THE SPORT TRAC: Ford's New Optical Illusion
Written: Mar 27 '00 (Updated Apr 26 '00)
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Pros: Very versatile design with many clever features.
Cons: May not fit your lifestyle. First production year. A bit pricey. These issues put together make me not recommend the Sport Trac this year.
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| vara's Full Review: 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
Ever had one of those optical illusion books with pictures that looked like an old lady at one glance and then a young lady looking away at another? How 'bout the one that looks like a woman looking in a vanity mirror at one take, and then like a skull at the next? The same effect was revisited for me recently when I first saw the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Allow me to explain:
You see, up until now, sport utility vehicles have been a well-defined group. Many of them are built on pickup truck frames (i.e., the Dodge Durango, Nissan Xterra). The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is actually a reversal of this trend: it's a pickup truck that is based on an SUV, namely the Ford Explorer. For you automobile-savvy Epinions members, yes you've stumped me- the Explorer was originally based on the Ford Ranger pickup. However, the Explorer has since become more rigid and heavier than its pickup cousin. You can see how I had a tough time figuring out what to make of the Sport Trac.
I had originally hoped that the Ford dealership where my friend works would receive a delivery of Sport Tracs soon. Alas, it was not the case. So, I placed a call at a large Ford dealership in town requesting immediate notification when the first Sport Tracs rolled onto their lot. Sure enough, my call came and I was at the dealership in no time. Note: Normally, my reviews are based on test drives that take at least a full day. Since this was a new model, however, I could only drive it for about an hour (which is actually very generous of the dealer). I plan on driving the Sport Trac again once my friend's dealership gets some in stock. When I do I'll update this epinion and remove this disclaimer. For now, however, consider this a "short drive" review.
EXTERIOR: 10
I'll let you draw your own conclusions about the way the Sport Trac looks. What I have rated so highly is the design behind the truck. There is much to tell, so get ready.
Although the Sport Trac was built on the Explorer frame, its dimensions are different: it's 14" longer than the Explorer and about an inch wider. In order to compensate for this length increase, the Sport Trac was modified to improve lateral rigidity by 40%.
Essentially, what we have here is a Ford Explorer that had its rear chopped off and converted into a pickup bed. The bed itself is not made out of metal, but Sheet Molded Composite plastic. Supposedly, it can withstand 400 pounds of impact per square inch, so Ford claims it's just as good if not better than steel in a car crash. The bed itself holds 29.6 cubic feet of cargo, which is about 3 cubic feet less than the cargo bay behind the rear seats of a regular Ford Explorer. Optional on the Sport Trac is a cargo cage bed extender which increases the bed space by 22.6 additional cubic feet of space. In addition, you can fold the 60/40 rear seats to accommodate still more cargo. Whether or not that surpasses the 81 cubic feet total cargo space of the Explorer is unknown to me.
The cargo bed seems like it can stand up to some good use. Ford tested the bed with solid blocks of concrete and not a scratch was found. Ten tie-down hooks make sure your cargo is securely held in place. An available option you might want to consider is a hard tonneau cover that protects your items. Right now, they're hard to find but availability will be better soon. Another nifty feature in the rear cargo bed is a weather-proof 12-volt power point for whatever you'd want to power up back there (camping lights, compressors, etc.). The protective flip-up cap reminds me of the caps on outdoor power outlets.
On the roof of the cabin, Yakima (not Ford) roof rails offer more space to stow your belongings. They can hold 100 pounds of stuff when outfitted with the optional cross members.
INTERIOR: 7
The Sport Trac has many things going for it in this category and things I'd like to see improved. First, the good...
The dash is one of the best I've seen on a Ford. The instruments are clearly marked, and I especially like the black-on-white gauges. The air conditioner did well to cool the cabin in the 85 degree weather. The stereo system I had was the four-speaker system, which was satisfactory, though I'd opt for the 6-speaker option myself. Another clever addition to the dash is an industry first: a power-operated rear window. A dial on the right side of the dash can be tapped for lowering the rear glass by an inch, or turned to the left to bring the window down all the way. All of these controls were well within reach. Looking down, I noticed the floor of the Sport Trac is actually rubber, not carpet. This is great for keeping the car clean and according to the dealer has a hand in sound insulation. Another feature you might find useful is the removable portion of the center console. It's actually a soft carrying pack for storing CD's, pens, papers, what have you. A final clever feature I noted was a clipboard that flips over for a second cupholder. Neat-o!
Moving to the back, the rear seats are quite roomy for a "pickup". In fact, there is a full inch more of leg room than the Explorer on which the Sport Trac is based. Behind and under the seats, there are small cargo compartments for stowing little knick-knacks.
