The Ford Explorer Sport Trac known as Ford Sport Trac is a pickup truck manufactured for the North American Market by Ford Motor Company. The first of its kind was marketed in 2001 and it continued till 2010 however, the 2006 model year was skipped. The Explorer Sport Trac is a mid-sized pickup sized between the Ranger and the F-50. This famous truck proved to be a strong competitor against cab variants of the Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac was built with most of the body design and chassis inherited from the Ford Explorer SUV. The production source of the vehicle was Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. Due to the introduction of the fifth-generation Ford Explorer SUV in 2011, the production of Ford Explorer Sport Trace was closed in October 2010. The fourth-generation Ford Ranger is acting as a replacement for the Sport Trac with the same market function.
First Generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac (2001-2005)
The first model of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was introduced in February 2000 as a crew-cab mid-size pickup truck. It was kept in between the Ford Ranger SuperCab and the F-150 SuperCrew so, became the first manufactured mid-size pickup truck by the Ford Company. The crew cab pickup truck Honda Ridgeline and the Chevrolet Avalanche were the competitors of Sport Trac.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2001
The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was based on the Explorer platform and was designed as five-passenger SUV. The front C-pillar of the SUV holds passenger seats whereas the rear C-pillar section holds a one-piece all-composite cargo area that is normally 4 feet in length.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2001 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2001 MODEL) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.0-liter V6 |
| Power | 206 horsepower at 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 238 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 5,300 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2002
The 2002 model was manufactured as the extended version of the previous generation Explorer models. The five-seater SUV featured 4 feet long cargo section extendable up to 6 feet. This model was built with slightly more power and torque from its 4.0-liter V6 engine. Besides, some new exterior colors were introduced also with a simplified options list.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2002 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2002 MODEL) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.0-liter V6 |
| Power | 214 horsepower at 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 245 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm |
| Transmission | electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 5,300 pounds (2WD), upto 5040 pounds (4WD) |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2003
The Ford Motor Company introduced the Sport Trac model of the 2001 Explorer to catch the growing trend towards compact crew-cab pickups. This 2003 model was developed in line with the Ranger pickup platform featuring unique front styling, composite plastic bed, and an explorer cabin. This Sport Trac version offered XLS, XLT, and XLT Premium trims with a choice of two or four-wheel drive.
XLS models were well equipped and designed with dark tinted rear glass, power door locks, power windows, CD player, roof rails, and skid plates (4WD only). Likewise, XLT featured remote keyless entry, cruise control, alloy wheels, premium sound, power side mirrors, and a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel. The XLT Premium offered a unique special center console that allowed users to control rear audio and climate.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2003 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2003 MODEL) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.0-liter single overhead cam V6 |
| Power | 203 horsepower at 5,250 rpm |
| Torque | 237 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual transmission (XLS) 5-speed automatic transmssion (XLT) |
| Towing capacity | up to 5,300 pounds (2WD) upto 5040 pounds (4WD) |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2004
The 2004 models were revised versions of the 2003 models (XLS and XLT). The interior and the instrument cluster were improved in the 2004 versions. The XLT variant came with additional standard features whereas the XLT Premium obtained a new monochrome exterior design. The Adrenalin model also received minor changes with the introduction of a powerful premium audio system. Besides, all the variants were made compatible to run with ethanol-blended fuel as well as traditional gasoline. The manual transmission option for the XLS model was removed after the revision process.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2005
The pickup cab lovers got some slight improvements in the Ford Explorer Trac 2005 models as the company brought few changes that included MP3 compatibility and satellite radio compatibility.
Key features of Ford Explorer Sport Trac First generation (2001-2005)
Introduced as a variant of the Ford Explorer SUV model, the Explorer Trac First generation models were functionally a crew-cab mid-size pickup truck. Some common features of the first generation of Ford Explorer Sport Trac are:
Chassis
The first generation of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac utilized the Ford UN105 platform. The wheelbase of the Explorer Sport Trac was expanded from 111.6 inches to 125.9 inches (3,198 mm) which matched the Ford Ranger SuperCab.
The rear-wheel-drive was built with a standard configuration equipped with ControlTrac four-wheel drive as an alternative powertrain. The first-generation Explorer Sport Trac models were powered by a 210 hp SOCH 4.0 L V6 engine with five-speed manual transmission. The sport trac models were also available with a five-speed automatic transmission but with optional choice.
Some changes took place with the 2001 model year in the design. The 4.0L V6 engine went through upgradation from an alloy intake manifold to a composite structure. Another revision happened with the oil filler cap which saw its position shifted from the driver section to the passenger section of the engine.
Likewise, the chassis was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes after replacing drum brakes in the 2002 models. The fuel tank was also expanded from 20 gallons to 22 gallons.
Body
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac was manufactured with the utilization of parts from three Ford vehicles. The first-generation models shared the front fascia and fenders with the 2-door Explorer Sport whereas the 4-door cab was built from the 4-door Explorer Sport. The plastic composite material was used to construct the 50-inch-long pickup bed and the tailgate was inherited from the Ford F-150 SuperCrew.
The interior of the Explorer Trac models from the model year 2001 to 2005 was shared with the 2-door and 4-door Explorer variants. The dashboard was almost a replica version of the Ford Ranger.
Talking about the storage space, the Sport Trac kept utilizing the fold-down rear seats of the 4-door Explorer. Besides, a full rubber floor was placed with Berber-style carpet floor mats. The Explorer Sport Trac was also equipped with a power-retractable “Breezeway rear window”. This feature was utilized by the Ford company during the 1965 Mercury line.
Some significant changes were made during the 2002 model year as the company eradicated the exterior badging “Explorer” and replaced it with red/white plastic chrome finish “Sport Trac” badging on the tailgate. The color of B-pillars was also changed from black to body-colored. Likewise, in the model year 2004, the gray bumpers and side skirts got darkened with color and new options were offered in body-color bumpers as well as side skirts.
Trim
Beginning in 2002, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was introduced in various trim levels namely XLS, XLT, and an XLT Premium.
| XLS | XLT | XLT PREMIUM |
| Cloth upholstery Styled-steel rims Air conditioning AM/FM stereo with single-CD player and four speakers (60W) Power doors and windows with auto drivers side window Tachometer | Automatic transmission Alloy rims AM/FM premium stereo with single-CD and cassette players and four premium speakers (80W) Keyless entry speed control leather-wrapped steering wheel power mirrors Leather seats (optional) | Power driver’s seat Rear audio controls with Headphone jacks Automatic headlamps Fog lamps Overhead console Tow hooks (4×4 models only) |
Second Generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac (2007-2010)
The Ford Company released the second-generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac skipping the 2006 model year. The company redesigned the Sport Trac with a new frame, safety features, driving quality, comfort, and many other technological advancements.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2007
After skipping the 2006 model year, the Ford Company introduced the new Explorer Sport Trac in the year 2007 with more advanced features. Till 2005, the Explorer Sport Trac went through minor changes and improvements. The Sport Trac 2007 was built 400-percent stiffer than the 2005 version along with the installation of the Explorer’s independent rear suspension that provided excellent handling and riding features. This new model Sport Trac got powered with a new V8 engine which proved to be 40 percent more powerful and efficient than the previous V6 engine. The 2007 Sport Trac model got lots of enhancements in performance, safety, driving quality, and interior.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2007 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2007) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.6-liter V8 engine |
| Power | 292-horspower |
| Torque | 300 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 6800 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 6 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Driving Modes | 4×4 Auto mode (power to rearl wheels) 4×4 High mode (50/50 power split to the front and rear wheels) 4×4 Low mode (locks the transfer case for steep grades) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2008
The Ford Company revised the Explorer SUV reducing the enclosed cargo hold to a small pickup bed. The 2008 model came with a handful of technical enhancements including voice activation for the optional navigation system, standard side curtain airbags, and the new Ford’s Sync system that allowed users to control the music system with integration of digital devices (mobile phones) and the MP3 players into the vehicle’s controls. The 2008 Sport Trac model became four times stiffer along with featuring independent rear suspension.
The riding comfort, quality, and handling were also dramatically improved. Two trim levels were offered for the 2008 model namely XLT and the Limited. The XLT featured a power rear window, cruise control, fog lights, keyless entry, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, CD player, 16-inch alloy wheels, power rear window, and a composite cargo box. On the other hand, the Limited model was introduced with 18-inch allow wheels, color-keyed bumpers, side mirrors, sidebars, power-adjustable pedals, a power driver seat, and a Homelink system.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2008 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2008) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.6-liter V8 engine |
| Power | 292-horspower |
| Torque | 300 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 6800 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 6 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Driving Modes | 4×4 Auto mode (power to rearl wheels) 4×4 High mode (50/50 power split to the front and rear wheels) 4×4 Low mode (locks the transfer case for steep grades) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009
The 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was developed as an Explorer SUV featuring a pick-up cargo bed behind the second-row seat. XLT and Limited were the two trims offered by the Sport Trac 2009 model. The 2009 model also featured other advancements including a sunroof, voice-operated navigation system with Sirius Travel Link, upgraded sound system, heated windshield, rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic cargo control, cagelike bed extender, and hard tonneau cover.
