2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac - Review

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It may not captivate the chic boulevards of Paris, but Ford's odd pairing of its sport-ute Explorer and a pickup bed that has given birth to the versatile 2001 Sport Trac is a head-turner on highways here at home in California.

Ford says there's nothing else like it. Truth to tell, there may never be again unless someone chops a minivan in half to add a cabriolet. But given Ford's love affair with trucks it's not surprising that they've found a reason to stick the end of a small one onto their best-selling entry in the almost tirelessly trendy SUV market. If you approach the

Sport Trac from the rear, you'll see a compact pickup; from the front, an SUV.

Ford brings the Sport Trac to market with the slogan "No Boundaries — Ford Outfitters." Despite its allusion to fashion, this translates into Ford designing its own line within the Explorer family, separating it from the traditional Explorer.

Ford Sport Trac Bed The Sport Trac’s bed can be reached from the cabin through a handy slide-down window — power, of course.

Actually the five-passenger, four-door Sport Trac makes a lot of sense. If you're hauling muddy bikes, flopping sailfish or wet dogs you can sling 'em into the open cargo area and not worry about messing up the seats. The bed in back is, practically speaking, about the size of a very large trunk without a lid. It has a bunch of tie-downs for everyone and everything, plus an outdoor weatherproof 12-point power outlet, and an optional lockable hard tonneau top that covers the entire cargo bed. The tailgate can be left down and enclosed with a rear brush guard-type cage, giving you an extended cargo area.