2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
By 2005, drivers and reviewers alike were complaining that the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was desperately in need of a redesign. The 2005...
By 2005, drivers and reviewers alike were complaining that the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was desperately in need of a redesign. The 2005 Explorer Sport Trac suffered both from its outdated platform (based on the mid-1990s Explorer SUV chassis) and from its poor performance in newly-introduced government rollover safety tests.
When compared to the Explorer SUV, with its more responsive ride and easier handling (thanks to a total update in 2002), the '05 Ford Explorer Sport Trac came up short on comfort. And when compared to workhorse pickups like the F-150, the Sport Trac didn't match up for utility, capacity, or versatility.
The 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was offered in three choices of trim: XLS, XLT, and Adrenalin. The Adrenalin trim was aimed at younger drivers who wanted flashy styling and a high-end sound system; the XLS and XLT trims targeted a more traditional sport-utility market.
Under the hood, the '05 Explorer Sport Trac offered a 4.0 liter, single overhead cam V6 engine with 210 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque; the Sport Trac had a towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. Features like automatic disc brakes and optional 'Safety Curtain'; overhead airbags might have made drivers feel secure, if it hadn't been for those pesky rollover test results.
In response to all the negative feedback, Ford gave the Sport Trac a year off for a complete redesign. An updated model was launched in the 2007 model year.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac generally enjoy its performance and utility. Many love its spacious interior, handling, and fun driving experience. However, some have experienced issues with the front end and high gas consumption, which are common dislikes among drivers."
This car is my favorite of the cars I have had because of my needs, and the performance I got. The truck was very very spacious inside, and could fit 5 people no problem. On top of that, the gadgets that were included were very nice, and fit the truck well. The engine purred, and was geared great to allow for great acceleration with good torque response. The bed was somewhat unnecessary for me, but I found good use for it with the hard top tonneu cover. Again, it was a loaded Ford for me, but I truly thought it was a fun balanced car. The most perfect for tailgaiting.
May 29, 2008This has been a great truck for me since day one. I bought it used in '07. It is perfect for camping, has towed/hauled everything I've put in/on it and it is a great looking truck. Aside from routine maintenance, I've only had to replace the alternator on it. It is at almost 130k and I know of other Sport Tracs that are going strong with double the miles. Since Ford has discontinued the Sport Trac I plan to eventually restore it instead of buying a newer vehicle.
January 10, 2012it is a very nice sporty truck,and it has a lot of room,it handles well in any weather,mine is a 4x2 and I did not have any problems,in snow or rain,it is a nice looking truck
February 6, 2014What owners say
This car is my favorite of the cars I have had because of my needs, and the performance I got. The truck was very very spacious inside, and could fit 5 people no problem. On top of that, the gadgets that were included were very nice, and fit the truck well. The engine purred, and was geared great to allow for great acceleration with good torque response. The bed was somewhat unnecessary for me, but I found good use for it with the hard top tonneu cover. Again, it was a loaded Ford for me, but I truly thought it was a fun balanced car. The most perfect for tailgaiting.
May 29, 2008This has been a great truck for me since day one. I bought it used in '07. It is perfect for camping, has towed/hauled everything I've put in/on it and it is a great looking truck. Aside from routine maintenance, I've only had to replace the alternator on it. It is at almost 130k and I know of other Sport Tracs that are going strong with double the miles. Since Ford has discontinued the Sport Trac I plan to eventually restore it instead of buying a newer vehicle.
January 10, 2012it is a very nice sporty truck,and it has a lot of room,it handles well in any weather,mine is a 4x2 and I did not have any problems,in snow or rain,it is a nice looking truck
February 6, 2014I enjoyed the utility of the Explorer Sport Trac. The bed holds a yard of mulch easily and has deep walls. The tie downs are located outside the bed for easy access. The interior is spacious front and back. Multiple power ports in the truck and one in the bed. Great for camping.
January 3, 2012Performance-it accellerated as expected for a pick up truck Build Quality-built Ford Tough, everything was good fitting and expected from a truck Appearance-the interior was nice and comfortable, exterior looked rugged Cost of Ownership-the gas mileage was terrible! Filled up almost 2X a week Fun Factor-its a truck
June 21, 2010love the car its good on gas and has nice interior the performance seems to be great. Very good in 4 wheel try the cost wasnt to bad The only thing i dont like is theres no room under the backseat. The car is fun to drive i enjoy it throughly.
August 21, 2008Have owned this now for 1 yr 10 months, I love it. Really nice ride and it keeps really smelly hockey equipment out of the passenger compartment. Decent on gas but it is a truck so 20-25 mpg. Have taken many trips with it for travel Lacrosse and has performed well. Looking forward to many years together.
March 27, 2007Great appearance, geat quality, great perfomance. The only down side is how much gas it goes through. My wife wants to downsize to a car to help save on gas. Love my blue truck do at least I will be able to drive it instead of her.
March 1, 2013Good truck but has problems with front end and steering over time. Expensive to fix.
January 12, 2021The car was very clean and seemed to run strong. There were some minor electrical issues in which I was able to address myself. It seems to be a good car for its value
March 6, 2020Trims & specs
Base MSRP $29,060 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 15 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $26,195 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $32,295 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 15 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $29,430 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $27,745 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 15 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $24,940 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 210 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain RWD |
