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San Francisco:Suppose
you’re got a five-person family and you want them to ride in a comfy
SUV. However, what if you could add a pickup bed behind your SUV? Well,
with the Ford Sport Trac, you can. The Sport Trac has been around for
years, but now it’s all new for 2007.
The Ford folks started
with the entire front of the new-for-2006 Explorer, and grafted on a
4-1/2-foot-long truck bed for generous quantities of outside haulin’.
Aft of the second side doors, the Sport Trac is completely different
from the regular Explorer, carefully shaped to accommodate the separate
pickup bed. This new model is more than five inches longer and nearly
two inches wider than the original, and looks much more substantial and
well integrated. The entirely new frame is much stiffer than the old
one, a remarkable 444% improvement, which means that the truck feels
solid and inflexible over uneven and bumpy roads.
Made of sheet-molded
compound instead of the usual metal, the cargo box is strong and will
never rust. The dent-proof inner liner is scratch resistant to keep it
looking nice longer. The bed sports three integrated storage bins and
slots to allow you to carry two layers of your favorite stuff. The
storage bins have drain plugs, so you can fill one full of cheap beer on
ice for your next beach party. Just be sure to name a designated driver
to pilot the Sport Trac home afterwards.
My Orange Frost Sport
Trac Limited test truck arrived with the optional hard tonneau cover
over the cargo box, which locks for security. Funny, though, there are
bins on each side, but only one side contains the lock. The other wears
a dummy lock unit, for symmetry. The cargo box was enhanced with the
optional tubular bed extender, which separates the content of the bed
(big items, not sand) or folds out onto the tailgate, increasing
carrying capacity.
My tester had the
available Control Trac ® four-wheel-drive
system. The system automatically senses the need and transfers
traction from the rear to the front wheels. You also can select the low
4WD gear for careful maneuvering in snow or mud when you need it.
You have a choice of
two engines. The standard engine is a German-built 4.0-liter V6, which
delivers 210 horsepower. Ford claims fuel mileage of about 15 City, 20
Highway, varying very slightly by engine size and number of driven
wheels. You can tow 5,310 pounds with the two-wheel-drive model, 5,140
with four-wheel drive.
If you really want to
move along and tow an additional 1,500 pounds, you can opt for the
Michigan-made 4.6-liter V8, which bumps horsepower to 292, tops in its
field. With an even 300 lb.-ft. of torque, you can roar along with ease.
My tester earned just 12.5 mpg in mixed driving, and that’s pretty low
for an average. At least it’s regular gas for either engine.
The interior of the new
2007 Sport Trac benefits from the all-new design of the 2006 Explorer.
Despite a heaping serving of inexpensive-looking hard, textured plastic,
the overall design is fresh and even clever. The inside door handles are
shaped like an arc that lifts up from where you comfortably rest your
hand on the armrest. It takes a little while to get used to. The lines
are clean and appropriately macho. It is a truck, after all, even with
automatic climate control, power locks and windows, and auxiliary audio
input jacks. Pseudo carbon fiber trim adds a pseudo sporty touch, while
the cylindrical shift lever, well, it’s pretty manly. But I was
surprised to find only one level for the otherwise highly effective seat
heaters.
Like all American
trucks, my test unit enjoyed a wealth of other extra-cost options. My
tester added just over $8,000 worth, including a touch-screen navigation
system (for finding the way to grandma’s house), a DVD family
entertainment center (to amuse the family members in the back seat),
safety canopy airbags (for keeping everyone safe), and a reverse sensing
system (to avoid backing into other family members, including the
four-legged ones). My tester added a towing upgrade, two-tone leather
seats ($995), power adjustable pedals, the joys of Sirius satellite
radio, and a few other nice things to have.
Starting at $29,540,
the window sticker swelled up to $38,240 after all the options and
delivery charges were included. The 4x2, V6-equipped Sport Trac XLT
starts at $24,980.
In the EPA's 2007
Green Vehicle Guide, this model earns a fairly good air pollution
score of 7, with 10 being the best and 1 the worst; it scores a 3 out of
10 in the greenhouse gases column, which is not as exemplary. The Ford
Escape Hybrid is the fourth-highest-scoring model on the entire 82-page
list, with scores of 9.5 and 8 respectively. For more information, see
http://www.epa.gov/emissweb/index.htm.
There is a trend in
America now towards smaller, more efficient vehicles, and it has hurt
large SUV sales. But if you need to haul lots of people and things
around you may find that owning this hybrid blend of an SUV and pickup
truck is worth the sacrifices you make at the fuel pump.
By Steve Schaefer © AutoWire.Net - San
Francisco
Ford Home Page
Byline:
Syndicated content provided by Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Column Name: The Sport Trac is a hybrid blend of an SUV & pickup
truck
Topic: The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Word Count: 949
Photo Caption: The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Photo Credits: Ford Explorer Sport Trac Internet Media
Series #: 2007 - 09
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2007 Ford Explorer
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2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
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