The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is built on a stretched version of the Explorer SUV platform, which includes an independent rear suspension. This, in combination with pavement-biased tires and relatively soft suspension tuning, means the Sport Trac features an excellent ride quality even with the 4WD version. Of course, the trade-off is that when driving off-road, the Sport Trac needs to take bumps and dips slowly lest it bottom out. The running boards and extended wheelbase are also huge liabilities on lumpy landscapes – this is not a vehicle made for serious four-wheeling. Plus, the P235/65R18 Michelin Cross Terrain tires on our test truck spun pretty easily in the dirt.

Back on pavement, those same tires offer decent grip, and the Sport Trac features predictable handling thanks to a suspension that soaks up all the bumps and dips in the road. The brake pedal feels good underfoot, and it's easy to bring the Sport Trac to a smooth stop. Steering is numb with noticeable play on center and responds in linear fashion off center, but effort levels feel too high at slow speeds. The Explorer Sport Trac is long, making it hard to maneuver in cramped parking lots or on tight trails. The turning circle is reasonably tight for such a long truck, but you'll still need plenty of space for manuevering.