If there’s one thing Ford is known for, it’s trucks. The company has built an empire off the back of models like the F-150, Super Duty, and Ranger models, offering buyers capable vehicles with the comfort and technology they need, at attainable prices. However, nestled quietly among that extensive pickup catalog is a model that never receives much attention, and offers impressive performance in an approachable package: the Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

This mid-size crew-cab pickup slotted in between the Ranger and F-150, competing against the likes of the Chevy Colorado and Dodge Dakota. Over two generations, the company improved the formula, and the pinnacle of the model arrived when it was equipped with Ford’s 4.6-liter modular V8. A Ford pickup with a V8? One would think a model like this would be quite the catch, but the truck never receives more than a passing mention. This means you can snag one for surprisingly cheap today, but you’ll have to determine if it’s the right Blue Oval for you.

The Sport Trac: Ford’s Other Truck

When Ford first conceived of the Sport Trac, it was obvious the company was attempting to cash in on the growing number of four-door pickup trucks. While it did offer a four-door Ranger at the time, the model wasn’t seen as approachable enough for many consumers, plus the company wanted something slightly larger. However, the company wasn’t about to spend the hundreds of millions necessary to create a brand-new truck platform, so it immediately went to the parts bin to throw something together.

The result was a vehicle based on the second generation of the Ford Explorer with a lengthened chassis, pulling parts from the four-door Explorer, two-door Explorer sport, with a bespoke 50-inch plastic composite bed, and the tailgate from the F-150. A 5-speed manual or automatic was offered, but both were strictly married to the Cologne V6. The combination was…fine? It was a decent pickup, with acceptable road manners and enough capability for most buyers, but the inclusion of a solid-rear axle, plus the overall “thrown-together-ness” of the vehicle meant it wasn’t going to win many comparisons.

When Ford introduced the second-generation Explorer Sport Trac in 2007, it was clear the company was trying to do something different. First, it was built on the new and improved fourth-generation Ford Explorer, so the truck was now equipped with much better rigidity and NVH levels than before. The ride was improved thanks to an independent suspension setup in the rear, but ruggedness wasn’t forgotten, as this was still a body-on-frame vehicle. Along with a nicer interior with options like leather seats and a moonroof, it was obvious this was less of a parts-bin-special than before.

Available in XLT, Limited, and Adrenalin trims (more on that one later), it offered a trim for nearly every buyer, but the real headline-grabbing addition was the inclusion of the 4.6-liter Modular V8, the same engine found in vehicles like the Ford Mustang GT and Ford F-150.

The 4.6-Liter V8 Gave It Legit Muscle

We’d forgive you for thinking this was just another “lifestyle truck” from the early 2000s with a wheezy V6, because that’s what we thought it was for a long time, too. But it turns out Ford was listening to concerns, because this time it offered a V8 under the hood for the first time. Offered on Limited and later Adrenalin trims, the 3-valve-per-cylinder version of the 4.6-liter Modular V8 produced a respectable 292 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, which was a major step up from the milquetoast 210-horsepower Cologne V6.

While the V6 was strictly paired with a 5-speed automatic (the manual didn’t make it to the second generation), the V8 received a better 6-speed auto standard. RWD was also standard, but full-time AWD could be optioned, giving the truck confident acceleration that would see you hit 60 mph in the mid 7-second range, and have more than enough power for highway cruising.

However, as this was a pickup truck first and foremost, towing and payload numbers were paramount. The former was impressive, thanks to its body-on-frame design and added power, and, with the right options, could pull up to 7,160 lbs. This was easily one of the best in its class at the time, but pulling heavy things takes more juice. On paper, the V8 received an EPA estimated city/highway mileage of 15/21 MPGs, but contemporary tests found the truck fared considerably worse, especially when 4WD was involved.

Not to mention, the payload rating was also poor, with the max rating sitting around 1,450 lbs. However, this was also in line with contemporary models like the Honda Ridgeline and Chevy Avalanche, so you can’t fault it too much there. No, the bigger faults came in other areas, ensuring that the second generation of the Sport Trac would be the last.

It Was Comfortable, Capable, But Not Without Its Flaws

So the standout qualities of the Sport Trac consisted of a small-ish truck with a V8 that could comfortably fit a three to four-person family. Yes, the bed was small, but at 50 inches (4.3 feet) long, it’s almost exactly the same length as the 54.4-inch (4.5 feet) bed on the beloved Ford Maverick. Plus, there was an optional bed extender like the one found on the Subaru Baja that extended the usable space about 2 feet, giving you plenty of room to work with.

All things considered, it seemed like the perfect truck for those wanting to transport a small camper and some toys to a campsite, while also managing a small landscaping business on the side. The truck seemed truly useful. However, read any old review, and you’re more likely to hear criticism than praise for the model.

First off, while a switch to the new Explorer did much to improve the truck’s driving experience, the damping was very poor. Many noted the truck loved to lean, dip, and dive under normal driving experiences, likely a consequence of its body on frame construction, and while this was less of a problem on the highway, the interior didn’t do much to help you pass the time.

The vehicle was anything but luxurious, which is fine on an affordable vehicle such as this, but the hard plastic and cheap gear switches were poor regardless, and look how ridiculous that shift lever looks? Was there any good reason to make it so massive? Interior space was also cramped given the truck’s relatively broad proportions, and the high ride height and bed material made loading items a little more difficult than it needed to be.

The final straw came in the form of the Sport Trac Adrenalin trim, which initially debuted as the Ford SVT Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin concept at the 2005 New York Auto Show. The truck featured a dramatic bodykit, an SVT-tuned suspension, a rear-biased AWD system, and most importantly, a supercharged version of the 4.6 that produced 390 horsepower.

It was the spiritual successor to the Ford F-150 Lightning, but a production version was going to be expensive, and this pickup wasn’t supposed to be an expensive endeavor for Ford. Due to that, when the Adrenalin did make it to production, it was all show and no go, lacking the performance upgrades of the concept but keeping the looks. Finally, when you add in the poor fuel economy, it isn’t surprising sales were well below Ford’s expectations.

A Forgotten Bargain Hiding In Plain Sight

When the truck was new, the XLT trim cost $24,940 and the Limited trim came out to $26,540. Today, that equates to a whopping $39,608 and $42,149 when adjusted for inflation. With prices like these, it’s no wonder buyers expected much more out of the model. Today, you can get yourself into a Ford Maverick with similar power, space, and better amenities for about $10,000 less than that, and it’ll have a better resale value when it’s finally time to move on.

However, the value proposition has changed. Now that we’re 15 years removed from the Sport Trac, we live in a world where a V8 pickup truck of any kind is becoming an increasingly rare commodity. If you want something mid-sized with a V8, you’re completely out of luck. The Sport Trac, from that perspective, is enticing, and only gets better when you see the pricing.

Many examples can be found hovering around $10,000, with particularly low mileage options coming in closer to $20,000. You had better be comfortable with high-mileage vehicles, however, because out of all the ones we found on sale using AutoTempest to scour the country, nearly all of them were pushing well past 100,000 miles. While this may scare away some, we say it’s a testament to the truck’s design and V8’s reliability, and we have no doubt many of these will put on 100,000 more miles, piece of cake.

Whether all of the above information adds up to a pickup you can sink your teeth into is up to you, but we will say trucks like these won’t be around forever, and there’s never been a better time to jump into something different than the present.

Sources: Ford, AutoTempest