2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: First Drive
Amid spasmodic thundershowers, I logged a few rounds in a 2007 Explorer Sport Trac last week at Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., test track. The redesigned Sport Trac debuted in February at the Chicago Auto Show, but this was the first chance I had to get behind the wheel. The biggest news is an optional 292-hp V-8 — a Sport Trac first.
The outgoing model’s 210-hp V-6 is back as standard equipment. Ford cribbed the V-8 and a six-speed automatic transmission from its Explorer SUV, which I also drove for comparison. Fans of the V-8 Explorer should know the Sport Trac drives similarly, with adequate thrust off the line and plenty of passing power.
Engine, road and wind noise are subdued at 60 mph. Though the seats seem a bit hard, they gave ample support to my nearly six-foot frame. The interior also follows the Explorer’s layout, with one unfortunate exception, noted fellow Cars.com writer Mike Hanley: There’s no cutout in the armrest, forcing occupants to pull the door shut with a grip located at knee level. It’s inconvenient at best and damaging at worst – ever opened a door too fast and needed to grab something before it dinged a nearby car? Ford recently added an armrest grip in the Explorer, but the Sport Trac retains the old design.
Steering feels tighter than the Explorer’s, and the Sport Trac doesn’t seem quite as stable at high speeds. Without the weight of an enclosed cargo area, the rear wheels on this SUV-turned-pickup begin to come unglued under firm braking. To prove this point, the traditional Explorer kept its cool through the same rounds.
Fortunately, Ford gives every new Sport Trac a standard electronic stability system with rollover mitigation, so most drivers should have no trouble staying between the dotted lines.
Prices run from $24,245 to well over $30,000 for a well-optioned V-8 truck, though Ford is already offering a $1,000 discount. The F-150 SuperCrew presents a credible high-end alternative, as it’s offered with a $2,500 discount and falls under the current “Drive On Us” program. Other choices include Chevrolet’s redesigned Avalanche or the Honda Ridgeline.
