In biology, hybrids combine the best characteristics of different variants.   So it is with cars.  Witness the success of the car-based offroaders.  They combine the compact dimensions and good handling of a car with the high ground clearance and wagon configuration of a traditional offroader to endear themselves to many owners and climb steadily to the top of the sales charts.

Ford decided to take this genetic splicing in a different direction with the Explorer Sport Trac, by combining the DNA of the Ford Expedition and the F150 to come up with the first available offroader-pickup hybrid.  Could this possibly be the best all-around vehicle?

First of all, we’re dealing with trucks here, so it can’t hurt to have Ford’s proven expertise in producing competent pickups and respectable offroaders.  The previous model Explorer was the best-selling offroader in the USA, before all the Firestone-related accidents were publicized.  Ford also has in its stable the best-selling vehicle in the US, the F-150 pickup.   

This is certainly the best-looking pickup on the market, hands down.  The front end is the new generic Ford face for its entire pickup and "SUV" line, from the Escape to the humongous 5.0 meter Excursion.  The truck looks particularly good when seen from the rear quarter view.  The bold silhouette and taillights, and pronounced wheel arches give the Explorer a machined-from-a-single-billet look distinct from its rivals like the Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Frontier.  Black bumpers, bedliner, roofrails and stepboards complete the Tonka looks.

Built to climb over rocks, tree stumps and city potholes.