Everyone wants the best of both worlds, don't they? Or like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the middle-sized one is just right, not too big and not too small.
Such could be the case for many of you in the truck- and/or SUV-buyers' market when the discussion turns to this new Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Sure it's not too big (like an Expedition) and it's not too small (like an Escape), but it's also a pickup truck and an SUV all in one tidy package. And while the Ford F-150 Super Crew (too big), Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (too small) and Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (just right) all have four doors and a pickup bed, they're all based on trucks, and not an SUV like an Explorer. However, an Explorer is based on a Ranger, so think of the Sport Trac as a truck once removed.
While this SUV seems to be a terrific idea, some on our staff have a strong dislike for the Sport Trac and we'll get to those comments in due time. But first there's plenty to recommend the Sport Trac, especially if you're torn between a pickup and a utility vehicle. In short, the Trac offers the utility of both and does so with an impressive array of functional bits.
First let's discuss the SUV side of the ledger. The Sport Trac is based on the standard four-door Explorer with a 14.25-inch-longer frame. The Trac's frame is also 40-percent stiffer than a regular Explorer and it's equipped with larger brake rotors and different suspension tuning in the rear. The added frame strength was achieved with additional gusseting on the longitudinal beams, a new tubular crossmember and thicker frame side rails. Unwanted road noise was also reduced by the use of urethane body mounts rather than solid rubber ones.
Like legions of Explorers, the Sport Trac comes with a tried-and-true 4.0-liter, SOHC V6 that makes 205 horsepower at 5,250 rpm. The Sport Trac is no lightweight, weighing more than 2 tons, so the 240 foot-pounds of torque this engine produces at 3,750 rpm doesn't go to waste. That heft costs you at the pump, too, as we recorded a thirsty 14.4 mpg average during our seat time. The Trac also comes with a five-speed automatic gearbox that's been available on the Explorer (and Ranger pickup) for the last few years.
The truck side of things is where the Trac gets interesting, starting with its all-composite cargo bed. The sheet molded composite (SMC) plastic bed won't rust and it provides 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space. It's also 20-percent lighter than a steel box, which helps handling and fuel efficiency. There's also a power rear glass window that goes up and down at the touch of a switch on the dashboard, allowing you to carry long items that might not fit in the bed.
Besides what amounts to a built-in bedliner, the back of this machine has other innovations, such as a weatherproof 12-volt powerpoint to use such items as portable refrigerators or an inflator to fill up an air mattress. This could come in real handy while camping or pursuing other outdoor activities. There are also a total of 10 cargo hooks — six on the outside and four in the bed — to keep items from moving around while underway. A locking two-piece hard tonneau cover and a cargo area divider are also available, but our black test vehicle did not come equipped with these items. It did, however, come with an indispensable cargo cage that we've seen in a number of aftermarket applications such as on full-size trucks like the F-150 or Silverado.
But full-size trucks don't have a need for this device as much as the Sport Trac does, because the extra 22 inches of length it provides makes the Trac's cargo hold considerably larger. When the cargo cage is deployed, the Sport Trac's cargo box has roughly the scale of a Ranger pickup's standard bed. At 195 bucks we consider it a crucial option.
It works by lowering that Sport Trac's F-150-sourced tailgate and locking the cage into place on the open gate, thus providing a lateral and longitudinal barrier. Furthermore, when stored in the bed with the tailgate up, the cage serves as a divider for the cargo area and controls the movement of small items (grocery bags, for example) in the cargo area.
Yeah, the Sport Trac has a bunch of useful features, but how does it drive? In short, don't expect the same driving experience of a sport sedan or coupe, but the ride is good enough for comfy highway cruising. As for empirical testing numbers, the story's the same there. Don't bother pushing the Sport Trac by being a back road hero or hot dogging it at your local Stoplight Nationals. Sixty mph is achieved in 9.8 seconds and the quarter-mile is leisurely covered in 17.4 seconds at 79.5 mph. On the skidpad, the Trac pulls .70 g and stopping from 60 mph is achieved in 130 feet. We then trotted the Explorer pickup/SUV hybrid through our 600-foot slalom at 56.2 mph.
We enjoyed the Sport Trac on a weekend jaunt to the San Bernardino Mountains and Lake Arrowhead about 120 miles east of the City of Angels. It pulled up mountain grades with ease, handled tight roads as well as we could expect for a vehicle with a high center of gravity, and its interior coddled us with comfortable luxury. While it was a nice trip, our persnickety staff had its share of gripes about this unique hybrid that clearly isn't going to please everyone all the time. There's also the fact that in the real world, there isn't quite the covered and protected space for passengers and cargo that you would get in a standard Explorer or other SUV. You can fold the rear seat, but then there's room for only two. That's a compromise you have to make for having the outside cargo box. The optional locking tonneau cover helps matters somewhat, but if you can't squeeze everything under it, items are exposed to both the elements and the possibility of theft.
