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2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Review

February 21, 2009

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

interior has an industrial quality to it
Cars.com

does a good job of striking the delicate balance between street style and off-road character
Kelley Blue Book

a cute truck, very attractive
The Detroit News

Handsome cabin boasts solid build quality and simple controls
Edmunds

The 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac bears a strong resemblance to its SUV sibling, the Explorer, and most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com approve of its overall look.

The Detroit News calls the 2009 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. The exterior of the 2009 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." All vehicles in the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009 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; its "rather ungainly styling" may be "a turnoff for some folks," according to Edmunds reviewers.

Reviewers are also generally happy with the interior of the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, though they point out a few areas left for improvement. Reviewers at Cars.com find that "with oversized controls and squared-off designs, the Sport Trac's interior has an industrial quality to it," while Consumer Guide lists some of their several complaints with the interior of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 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." They praise the fact that the "navigation system is easy enough to use," but they also feel that "it needs a larger screen." Cars.com echoes the sentiments of several reviewers when they report that the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009 "has unique interior door releases located on the front of the door armrests," a feature that they appreciate Ford has carried over from the Explorer.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of the Ford Explorer, you’ll most likely appreciate the chunky styling on the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:interior has an industrial quality to itCars.comdoes a good job of striking the delicate balance between street style and off-road characterKelley Blue Booka cute truck, very attractiveThe Detroit NewsHandsome cabin boasts solid build quality and simple controlsEdmunds The 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac bears a strong resemblance to its SUV sibling, the Explorer, and most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com approve of its overall look. The Detroit News calls the 2009 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. The exterior of the 2009 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." All vehicles in the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009 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; its "rather ungainly styling" may be "a turnoff for some folks," according to Edmunds reviewers. Reviewers are also generally happy with the interior of the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, though they point out a few areas left for improvement. Reviewers at Cars.com find that "with oversized controls and squared-off designs, the Sport Trac's interior has an industrial quality to it," while Consumer Guide lists some of their several complaints with the interior of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 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." They praise the fact that the "navigation system is easy enough to use," but they also feel that "it needs a larger screen." Cars.com echoes the sentiments of several reviewers when they report that the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2009 "has unique interior door releases located on the front of the door armrests," a feature that they appreciate Ford has carried over from the Explorer. ConclusionIf you are a fan of the Ford Explorer, you’ll most likely appreciate the chunky styling on the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.  2009 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "interior has an industrial quality to it" Kelley Blue Book: "does a good job of striking the delicate balance between street style and off-road character" The Detroit News: "a cute truck, very attractive" Edmunds: ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac fits in Ford’s truck lineup right above the aging Ford Ranger and below the new F-150, so it competes with the four-door variants from compact and mid-size pickup segments. The editors at TheCarConnection.com aren't too fond of the Chevrolet Colorado and its twin, the GMC Canyon. Their five-cylinder engines never had the power or refinement to endear themselves to our experts. GM’s other entry, the HUMMER H3T has superior off-road capability and an available V-8, but its cargo bed is on the smaller side. The Dodge Dakota was updated in 2008, and its longer traditional steel bed might be an advantage for some buyers. The Nissan and Toyota mid-size trucks are not earth-shattering in terms of performance or versatility, but they are worth a look, as they provide nearly even competition to the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac in most every area of consideration. Honda's Ridgeline is an interesting alternative. Its car-based design gives a better ride and handling than the Sport Trac, as well as a nimbler feel overall, but lacks the Ford's heavy-duty capabilities for hauling, towing, and off-roading.

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See the Ford Explorer Sport Trac in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

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