2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The Sport Trac's 49.9-inch-long cargo box is built from a corrosion-proof sheet-molded composite and lined with dent-proof and scratch-resistant material. Three integrated cargo bins are recessed into the bed of the truck for versatile, convenient storage—and the cargo box power point is standard.


Two engine/transmission combinations are available. Standard is a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 mated to a five-speed automatic. Optional is a 292-horse, SOHC, 4.6-liter V-8 that comes with a six-speed automatic. The V-8 features three valves per cylinder and variable valve timing. With a peak of 300 lb-ft of torque, the V-8 gives the Sport Trac a maximum 7,160-pound towing capacity. Both engines can be had with either rear-wheel-drive or Ford's Control Trac full-time four-wheel-drive system, which includes low-range gearing.

Driving Impression

First impressions are critical. Here the Sport Trac's is robust. The feeling starts with solid-feeling doors and supportive seats and extends to confidence-inspiring steering feel and a supple, but well-controlled ride. A newly standard leather wrapped steering wheel only adds to the experience. We enlisted the Sport Trac to act as a luxury sedan for a 1,200-mile round trip and it passed with flying colors. The audio jack that connected our iPod to the sound system made the journey go faster as we listened to pre-recorded podcasts on a mainly rural route that offers little radio reception.


The Sport Trac's more svelte size makes it a more desirable off-roader than wider or longer pickups and SUVs. That's because nature aggressively reclaims logging roads and other vehicle-acceptable paths. Having their flanks scarred by saplings and thorny vines is among the smallest worries for drivers of wider and longer vehicles: Sometimes their rides are simply too wide to fit between trees or rocks. Or they're so long that they get hung up on obstacles that don't bother the smaller vehicle.


However, serious back-country travelers will want a second set of wheels fitted with off-road-oriented tires to use when they go off maintained roads. While the Michelin Cross Terrain SUVs on our test vehicle help provide precise steering feel and a comfortable, well-controlled and quiet ride, mud or rocky terrain is definitely not their strong suit.