Vehicle Overview
The Explorer Sport Trac has a pickup bed in back where most SUVs would have an enclosed cargo area. The Explorer Sport Trac seats five and is available in XLT and Limited trim levels. Its competitors include crewcab pickups such as the Honda Ridgeline, Dodge Dakota Quad Cab and Nissan Frontier Crew Cab.
The Explorer Sport Trac adapts an independent rear suspension from the Explorer — a setup that usually trades offroad capability for on-road handling ability — that’s only matched by the Ridgeline.
New for 2009
The Explorer Sport Trac gets a standard trailer-sway control system and satellite radio. It also receives a new standard SOS-Post Crash Alert System, which unlocks the doors and activates the horn and emergency flashers when airbags are deployed.
Exterior
The Explorer Sport Trac wears the same slatted grille and scalloped headlights as the Explorer, but adds nearly 17 inches in length to accommodate a 4.5-foot pickup bed replete with side rails, tie-down hooks, a composite liner and three in-floor storage containers. It’s 210.2 inches long and 73.7 inches wide, which is similar to its competitors.
- Available 16-, 17-, 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels
- Standard power mirrors
- Standard power rear sliding window
- Keyless entry system with keypad standard on Limited
- Heated mirrors standard on Limited
- Automatic headlamps standard on Limited
- Optional moonroof
Interior
Dashboard components mimic the Explorer: A tall center stack has radio controls above the air vents and connects to a floor-mounted console box below. Front bucket seats and a second-row bench provide seating for up to five. The bed’s cargo volume is 37.5 cubic feet, which is more than the Frontier, equal to the Dakota and less than the Ridgeline.
- Standard air conditioning
- Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls
- Standard power windows and locks
- Optional Sync system (standard on Limited)
- Optional DVD navigation system on Limited
Under the Hood
Like the Ridgeline, the Explorer Sport Trac has an independent rear suspension, which is rare for a truck. When properly equipped, the rear-wheel-drive V-8-powered Explorer Sport Trac can tow up to 7,160 pounds.
- 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 with 254 pounds-feet of torque
- 292-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 with 315 pounds-feet of torque
- Five-speed (V-6) or six-speed automatic (V-8) transmission
- Available 4×2 and 4×4 driveline options for both engines
Safety
Trailer-sway control works with the standard stability system to either apply the brakes or adjust engine response to help keep the trailer in line. Other safety features include:
- Standard front side-impact airbags
- Standard side curtain airbags
- Standard electronic stability control
- Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
- Standard SOS-Post Crash Alert System
- Optional reverse sensing system
- Optional power-adjustable pedals
