The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a vehicle that takes the best features of a sport utility vehicle and a compact pickup truck and combines them into one. The Sport Trac has four doors and provides ample seating for up to five in a relatively spacious and comfortable interior. It also has a small bed that allows for greater hauling capacity than a typical SUV. These features make the Ford Explorer Sport Trac an excellent option for people who occasionally need to haul things that are just a bit too large to fit in an SUV's cargo area.
With an available 4.0-L V6 or 4.6-L V8 and six-speed automatic transmission, the Sport Trac is built for power. Both options are ideal for hauling and towing, but the V8 option offers greater horsepower and torque. The V6 can tow up to 5,250 pounds... View more and the V8 can tow an impressive 7,160 pounds. Both engines have an impressive fuel economy of an estimated 21 miles per gallon when traveling at highway speeds.
Based on the Ford Ranger, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was first produced in 2000. It was designed to fill a gap between the Ford Ranger and F-Series in terms of size, performance, and price. The Explorer Sport Trac has seen two distinct generations during its ten years in production. The first generation was built on an extended Explorer chassis, and the only available engine was 4.0-L Cologne V6. Production on the first generation of Sport Trac ceased following the end of production for the 2005 model. The second generation is based on the larger Explorer SUV. It improved upon the first by providing the option for a V8 engine. Second generation Sport Tracs have four-wheel independent suspension and a new, reinforced frame. The newer models also improved upon safety by adding AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control as a standard feature.
The most recent Ford Explorer Sport Trac is available in three models: the XLT, the Limited, and the Adrenaline. Though there is no real base" model available, the XLT comes with the lowest price tag and least features. Some of the most popular features of the upgraded Limited model are the premium sound system, 18" aluminum wheels, and hard tonneau cover, while the Adrenaline model features 20" wheels and an updated, sportier appearance. Other optional upgrades include power moon roof with shade, towing packages, and navigation systems.
Many advanced safety features come as standard equipment on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and all models have undergone rigorous safety testing. Because of this, the Sport Trac has received 5-star ratings for front and side-impact crash tests at all seating positions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. View less
