- suv 97,409
- 15,495 overpriced
- Springfield, PA
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- autoshopper.com
2008 ford explorer sport trac review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. It comes standard with a 4. 0-liter v6 that makes 210 horsepower, and a 292-hp v8 is optional. The power is delivered smoothly, but isn't as responsive in passing maneuvers as some might wish. the sport trac's high ride height means the ride quality gets a bit busy over potholed or broken pavement, but otherwise, the ride is smooth, thanks in part to an independent rear suspension that also aids handling. Directional stability is good, steering response is quick, and body lean is well controlled for a heavy vehicle. inside, the sport trac has easy-to-read instruments and nice materials. Unfortunately, the door pulls are strangely positioned, making them hard to operate for some. Room, on the other hand, is plentiful front and rear. The most notable new feature, available on late-2008 models, is ford's sync communications and entertainment system. New standard features include fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power rear window, a drop-in storage bin, and side curtain airbags. The 4. 0-liter v6 with five-speed automatic transmission comes standard on both trim levels. The 4. 6-liter v8 is an option for both trim levels 1295) and comes with a six-speed automatic. Sundry exterior trim pieces that are painted black on the xlt change to body color or silver on the limited. Rear obstacle detection 295) is optional. walkaroundthe 2008 explorer sport trac looks very much like the 2008 explorer. From just behind the front doors forward, it shares its design with the current explorer. This is part of ford's plan to push brand identity, and why the fronts of ford's light-duty trucks, be they pickups or suvs, wear many of the same design features. Common features with the explorer include the chrome-framed grille, bumper centerpiece, lower air intake, wraparound body-color lower fascia above the blacked-out front air dam, and the signature geometric housings for the compound headlights/running lights. the 2008 sport trac is considerably longer than the explorer. Wheelbase (distance between the tires front to rear) and overall length (bumper to bumper) are both almost 17 inches longer. Thus, while the explorer is the more people-oriented of the two, the sport trac's longer wheelbase promises a less choppy, more controlled ride. The dodge dakota quad cab is the only other midsize pickup to exceed the sport trac in wheelbase and overall length, and by less than an inch in wheelbase. The sport trac's bed is 4. 5 feet long, the rest around 5 feet. from the rear, the sport trac looks like a ford pickup. One distinctive aspect is that the sides of the bed and the tailgate rise as much as three inches higher than is the norm in the segment. While this increases the space enclosed by the bed, it definitely makes hefting boxes and bags up and over into the bed more of a strain, a painful trait it shares with the honda ridgeline. By making the sport trac look taller, it also raises the sport trac's visual center of gravity, although the wider body and wider track help to reduce this impression. interiorinside, the 2008 ford explorer sport trac looks a lot like the explorer cabin. Not that it lacks anything by way of necessities or has been saddled with an abbreviated option list, but there's more borrowed than new. The sport trac shares virtually all of its interior, from trim to seat frames, with the explorer. the instruments are simple and easy to scan. The fuel and coolant gauges are tucked away in the lower, outer quadrants of the tachometer and speedometer; they could be larger and located closer to the driver's line of sight. The center stack is packed with functions but it's intuitively organized, with readily deciphered controls and displays. However, we'd prefer a tuning knob for the radio instead of the sport trac's slow scanning rocker switch. the optional navigation system pushes the audio controls to the side and either gangs some functions or transfers them to the lcd screen, and it's a clean look. The only real concern here is with the number of components making up the dash assembly. The fewer the components the better, generally speaking, to reduce the number of squeaks as the miles pile up, and the sport trac's dash has one of the highest counts we've seen. the seats are comfortable, though the bottom cushions front and rear could provide more thigh support. Foot clearance in the rear doorways when climbing in and out is cramped, but once inside, there's decent area beneath the front seats. All five seating positions get three-point seatbelts, but only the front seats and the outboard rear seats get the adjustable full-size head restraints. Comparatively speaking, the sport trac's interior lands squarely in the middle of the segment. The nissan frontier and toyota tacoma have a few tenths of an inch more front-seat headroom, the honda ridgeline almost an inch. The frontier and the ridgeline are tops in rear-seat headroom, but by only tenths of an inch. The chevy colorado has an inch and a half more front-seat legroom but almost two inches less rear-seat legroom. Bottom line, sport trac interior roominess is comparable to that of midsize crew cab pickups. the sport trac's door panels, borrowed from the explorer, aren't so good. While certain elements are reasonably ergonomic, the placement of the door handles is a prime example of logic gone wrong. Intended to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes by adding crush space, the placement of the door pull below and forward of the armrest puts it where it's awkward to grab hold of and operate. The glove box is adequate. The front center console hosts two cupholders adjacent to the shift gate. Two more cupholders for the rear seat fit behind the front center console's hinged, padded top. The center console is big and deep. The front door map pockets have a space for a water bottle molded into their hard plastic enclosures. back i.
15,495 Springfield, PASpringfield, PA at autoshopper.com