2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Complaint: The Explorer Sport Trac is a fun truck that makes no sense as a real truck. In a world of high fuel prices, it does not earn its keep.
Ride, acceleration and handling: Excellent ride and handling -- a great touring vehicle for casual apple-picking on a beautiful Sunday in the Virginia countryside. Acceleration is 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds.
Head-turning quotient: The Sport Trac Limited is a cute truck, very attractive, as long as you don't start trying to use it -- say, to carry a sofa or a full-size refrigerator -- the way you would use a dedicated pickup.
Body style/layout: The Sport Trac Limited is a front-engine, all-wheel-drive, compact/mid-size combination sport-utility-vehicle and pickup truck (sort of).
Engine/transmission: The standard engine for the Sport Trac Limited is a 4.6-liter V-8 that develops 292 horsepower at 5,750 revolutions per minute and 300 foot-pounds of torque at 3,950 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Capacities: The Sport Trac Limited has seating for five. Maximum payload is 1,400 pounds. Maximum towing capacity is 5,750 pounds. The Sport Trac Limited's covered, lockable rear cargo bed can accommodate a motorbike or a dirt bike. Fuel capacity is 22.5 gallons of recommended regular unleaded gasoline.
Mileage: Our real-world mileage was 17 miles per gallon on the highway.
Safety: Electronic stability control and side air bags are standard. Head air bags are optional.
Price: Base price on the 2007 Explorer Sport Trac Limited with the 4.6-liter V-8 engine is $29,785. Dealer's invoice price on that model is $28,009. Price as tested is $36,975, including $6,515 in options (onboard navigation, rear-seat DVD system, leather-surface seats, lockable cargo-bed cover, premium sound system, trailering package, XM Satellite radio, convenience group) and a $695 destination charge. Dealer price as tested is $34,243. Prices from Ford and http://www.edmunds.com .
Purse-strings note: Fun . . . but . . . compare with Dodge Dakota crew cab, Nissan Frontier crew cab, Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma crew cab.
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