2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Pickup

What's New?
The 2007 Sport Trac is part SUV, part pickup, and all new for 2007. The Sport Trac shares many features with the Explorer, including its F-150-inspired styling, choice of V-6 or V-8 power, four-wheel independent suspension, and standard Roll Stability Control. Distinctly truck-like in its abilities, the Sport Trac features a 49.6-inch box length, rear- or four-wheel drive, and up to 6800 pounds of towing capacity.

Overview
Originally introduced in 2001, the Sport Trac (then named Explorer Sport Trac) was the first of its kind—a blend between a compact crew-cab pickup and a midsize SUV. When the Explorer SUV was redesigned with an independent rear suspension for 2002, the Sport Trac retained the previous platform complete with its pickup-like solid (live) rear axle. Competition from similar models increased, while the Sport Trac continued on through the next three years with minimal changes—2005 was the last year for the original version.

The Sport Trac returns this year as a 2007 model, based on the redesigned 2006 Explorer SUV and sharing its body-on-frame construction, four-wheel independent suspension, and standard electronic Roll Stability Control system. Like its predecessor, the Sport Trac has a longer wheelbase than the Explorer and a composite bed that weighs about 20 percent less than a comparably sized steel bed. The Sport Trac is available in two trim levels: XLT and Limited.

Standard power for all Sport Trac models comes from an improved version of Ford's 4.0L V-6 that produces 210 hp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque and drives a 5-speed automatic transmission. The optional 4.6L V-8 has an output of 292 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque delivered through a new, 6-speed automatic transmission. The Sport Trac is available with either rear- or four-wheel drive (4WD). The latter has a fully automatic, full-time system—a rarity among 4WD compact pickups, which usually have part-time 4WD. The Sport Trac's full-time 4WD system has a lockable center differential and two-speed transfer case.

The Competition
The Ford Sport Trac competes in the Midsize Pickup segment, which consists of 11 models. Buyers in this segment look for reliability, quality, and performance, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Tacoma (178,351 units sold), Chevrolet Colorado (93,876), and Ford Ranger (92,420). The Ford Sport Trac sold 47,470 units in 2006, a decrease of 21.5 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Pickup segment include the Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota, Honda Ridgeline, GMC Canyon, and Mitsubishi Raider.