Having stated the positives, there were many things I would change about the interior. First of all, I did not find the bucket seats on my truck to be very comfortable at all. The water-resistant cloth is all well and good for staying clean, but it doesn't feel that great on the skin. I also would have liked more lumbar support: there was very little. Another negative was the abundance of cheap plastic (not just on the dash but everywhere) that is endemic to all Ford vehicles. When I shut the door getting out, I was met with a resounding CLANG and not the solid thud that I appreciate hearing on cars.
ENGINE: 8
The 4.0 L, 206 hp (@ 5250 rpm), 240 lb.-ft. torque (@ 3750) V6 is the same engine Ford uses in the Ford Explorer Sport, and scoots the Sport Trac along quite well. I was impressed with the engine's highway acceleration, which I got to test extensively. The Sport Trac is rated to tow 5,000 pounds, so the engine is good for light work only.
HANDLING: 8
The Sport Trac's handling is very sure and confident for a truck. Taking the car into a large parking lot, I swerved it left and right, noticing very little pitch. Taking turnarounds can be accomplished almost at the speed of passenger cars without squealing the tires. As far as emergency maneuvers, the Sport Trac performs well, too. While driving on an access road, an idiot pulled out right in front of me causing me to swerve out of the way just in time. After I had recovered my composure, I was thankful for the Sport Trac's performance in that situation... and was happy to know the "soil-proof seats" would be there for me should a need ever arise again!
RIDE: 8
The Sport Trac handles better than the Ford Explorer SUV, no question. The ride, however, is more stiff than the Explorer. That may be good for some, bad for others. If you want a lofty ride, then the regular Explorer is what you seek, not the Sport Trac. That said, I liked the way the Sport Trac rode, personally. Yes, I felt the road more, but other qualities were pretty good. Engine, road, and wind noise were all pleasantly muted at city speeds. At highway speeds, road and wind noise made themselves known. As far as the engine, however, I had to look at my speedometer to know how fast I was going because it gave me little help (that's a good thing).
RELIABILITY: 5
The Sport Trac is brand-new for 2001, so it has no proven track record. My truck's cargo cage rattled when I hit bumps, and I also noticed some weathered rubber on the seal of the rear window. These are little observations, but they may paint a bigger picture later. On that note, be advised that you should be wary of any first-year model. If you can, wait about a year for Ford to iron the kinks out. If not, you might find yourself taking your Sport Trac into the garage for unscheduled maintenance or recalls. Ford is not exempt from this dilemma: the redesigned Mustang, the Ford Explorer, and Ford Expedition all had numerous recalls on them their first model year. Having said that, while my rating of "5" for an unproven car may seem unfair (and could be wrong), I'm going on past history here, and am just making a point. At best, all Ford vehicles end up giving you average reliability anyway.
Food for thought...
VALUE: 6
The Sport Tracs were surprisingly in good numbers when I visited the dealership. When I asked the dealer about it he said they were selling surprisingly slowly. I don't expect that will always be the case because I feel the Sport Trac will become immensely popular. This is something to consider though, if a dealer tells you they are selling like hotcakes and uses that as an excuse to jack the price up.
For a base target price of around $23,000, the Sport Trac comes in a little pricey when compared to other trucks that most closely resemble it. The Nissan Frontier 4-door and the Dodge Dakota QuadCab pickups come in $4,000-5,000 cheaper (albeit a little more bare). Load the Sport Trac to the gills and it tops out at almost $30,000- a sizeable sum indeed.
Ford argues that because the Sport Trac is actually an SUV with a cargo bed and not just a pickup with four doors slapped on it, the sticker is well-justified. Well, I'd love to agree with them about that, but the fact still remains that those changes are all underneath the skin. Aren't the basic functions of the Sport Trac equal to the previously mentioned pickups anyway? Don't they all make the attempt at blending SUV and pickup characteristics? Who cares where the starting point is (SUV vs. pickup)? Remember that this is just my opinion, and I'm sure others think otherwise. All I'm saying is that the issue of "it's an SUV, not a pickup" is all a matter of semantics, these important differences notwithstanding. By the way, the Sport Trac won't always be the only "SUV-turned-pickup" on the market.
THE VERDICT: AT FIRST GLANCE... WHAT DO YOU SEE?
In closing, I think Ford is really onto something here as far as new designs go. The Sport Trac is probably the best compromise between an SUV and a pickup. That's just my problem with the Sport Trac, however: what you are buying is a compromise. It's neither the best pickup nor the best SUV on the market. In addition, this is an introductory year, and I find it a bit pricey. For these reasons put together, I would not recommend it to a friend of mine.
My opinions may not speak for you, however. Ask yourself: does this compromise fit your lifestyle? If so, then maybe you should give it a look.
... And when you look at the "optical illusion" that Ford's rigged up, play the game for yourself: is it an SUV or a pickup? Ford hopes you'll see something entirely different: love at first site.
AVERAGE SCORE: 7.43 out of 10
VARA'S PERSONAL RATING: 7.5 out of 10
Recommended:
No
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: Base automatic with Cloth Comfort Package and cargo cage
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Member: Daniel Ramirez
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