Ford installs firm, supportive bucket front seats in the Explorer Sport Trac, providing a tall driving position with a good view forward. To get into the truck, it's a bit of a step up due to the taller front buckets with their more substantial bolstering, and the shorter you are the harder this is. The running boards, useless for all but the shortest people, require a wide step over them to get in and they also get in the way during four-wheeling excursions. Still, entry and exit are pretty easy for a pickup truck, and all passengers save the driver get assist grips.

Once seated, the driver finds a soft center console and door panel armrest, but the upper door panel is hard plastic which is no good for elbows. However, that upper part of the panel offers a wide expanse on which to rest an arm. The Sport Trac's steering wheel is thick and nicely padded, making it a pleasure to grip. Unfortunately, the locations of the door grips and door releases are awkward to use every time you exit the car or climb in and shut the door. Ford says it is going to redesign the door panels in a future iteration of the Sport Trac.