiffly sprung and has better road feel as a result. The improved suspension has done great things for the Sport Trac's road manners, naturally. So has the radically stiffened frame, which uses burly construction similar to that of the rugged F-150. Four-wheel disc brakes with antilock function are standard equipment, as are Ford's Roll Stability Control and AdvanceTrac driver-aid systems which keep this tall vehicle from getting too out of sorts on the road.
Despite its ability and the look, the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac isn't quite a pickup truck. For active-lifestyle types who don't need a truck every day of the week however, it's almost a perfect compromise. Pricing ranges from reasonable to eye-popping, with an MSRP starting at $24,245 that can climb over $35,000 if you opt for all of the cool stuff. Our tester was an Explorer Sport Trac Limited with a heated windshield, trailer towing package, adjustable pedals, satellite radio, tonneau cover and leather interior and it stickered for $34,625.
Specifications:
Base price: $29,540 (Sport Trac Limited)
Price as tested: $34,625
Engine: 4.6 liter SOHC 24-valve V8
Drivetrain: six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Horsepower: 292 @ 5750
Torque: 300 @ 3950
Est. mileage: 14/20
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