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2008 Ford Explorer Sports Trac
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By Thom Cannell
Detroit Bureau
The Auto Channel
The latest generation Ford Sport Trac, a member of the Explorer family,made its debut late in 2006. Like the original 2001 Sport Trac, it is builtlike a pickup with a large Explorer-based cabin mounted to the pickup truckframe. Behind is a short 4.5-foot bed. Like the Explorer and unlike F-150,Sport Trac has Independent Rear Suspension. That means comfort for driverand passenger alike. It also means the vehicle feels much smaller and morenimble than its overall size and 210.2” length would indicate.
For 2008, Sport Trac has one-touch up/down drivers window, fog lamps,leather-wrapped steering wheel, and side curtain air bags standard, plus aonce-optional drop-in storage bin with power point. Both the XLT we testedand Limited models are produced in Louisville, KY.
What’s best about Sport Trac, and the reason we call it a“Perfect Vehicle” is its true mixed-use capability. It ishandsomely styled, provides room for four NFL-sized passengers or threemodestly sized rear passengers, plus driver and front passenger. It’scargo capacity, with the small box and bed extender, is more than youexpect. Standard 4x8’ sheets of construction materials are easilycarried by using the bed extender and slipping a 2x4’ into thepockets molded into the plastic bedliner. With the optional two-piececover—which is removable by one determined individual and can bereplaced by an equally persevering person— the bed is completelyenclosed and lockable.
Here’s the other thing, Sport Trac is quiet, quiet, quiet; luxurycar quiet at any speed we tested, up to 80 mph on the freeway.
The interior is very is similar to F 150 and Explorer, as you’dexpect, and handsomely rugged. The model we drove was decorated in black,with beige unheated fabric seats. It’s a harmonious environment thatoffers plenty of near-to-hand storage and a beefy shifter. Chrome trimrings surround the instrument cluster and air vents for a bit ofbrightness.
Our Sport Trac came equipped with SYNC, the Microsoft/Ford media managerthat has become a must-have in the months since introduction. SYNC willeasily bond with your mobile phone (and up to six additional pones) andprovide advanced hands-free calling features. SYNC can also have a nicelittle chat with your iPod or other memory storage device and play yourmusic or podcasts with voice controlled ease. It is totally cool to,without moving your hands from the steering wheel, request a playlist,genre, artist, song, or even selected podcast. It really is as simple asthe TV commercials suggest.
The 2008 Sport Track feels nimble, athletic. Suspension is notover-damped, nor overly stiff. Steering is taught, accurate, and“just right” in firmness and heft. It’s a fun vehicle todrive on the highway or on twisting roads. You can even switch off theoverdrive for better control and, thanks to excellent brakes, have quite abit of fun.
During nasty weather, and we suffered an abundance, the automatic fourwheel drive worked flawlessly, with push-button ease.
While few owners will attempt any off road driving more difficult thandirt roads, “two-tracks,” or hard packed sand, we’vetested Sport Track in rough hill climbing. While the stock vehicle is notan off road specialist, it handled very steep hillsides of loose rock andgravel with ease. Part of this competence is the traction control systemthat limits wheel slip, and thus works similar to a locking differential.
Sport Trac offers a 4.6-liter 292 hp V8 and six-speed transmission, aswell as a 4.0-liter V-6, which comes with a 5-speed automatic transmissionand makes 210 horsepower. The V6 can tow 5310 pounds; the V8 can pull ahefty 6800-pound load. Both run on Regular 87 octane fuel and our V-8delivered an overall 15 mpg in mixed highway/urban driving.
Safety is another Ford goal, and Sport Trac has all of the safetyfeatures of Explorer including electronic stability and industry-exclusiveroll stability control. The steering wheel “strokes,” orcollapses under crash stimulus, and dual-stage air bags are standard forfront passengers, side-curtain air bags for rear passengers. Notably, theInsurance Institute for Highway Safety has delivered a “Good”frontal-offset crash rating.
TC's Bullet Points:Good to go:• Quiet, almost library quiet and a match for many near-luxurysedans.• Seats four tall passengers with style and comfort.• Small bed is actually useful; bed cover works well, bed extender isfabulous.• Reasonable fuel efficiency for a pickup, though an overall 15 mpgis hardly cheering.• Handsome interior lined in rugged materials.Needs improvement:• Better fuel economy is needed from small diesel, or theturbocharged direct injection gasoline engine Ford promises for 2010.• Telltale lights for four wheel drive buttons.• Better headlights; make adaptive Xenon lamps an option.• Lighter, easier to refit, bed/tonneau cover.
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