Associate editor Liz Kim, who admits to being "real sensitive about the cars I'm seen in," said she was ducking her head while driving to avoid receiving attention. She felt that people were thinking, "For heaven's sake make up your mind. Do you want an SUV or a pickup? Because that thing you're driving sure is ugly."
Liz also had some advice for prospective shoppers when she said, "If you want a pickup that can also haul four or five people, get a Dakota Quad Cab. It's only 10 inches longer and has a bigger bed."
Styling opinions aside, staffer Karl Brauer also wasn't too hip on the "Dork Trac," as he called it. His biggest gripe was with handling dynamics: "The Sport Trac feels too squishy around corners — just like every Explorer I've ever driven. The Sport Trac has a comfy enough ride on the boulevard, but try to take a corner at even modest speeds and the thing wallows and rolls like a 1950s Buick."
Sometimes sharp of tongue, big cheese Chris Wardlaw had some notable praise for the Sport Trac. He relates: "Despite a mediocre showing in our SUV comparison test, and the fact that it's the first vehicle I've ever driven to leave me stranded by the side of the road, I'm a fan of the existing, outgoing Ford Explorer SUV. It does most things well and nothing poorly, much in the way of a Honda Accord. So it's no surprise that the Sport Trac pleases me. Its cabin updates are much appreciated, like the revised gauge cluster, in-dash CD changer and silver plastic trim. I also like the juxtaposition of blending leather and rear climate/audio controls with the black, hose-it-out rubber floor surfaces and standard steel wheels. There's something very urban-chic about the Sport Trac's style."
His thoughts on handling dynamics were quite the opposite of staffer Brauer's observations, "The Sport Trac handled stop-and-go traffic, twisty canyon roads, tight alleyways and 80-mph freeway cruising with aplomb during my long commute."
So there you have it, a vehicle with as much varying opinion as the variations of the vehicle itself. If Swiss Army Knife-like versatility is what you're after, then Ford's wild, wacky, and somewhat pricey Explorer Sport Trac is definitely worthy of your attention when the time comes to making a final SUV (or is that pickup truck?) purchasing decision.
Such could be the case for many of you in the truck- and/or SUV-buyers' market when the discussion turns to this new Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Sure it's not too big (like an Expedition) and it's not too small (like an Escape), but it's also a pickup truck and an SUV all in one tidy package. And while the Ford F-150 Super Crew (too big), Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (too small) and Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (just right) all have four doors and a pickup bed, they're all based on trucks, and not an SUV like an Explorer. However, an Explorer is based on a Ranger, so think of the Sport Trac as a truck once removed.
While this SUV seems to be a terrific idea, some on our staff have a strong dislike for the Sport Trac and we'll get to those comments in due time. But first there's plenty to recommend the Sport Trac, especially if you're torn between a pickup and a utility vehicle. In short, the Trac offers the utility of both and does so with an impressive array of functional bits.
First let's discuss the SUV side of the ledger. The Sport Trac is based on the standard four-door Explorer with a 14.25-inch-longer frame. The Trac's frame is also 40-percent stiffer than a regular Explorer and it's equipped with larger brake rotors and different suspension tuning in the rear. The added frame strength was achieved with additional gusseting on the longitudinal beams, a new tubular crossmember and thicker frame side rails. Unwanted road noise was also reduced by the use of urethane body mounts rather than solid rubber ones.
Like legions of Explorers, the Sport Trac comes with a tried-and-true 4.0-liter, SOHC V6 that makes 205 horsepower at 5,250 rpm. The Sport Trac is no lightweight, weighing more than 2 tons, so the 240 foot-pounds of torque this engine produces at 3,750 rpm doesn't go to waste. That heft costs you at the pump, too, as we recorded a thirsty 14.4 mpg average during our seat time. The Trac also comes with a five-speed automatic gearbox that's been available on the Explorer (and Ranger pickup) for the last few years.
The truck side of things is where the Trac gets interesting, starting with its all-composite cargo bed. The sheet molded composite (SMC) plastic bed won't rust and it provides 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space. It's also 20-percent lighter than a steel box, which helps handling and fuel efficiency. There's also a power rear glass window that goes up and down at the touch of a switch on the dashboard, allowing you to carry long items that might not fit in the bed.