The XLT trim was well equipped and built with 16-inch allow wheels, power rear window, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, CD player, full power accessories, drop-in storage bin, air-conditioning, and a composite cargo box. The Limited on the other hand featured 18-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats, the Sync multimedia integration system, HomeLink system, power driver seat, sidestep bars, color-keyed bumpers, and heated side mirrors.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2009) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.6-liter V8 engine |
| Power | 292-horspower |
| Torque | 300 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 6990 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 6 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Driving Modes | 4×4 Auto mode (power to rear wheels) 4×4 High mode (50/50 power split to the front and rear wheels) 4×4 Low mode (locks the transfer case for steep grades) |
| Mileage | 14/19/16 mpg (4WD V8 engine-city/highway/combined) |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2010
The 2010 Sport Track model also offered two trim levels including XLT and Limited. The well-equipped XLT trim offered air-conditioning, power-sliding rear window, CD player with satellite radion, secondary audio jack, foglights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a composite cargo box. The Limited model featured 18-inch alloy wheels, Sync Multimedia interface, power driver seat, heated side mirrors, color-keyed bumpers, and a premium audio system with a subwoofer compatible with 6 CDs.
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2010 Model received minor changes to the feature availability. It was built with a standard 4.0-liter V6 engine along with the option for a V8 engine on the Limited edition. The Adrenalin Sport Package, the optional model on the Limited, featured 20-inch alloy wheels, unique exterior, and interior designs.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2010 Specs
| TECH SPECS | FORD (2010) EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Engine | 4.6-liter V8 engine |
| Power | 292-horspower |
| Torque | 300 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission |
| Towing capacity | up to 6990 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 6 |
| Braking System | 4-wheel ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Driving Modes | 4×4 Auto mode (power to rear wheels) 4×4 High mode (50/50 power split to the front and rear wheels) 4×4 Low mode (locks the transfer case for steep grades) |
| Mileage | 14/19/16 mpg (4WD V8 engine-city/highway/combined) |
Key features of Ford Explorer Sport Trac Second generation (2007-2010)
The 2006 model year remained untouched due to which the Ford company came up with the second-generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac in the year 2007. Many updates and revisions were done in the second-generation Explorer Trac models which are as follows:
Chassis
The second-generation Ford Explorer Trac made utilization of Ford U251 chassis. The wheelbase was expanded to 130.5 inches (3315 mm) which was 4.6 inches longer than the first-generation sport trac.
The 2007 Sport Trac model was equipped with a 4-wheel independent suspension of the Ford Explorer. The second-generation model became the first pickup truck to be featured with a suspension layout.
Considering the engine, the second-generation Explorer Trac models were powered by the same 4.0L V6 engine of their predecessor. However, the Sport Trac was offered a V8 engine option for the first time. The V8 engine was capable of producing 292 hp and was used in the F-150 pickups.
The 5-speed manual transmission was replaced by the 5-speed automatic transmission. Likewise, the 6-speed transmission was replaced with the 5-speed transmission in the 2009 model year with the V8 engine.
Body
The body of the second-generation Explorer Trac was built with a plastic composite pickup truck bed. After the discontinuation of Ford Explorer Sport in 2003, the second-generation Explorer Trac inherited the front fascia of the 4-door Explorer. The bigger front fender flares were removed while the rear fenders were kept as usual.
The second-generation Sport Trac kept using the Hofmeister kink in the rear quarter windows as well as the power-retractable “breezeway rear window”.
Trim
Like the first-generation, the second-generation Explorer Trac were available in trim levels however, there were only two levels which were XLT and Limited.
| XLT | LIMITED |
| Cloth upholstery Power driver’s seat Power mirrors Power locks Power windows with automatic driver’s side window Four-spoke steering wheel Overhead console Illuminated entry Air conditioning 16″ alloy rims Security alarm AM/FM radio with a single-CD player with MP3 capability | Leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift knob 18″ alloy rims Fog lamps Automatic headlamps Body color bumpers and mirrors Floor console |
Frequently Asked Questions on Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Why was the Ford Explorer Sport Trac discontinued?
The production of Ford Explorer Sport Trac was discontinued in 2010 due to high fuel prices and less demand in the automobile market.
Is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac a good vehicle?
As per the reviews, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is found to be competent with no significant faults. The acceleration and power of the V8 engine is average while the riding experience and handling is impressive. Besides, the cabin is comfortable and works well enough.
Is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac a 4×4?
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a SUV as well as pickup truck. The two generations of the Explorer Sport Trac were equipped with standard wheel drive and four-wheel drive (4WD).
Can a Ford Explorer Sport Trac pull a boat?
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is taken as the medium-duty tow machine and it can pull a boat. The towing capacity of the Explorer Track is 5,040 lbs.
