The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a transformation of the Explorer into an even more useful vehicle. Originally a full-size SUV, the Sport Trac version is a crossbreed, similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche, somewhere between a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle. It boasts incredible storage, located in areas previously underutilized. The bed is large and has an extender for even bigger loads. The interior is nothing to scoff at either. Loaded with extra features, the Explorer Sport Trac is technology at its finest. Whether a driver wants to go off-roading, haul a load to the worksite, or simply fit the whole clan for a drive around town, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac can do it. And it can do it with ease and incredible style.

The Sport Trac is available with either a 4.0L V6 or an even bigger 4.6L V8. The V6 produces up to 210 horsepower, while the V8 gets more with 292 horsepower. Standard on the Explorer is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The fully independent suspension provides superior dexterity on the road. With an incredibly stiff frame, the Sport Trac responds better when off-roading or just simply driving down the highway. With a towing capacity of 7,160-lb, the Sport Trac does not quite match up with other pickups on the market. However, buyers cannot expect the fusion vehicle to outperform in every aspect, especially when it already accomplishes so much.

With a payload around 1,400-lb, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac can haul quite a bit. Not only that, the vehicle has a bed extender. The bed extender is in the form of a gate that is locked in place on the open tailgate. This provides both extra room for large loads, but also protects loads by locking them in place. Rather than using tie-downs or bungee cords, a driver can feel confident knowing that their load will not fall out of the bed. With only an estimated 14 city MPG and 20 highway MPG, the 2008 Sport Trac is not in line with the recently upgraded fuel-economy standard. Consumers are searching for vehicles that save them money at the pump, and the Sport Trac plainly fails in that department.

Overall, the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is in a class of its own. It breaks all the rules and then some. It is not a truck. It is not a sport utility vehicle. It is an Explorer Sport Trac, an incredible combination of both. Buyers will be happy to know that they are getting the best of both worlds. However, some may be turned off by the $25,115 MSRP and the poor fuel-economy. Either way, Ford's onto something here.