2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Review

The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac—the pickup version of Ford's ubiquitous SUV--bears a strong resemblance to its fully enclosed sibling, and the styling is appreciated in most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com.

The exterior of the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac "does a good job of striking the delicate balance between street style and off-road character," according to Kelley Blue Book. They add that "the roof rack, external cargo-box tie-downs, fairly large tires and prominent wheel arches give it a properly rugged image, while the big chrome grille and front-end treatment lend style." The reviewers over at The Detroit News have taken to calling the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac "a cute truck, very attractive," though that particular choice of words may not go over well with the Ford Explorer Sport Trac's target market. All vehicles in the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2008 lineup feature similar external styling, but Edmunds notes that "two trim levels are offered: XLT and Limited." About the only difference that Edmunds can detect on the outside between the two are the "color-keyed bumpers and side mirrors" and "18-inch alloy wheels" on the Limited that replace the "16-inch alloy wheels" and plain bumpers on the XLT. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac's sheetmetal is more universally accepted than the Honda Ridgeline's, whose "rather ungainly styling" may be "a turnoff for some folks," according to Edmunds reviewers.

The interior of the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac fares moderately well, but reviewers also find quite a few areas for improvement. Consumer Guide lists some of their several complaints with the interior of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2008 as a "transmission shift lever" that "blocks easy access to the climate system" and a "turn signal stalk" that is "mounted at an awkward angle." While they praise the fact that the "navigation system is easy enough to use," they also feel that "it needs a larger screen." Reviewers at Cars.com find that "with oversized controls and squared-off designs, the Sport Trac's interior has an industrial quality to it." One positive comment comes from Cars.com, which echoes the sentiments of several reviewers when they write that the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2008 "has unique interior door releases located on the front of the door armrests," a feature that they appreciate Ford has carried over from "the 2007 Explorer SUV."