2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Review

Specifications

Rough Around the Edges but Ready for the Rough Stuff

The Sport Trac is back with a fresh new look for 2007. Following Fords latest design traits, first seen on the F-150 and then the new Explorer, the Explorer Sport Trac continues forward with a bigger, flashier presence. The new Sport Trac is four inches longer, two inches wider, and has a lot more chrome.

The interior offers the rugged appearance that Ford is attempting to project with this type of vehicle, and does it in a way that should still appeal to those not wanting to wash out the interior with a garden hose. When compared to the previous Sport Tracs cabin, the new version is a vast improvement in terms of design. However, its newfound good looks do nothing to make the interior more comfortable. The doors have been poorly designed from an anatomic point of view, the release handle is too far forward, and uses a perplexing pull-up action that often left me thinking just how Id get out. The door handle is tucked under the armrest and is placed too far forward for getting the needed inertia when closing the door. This also creates a problem in parking lots. When pushing the door open the handle wasnt where I expected it to be, so more often than not the door was left to crash into anything that happens to be in the trajectory. The steering wheel is also less than ideal for sport-oriented drivers, making a 9 and 3 oclock hand position very uncomfortable.

Several different textured materials are used on the floor dash doors and console, a couple too many for my liking, they should tone it down a little. And the fake carbon fiber trim looks as though its been printed out on an ink jet and then pasted onto the dash and doors. When dealing with carbon fiber, even the fakes stuff, its a case of doing it right or running the risk of looking foolish.

While it sounds as though I didnt like Fords latest midsize pickup, the Sport Trac actually surprised me with nice little trinkets, such as a heated wind screen. Frosty winter mornings would be a little easier with this feature on my regular ride. Ford also chose to run chrome rings around the instrument cluster and air vents, which puts a little class into the interior. However, in sunny conditions the chrome can reflect the sunlight into the drivers eyes, and even reflects onto the windscreen doubling the effect. The seats are comfortable, mind you, and offer good adjustability. With the addition of adjustable pedals it makes for an easy truck to drive, even for the smallest of people. The rear seats also fold down 60/40 giving extra storage in the cabin when the rear box wont do.

The Sport Tracs exterior does not give off the same rugged feel that the interior produces. One major reason for this could be the overdose of chrome used on the front grille, as well as the headlights and trim. It all goes to give the Sport Trac a more sophisticated image, however countering this are loose body panels that dont line up particularly well, with the front fenders of my tester being the worst offenders. The grille on this particular truck was out by a quarter of an inch and the hood felt like the bolts were only half tightened.

As Fords adventure-based vehicle, I think heavy damage resistant composite panels would do more to advance the outdoors nature of the truck. This is something that the Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser do very well. I do like the composite liner in the box, however, as well as all the tie downs and extra cargo spaces. They all combine to give the Sport Trac a truly adaptable and outdoorsy feel.

On that note, the optional and extremely heavy tonneau cover is very difficult to remove, and with the tailgate only rated for 100 lbs, getting it off the back becomes a risky endeavor. Forgetting the tonneau and getting a canopy would do nicely in my opinion.

Another option is a class III towing package, making the Sport Trac capable of pulling 6,800 lbs in 2WD guise. With little rear overhang between the rear axle and tow hook, trailer stability will be very good. I have towed large trailers with both short and long box Fords, and to say the drive was sketchy with the long box is an understatement.

In terms of handling, the Sport Trac is better suited for gravel roads rather than the pristine tarmac of the city. It is more at home lumbering down a forestry road, or playing in the mud and snow. On city streets it is large, cumbersome and feels very top heavy, and will keep even the most adventurous driver subdued in the corners. In short, it handles like a truck. Though like any truck its in adverse conditions that its abilities shine through. The strongest attribute of the Sport Trac was its traction. With three different 4X4 settings, traction control, electronic stability control and excellent Michelin rubber, the Sport Trac dispersed water crossings and rough terrain with no signs of difficulty.

I just didnt feel right driving around in the city with the Sport Trac, and found myself constantly wanting to pack up the tent, Coleman and a cooler with a weekends worth of food and beer, and head for the mountains. Scruffy hair, facial growth and the smell of campfire smoke better suits the Sport Trac, rather than leather shoes and the scent of aftershave.

The 4.6L V8 puts out a maximum of 292-horsepower, although a V6 is available that Ford says produces less smog than a Honda Accord Hybrid. I find that very hard to believe, and Im sure that an Accord Hybrid will do vastly better then the horrific 14 mpg I was averaging in the V8 version; thats with significant highway use included. As the V6s fuel economy is very close to the V8s, Im keeping a very open mind on this one.

So, in the end I have a few recommendations. Number one: lay off the chrome boys. If this is a truck that represents the sporty adventurous side of Ford trucks, then all the bling should be replaced with flat black trim. Fit and finish, and build quality are big sticking points for me, and this truck didnt deliver. And despite having 444 percent stiffer frame (the previous Sport Trac must have felt like you were driving a rubber band… but I never got behind the wheel so I cant say), the body panels didnt fit well enough, allowing for too much play in my opinion. For a truck that will likely live a rough life, these details will age it sooner than it should. The Sport Trac does do what its intended to do well, though; it works well in adverse conditions. So, if youre planning to go where few others have the courage to tread, it just might be for you. If youre a lightweight trucker, mind you, that only gets the tires dirty when you accidentally run over the flower bed, something more civilized, like Fords new Edge crossover, might be a better choice.