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2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Road Test

Only the Name Remains the Same

There is no greater sense of helplessness than being seated in the rear of a 4X4 while an impassioned brother journalist from Quebec forces it to defy the fundamentals of gravitation by clawing to the summit of a bolder-strewn precipice. Fortunately my francophone friend exhibited superior off-road competency - but more importantly he was driving the all-new 2007 Ford Sport Trac powered by a 4.6-litre, three-valve per cylinder V8. Ford chose to launch the Explorer-based four-wheel drive (4WD) Sport Trac in sunny California, and in doing so gave journalists the opportunity to test their mettle - and that of Fords - on an off-road course replete with steep pitches, large

D is for "disconcerting". In a sentence: driving down the steep hill in the capable Explorer Sport Trac with those journalists was a disconcerting experience. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

mud holes and dirt, plenty of dirt. 

Should you have any familiarity with the old Sport Trac, its time to hit "delete" and wipe your mental hard-drive clean; only the name remains the same. The 2007 edition of Fords SUV/pickup crossover emanates from the highly praised latest generation Explorer - and theres

Everything about the new Sport Trac is bigger, stronger and better, which is always good for a truck. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

nothing like starting from a position of strength when developing new products. The new blueprints incorporate a wider, deeper cargo box that is 26.7-percent larger. The reconfigured box includes three weather-resistant gear bins for stowing wet equipment or keeping wet things ice cold! Visually, the 2007 Sport Trac incorporates DNA from its predecessor but thats where the familial likeness ends.

Todays Sport Trac utilizes a wide

Michael Ford, project manager of the Explorer Sport Trac. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

stance, big wheels, flared fenders and clean lines to project a bold, muscular appearance. The new exterior also incorporates a purposeful chrome grille, jewel-like headlamps and aero-efficient roof rails to define its contemporary, upscale attitude. An optional two-piece hard bed cover is available to complete the total package. The clever lid is lightweight yet can support 136 kg (300 lbs) according to Ford engineer, Michael Ford (no relation to Bill Jr.), Supervisor of Exterior Ornamentation. During our drive, Michael described the exhaustive steps

Navigation system is optional on the top of the line Limited model. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

taken to wind tunnel test exterior attachments such as the bed cover, roof rails and step bars. Apparently each "vector" had to be analyzed... and so on. Looks like the hard work paid-off Michael, the Sport Trac is conspicuously quiet on the highway.

Popping open one of the four Sport Trac doors reveals a completely revised interior in which the materials in use are of much higher quality than previous. Not only are components and switchgear more pleasing from a tactile point of view, and more functional, but they encompass an improved layout and far better assembly accuracy. The new architecture moves

White faced gauges give the instrument cluster a clean look. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

the shifter from the steering column to a very attractive, flow through centre console integrated into an uncluttered centre stack housing audio, HVAC, and an optional navigation system. The tidy design is almost entirely button-operated, which can be counter-intuitive and prone to driver-distraction when searching for a specific function control.
Otherwise the Sport Trac cabin is a handsomely fabricated, well-constructed office in which to perform driving duties or simply enjoy the surroundings as a passenger. If I could wave a magic wand and make one improvement to the spacious environs, it would be in seat design. I found the seat cushions up front a little short for

Best stick to the V8 if you plan on going anywhere in a hurry. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

my lengthier than average legs. A longer seat cushion and more side-bolstering would elevate the optional leather-trimmed, heated, 10-way power adjustable perches in my tester from "superior" to "stupendous." If granted a second wave, the front doors would receive more logically placed door-pulls, but thats it. Ford has taken a giant leap forward in both interior and exterior Sport Trac design; the question is have they followed through with performance to match? In a word, yes.

My resounding affirmation is exclusive to the V8-powered Sport Trac. I havent had the opportunity to test the base V6-powered version but given the marginal difference in fuel economy (neither of which is particularly impressive) I wouldnt recommend going with the less

All Sport Tracs have automatic gearboxes. The V6 has a five-speed auto, the V8 has a six-speed auto. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

powerful, and more importantly less refined, 4.0-litre, 210 horsepower V6. From the moment the new Sport Trac I tested came to life, I fell for its deliciously smooth V8 hustle. Unless taxed with demanding acceleration or hill climbing, the engine is near silent within normal operating parameters, with only a luxury-car burble to be heard. As the revs climb and the Sport Trac presses forward, the 292 horses announce themselves with an unobtrusive growl. The engines maximum torque rating of 300 foot-pounds ensures strong acceleration up steep grades and near effortless towing performance. When properly equipped, the Sport Trac is tow-rated at 3,091 kg (6,800 lbs). While weighty subjects, the curb weight of the V8-equipped 4X4 Sport Trac is a reasonable 2,178 kg (4,793 lbs).

Part of the Sport Tracs favourable

Bed extender. It does what the name suggests. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

V8 performance is attributable to the ability of its sophisticated 6-speed, over-drive equipped automatic transmission to insert the right gear at the right time, (the V6 is mated to a 5-speed automatic). Shift points were appropriate for all occasions, however, they felt programmed to prioritize fuel economy over performance, which is to be expected this day and age, of course. Unfortunately the Sport Trac is not equipped with a manual-mode feature, although the driver can gear-down through third and second gear to first gear. The Sport Trac is equipped with electronically activated, low-range gearing, mind you, making it a very capable climber. While powering its way up a steep ascent, an associate journalist compared the vehicles tenacious grip to a cat on carpeting. I concurred with the metaphor but felt the feline comparison short-changed the robust Sport Trac. Before this becomes an episode

Flip up the beds floor and you get more useable, weatherproof space. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

of Wild Kingdom, lets just wrap-up the subject of hill-climbing ability by saying that more than a few eyebrows were raised among the clutch of jaded journalists while putting a bevy of V8-powered Sport Tracs through the rigors of off-roading.

When the low-range gears are not engaged, Fords advanced Control Trac 4WD system keeps the vehicle in motion by automatically transferring torque to the front wheels as needed to maintain maximum traction at all times. Add Fords AdvanceTrac electronic anti-skid program with Roll Stability Control (RSC) to the traction equation and the Sport Trac has all the bases covered for secure, dependable off-road performance; or for that matter controlled traction on snowy, slippery surfaces.

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