Ford added only a few upgrades to its Explorer Sport Trac SUV/truck for 2008, after giving the vehicle a design overhaul the previous year. A new Safety Canopy system, which includes side curtain as well as front airbags, helps protect passengers in the event of a rollover, while a new four-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt, cruise, and audio controls has been added to the list of standard features to increase the Sport Trac's luxury quotient.

Other new standard features include front fog lamps and a composite-material cargo box. On the options front, the Ford Sync voice-activated entertainment and communications system, which enables drivers to control the audio system and cell phones using voice commands, will become available late in the model year.

Other than that, a long list of standard features carries over from the previous year, resulting in a functional and well-appointed vehicle that fits right in with today's trend of out-of-the-ordinary vehicles. The Sport Trac can comfortably seat five passengers in its roomy cabin, thanks to a 60/40 split rear bench seat. Or, with the back seat folded down, the Sport Track provides more than 44 cubic feet of cargo space.

The exterior cargo bed, which was lengthened in 2007, can carry another 37.5 cubic feet of cargo. The cargo bed comes equipped with three storage bins with weather-resistant lids to protect all types of gear.

For its standard powerplant, the 2008 Explorer Sport Trac receives a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine, which links to a five-speed automatic transmission. As an option, drivers can choose the 292-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8, which links to a six-speed automatic.

The Sport Trac rides on a fully independent suspension, which provides both durability and a smooth ride, and its stiff frame improves handling on and off the road. As in the previous year, the 2008 Sport Trac comes in XLT and Limited trims, both equipped with the AdvanceTrac traction control system with Roll Stability Control.