2001-2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac - 1st Generation

Model Years

2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001

Fuel Economy

15-18 mpg

What to Know

1st Generation Ford Sport Tracs feature a 160 horsepower 4 liter V6, which many say under-powers such a large vehicle. Not to be confused with a truck, or a SUV, the Sport Trac is still a hybrid truck/SUV vehicle. Bed length is the largest drawback, measuring in at a tick over 4 feet in length, the bed is essentially useless for any serious truck related activities. As it is a heavy truck/SUV, don’t expect high performance handling or acceleration. The interior is pretty much standard, with adequate room in both the front and rear seats. Overall, it is a decent vehicle that is reliable enough. Don’t count on hauling a lot of stuff with it, but it is serviceable for most people who would otherwise drive a car or SUV.

What to Look For

Transmission – A handful of 2nd Generation Sport Tracs have transmission issues at around 100k miles. Symptoms to look for are hard shifting and abnormal shift points. Expect to spend $1500-2000 to have the transmission rebuilt or replaced.