Besides what amounts to a built-in bedliner, the back of this machine has other innovations, such as a weatherproof 12-volt powerpoint to use such items as portable refrigerators or an inflator to fill up an air mattress. This could come in real handy while camping or pursuing other outdoor activities. There are also a total of 10 cargo hooks — six on the outside and four in the bed — to keep items from moving around while underway. A locking two-piece hard tonneau cover and a cargo area divider are also available, but our black test vehicle did not come equipped with these items. It did, however, come with an indispensable cargo cage that we've seen in a number of aftermarket applications such as on full-size trucks like the F-150 or Silverado.
But full-size trucks don't have a need for this device as much as the Sport Trac does, because the extra 22 inches of length it provides makes the Trac's cargo hold considerably larger. When the cargo cage is deployed, the Sport Trac's cargo box has roughly the scale of a Ranger pickup's standard bed. At 195 bucks we consider it a crucial option.
It works by lowering that Sport Trac's F-150-sourced tailgate and locking the cage into place on the open gate, thus providing a lateral and longitudinal barrier. Furthermore, when stored in the bed with the tailgate up, the cage serves as a divider for the cargo area and controls the movement of small items (grocery bags, for example) in the cargo area.
Yeah, the Sport Trac has a bunch of useful features, but how does it drive? In short, don't expect the same driving experience of a sport sedan or coupe, but the ride is good enough for comfy highway cruising. As for empirical testing numbers, the story's the same there. Don't bother pushing the Sport Trac by being a back road hero or hot dogging it at your local Stoplight Nationals. Sixty mph is achieved in 9.8 seconds and the quarter-mile is leisurely covered in 17.4 seconds at 79.5 mph. On the skidpad, the Trac pulls .70 g and stopping from 60 mph is achieved in 130 feet. We then trotted the Explorer pickup/SUV hybrid through our 600-foot slalom at 56.2 mph.
We enjoyed the Sport Trac on a weekend jaunt to the San Bernardino Mountains and Lake Arrowhead about 120 miles east of the City of Angels. It pulled up mountain grades with ease, handled tight roads as well as we could expect for a vehicle with a high center of gravity, and its interior coddled us with comfortable luxury. While it was a nice trip, our persnickety staff had its share of gripes about this unique hybrid that clearly isn't going to please everyone all the time. There's also the fact that in the real world, there isn't quite the covered and protected space for passengers and cargo that you would get in a standard Explorer or other SUV. You can fold the rear seat, but then there's room for only two. That's a compromise you have to make for having the outside cargo box. The optional locking tonneau cover helps matters somewhat, but if you can't squeeze everything under it, items are exposed to both the elements and the possibility of theft.
Associate editor Liz Kim, who admits to being "real sensitive about the cars I'm seen in," said she was ducking her head while driving to avoid receiving attention. She felt that people were thinking, "For heaven's sake make up your mind. Do you want an SUV or a pickup? Because that thing you're driving sure is ugly."
Liz also had some advice for prospective shoppers when she said, "If you want a pickup that can also haul four or five people, get a Dakota Quad Cab. It's only 10 inches longer and has a bigger bed."
Styling opinions aside, staffer Karl Brauer also wasn't too hip on the "Dork Trac," as he called it. His biggest gripe was with handling dynamics: "The Sport Trac feels too squishy around corners — just like every Explorer I've ever driven. The Sport Trac has a comfy enough ride on the boulevard, but try to take a corner at even modest speeds and the thing wallows and rolls like a 1950s Buick."
Sometimes sharp of tongue, big cheese Chris Wardlaw had some notable praise for the Sport Trac. He relates: "Despite a mediocre showing in our SUV comparison test, and the fact that it's the first vehicle I've ever driven to leave me stranded by the side of the road, I'm a fan of the existing, outgoing Ford Explorer SUV. It does most things well and nothing poorly, much in the way of a Honda Accord. So it's no surprise that the Sport Trac pleases me. Its cabin updates are much appreciated, like the revised gauge cluster, in-dash CD changer and silver plastic trim. I also like the juxtaposition of blending leather and rear climate/audio controls with the black, hose-it-out rubber floor surfaces and standard steel wheels. There's something very urban-chic about the Sport Trac's style."
His thoughts on handling dynamics were quite the opposite of staffer Brauer's observations, "The Sport Trac handled stop-and-go traffic, twisty canyon roads, tight alleyways and 80-mph freeway cruising with aplomb during my long commute."
So there you have it, a vehicle with as much varying opinion as the variations of the vehicle itself. If Swiss Army Knife-like versatility is what you're after, then Ford's wild, wacky, and somewhat pricey Explorer Sport Trac is definitely worthy of your attention when the time comes to making a final SUV (or is that pickup truck?) purchasing decision.
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