The Ford Explorer is NOT a wimp.  Sure, other sport-utes have more off-road ability, but none of them can match the Explorer’s suburban sales success.  And now the vehicle of choice for soccer moms everywhere is taking it to the extreme sports crowd, with the brash new Explorer Sport Trac, comin’ at you like a Limp Bizkit song rendered in automotive form.  It’s a whole new twist on the old SUV concept.

Or is it?  Yes, it’s the only SUV in its class with an open cargo bed, but the four-door compact pickups from Chevrolet, Toyota, and Nissan fill a similar niche in the truck landscape.  Apart from its SUV origins, the Sport Trac isn’t that different from those trucks.

One way it is different is in the appearance.  Compared to those pickups (even the redesigned Nissan Frontier) the Sport Trac is dripping with attitude.  The high sides on the stubby bed make all the difference in the world for the Sport Trac’s design; where the four-door pickups look foreshortened and stubby, the Explorer’s proportions are just right.  An aggressive new face leads the way for an equally muscular body.  Body-colored fender flares and a “power dome” hood give the Sport Trac a buff look.  The sports-gear-friendly roof rails are standard equipment.  And, of course, where the standard Explorer’s cargo area begins, the Sport Trac becomes a pickup truck, with an 50-inch bed made from dent-proof, rustproof sheet-molded composite material (SMC).  An optional flip-out extender increases the bed’s length by 22.6 inches, and doubles as a cargo cage to keep loose objects from rolling around.  Unfortunately, the stainless steel cage is also in the way if heavy objects need to be loaded.    There’s a convenient 12-volt power point in the bed, hidden under a waterproof cover.  A folding hard tonneau cover is available.  Optional 16″ aluminum wheels look tough wrapped in 255/70R16 white-letter tires.

Inside, the Sport Trac shows how the familiar Explorer cabin has gone extreme-sports friendly.  The console between the front seats lifts out and doubles as a small gear bag (although the zippers make it hard to use while driving).  Cloth seats are dirt- and tear-resistant, and the floor is hose-out friendly rubber, instead of carpet.  To take advantage of the open cargo bed, the rear window can be lowered, just like in classic station wagons, to make room for surfboards and other long cargo.  The rear seat is comfortable enough for full-sized human beings, and can be folded flat for additional room as well.  Unfortunately, the Sport Trac shares the Explorer’s narrow windshield and frontal area, which bites into outward visibility, but the standard Ford compact truck dash has been updated with sporty white-faced gauges and a unique textured dash reminiscent of anti-slip material.  The Sport Trac also has the Explorer’s fantastic front seats, which are easily good for a full day of driving without major fatigue.  Tube-frame bar-style door pulls jazz the interior up another notch.  The available in-dash six-CD changer is a worthwhile option, and sounds great.

Heavy-metal looks aside, though, how does it drive?

More or less like an Explorer, thank you very much.  The Sport Trac’s frame is 14.25 inches longer than that of the four-door Explorer, and some lateral stiffening has been added to improve handling.  It’s slightly less squashy over bumps and around curves than the Explorer, but the trucky ride is nonetheless familiar.   The Explorer’s basic setup (independent torsion bar front suspension and live axle with leaf springs in the rear) has been tightened up with swaybars for the Sport Trac application, but it’s the same basic ride.  Yes, it’s tippy in corners; take them slowly.  Thanks to a longer wheelbase, the Sport Trac is nominally happier on the freeway than the bouncy, jouncy Explorer.  Antilock brakes are standard.

With the option of a shift-on-the-fly four wheel drive system, the Sport Trac won’t hesitate when faced with rough terrain, although the poor visibility to the front and rear quarters may make life difficult for the true extreme off-roaders who want to crawl up and down mountains.  As a light-duty off-roader, though, the Explorer Sport Trac won’t disappoint.  It’s still got a bumpier ride both on- and off-road than most competitors–thanks not only to the suspension, but also to the tube-style side rails, which tend to drag on short, steep hills

Ford’s 4.0 liter V6 lives under the hood, turning the Sport Trac’s tires with 205 horsepower.  Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional 4.10 limited-slip rear end, and had plenty of grunt off the line.  It’s hooked up to a five-speed automatic whose overdrive gear keeps the motor quiet on the freeway, even with the shorter optional gearing.  This combo feels good on the freeway, and just a little bit strained for power when pressed off-road.  For more sport-minded drivers, a five-speed manual is available.

Our test vehicle was a two-wheel drive Explorer Sport Trac, and it was outfitted with the bed extender, limited-slip rear axle, in-dash CD changer, cruise control and fog lamps.  It stickered for $26,280.  The 4×2 Sport Trac starts at $22,500.  At that price, it’ll make a decent piece of gear for the ESPN2 crowd.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which we tested.

Length:     205.9 in.
Width:        71.8 in.
Height:        70.1 in.
Wheelbase:    125.9 in.
Curb weight:    4183 lb
Cargo space:    29.6 cu. ft.
Base price:    $22,500
Price as tested: $26,280
Engine:     4.0 liter SOHC V6
Drivetrain:     five-speed automatic, rear wheel drive
Horsepower:     205 @ 5000 rpm
Torque:     240 @ 4000 rpm
Fuel capacity:    20.5 gal.
Towing capacity:    5620 lb. (4×2)
Est. mileage:    16/20

6/2009 update:  Holy crap, did I actually make a Limp Bizkit reference?  Yeesh.  Anyway, the Sport Trac is a pretty common sight these days, like the Explorer.  It shares the Explorer’s sort-of dated, sort-of timeless looks and general durability, as well as a tendency toward shabbiness if not cared for.  Sport Trac owners are probably more likely to have abused their trucks.