Based on the hugely popular Ford Explorer, the best-selling midsized SUV at the turn of the century, the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac brought the sport-utility vehicle evolution full circle, back to its pickup truck roots. The 2001 Explorer Sport Trac helped create a new market segment, the Sports Utility Truck, with its hybrid design. A pickup bed (with optional tonneau cover) took the place of the Explorer SUV's rear cargo compartment; the body was lengthened by 14.5 inches to accommodate the truck bed. Reviewers were a little disconcerted by the '01 Ford Explorer Sport Trac's appearance, and they weren't wrong: the design was clunky. Still, dealers couldn't keep the Sport Trac in stock; buyers wanted the comfort of the Explorer-style cab with the versatility of a pickup. For its inaugural year, the '01 Explorer Sport Trac was offered in just one trim. Buyers could choose between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models; the 4WD Sport Trac was popular with off-road aficionados. Manual transmission was standard; automatic transmission was a pricey option. Other options available included cruise control, tilt steering wheel, and bucket seats. Under the hood, the Sport Trac offered one engine choice for 2001, a 4.6 liter single overhead cam V-6 that delivered 205 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque. Gas mileage wasn't anything special, with a rating of 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway.