We spend a week in the all-new aluminum-bodied half ton pickup from Ford
Pros
Nicely updated interior
Roomy cab
Slick styling
Cons
Ride can get bouncy
Good but hardly spectacular fuel economy
Annoying start/stop system
Ford F-150
The much-ballyhooed Ford F-150 pickup is all-new for 2015. But the switch to additional high-strength steel (from 23 to 77 percent) and, more importantly, an aluminum body, has been a painful one for the Blue Oval. Not the least of Ford's worries is a delay-plagued rollout that's affected both the company's sales and bottom line.
The good news, however, is that both production facilities that build the new model (Ford's Dearborn, Michigan truck plant and Kansas City assembly plant) are now running close to capacity and dealers should be fully stocked by the end of June, 2015.
2015 Ford F-150
Exterior
Outside, the new 2015 F-150 retains much of what made the outgoing model so popular. Up front, the new, aggressive upright grille and larger headlamp enclosures bring it even closer to the rugged looks of Super Duty models.
Along the sides and moving forward, the beltline drops midway along the front doors for improved visibility, while in back, re-shaped taillamp enclosures and mild sculpting on the tailgate give it even more character.
Interior
Inside, that drop in the beltline gives the cabin an airier feeling. And while much of the trim is hard plastic, the graining, close tolerances, quality of materials and use of color give it a surprisingly rich look.
The instrumentation is simple, straight-forward, intuitive and all controls are within easy reach of the driver. The simple knobs and buttons are backlit, and their operation is silky smooth.
The steering column both tilts and telescopes and, on our tester, both the accelerator and brake pedals also adjust. There's ample leg, hip, shoulder and headroom for both front passengers (dropping the optional console/front bucket combination would allow for three abreast seating up front). The front seats also offer plenty of lateral support. The same can be said for up to three passengers in the back seat, although legroom back there isn't as generous if the Supercab version is chosen.
The view out both the front and sides is excellent. The view out the back is also decent, but the large B-pillar somewhat hinders the driver's sightline out the rear three-quarters. Although it isn't standard on the XLT trim level, a rear view camera is available as part of the $1,400 301A equipment group package.
Under the hood
The 2015 F-150 comes with a choice of four engines.
The base engine is an aluminum head and block 3.5-liter normally aspirated V6 that churns out 282 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque.
Skipping over the next engine, the third offering is a 5.0-liter normally aspirated V8, with an aluminum block and head, that produces 385 horsepower and 387 lb.-ft. of torque.
The top engine is a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 that generates 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque and has both an aluminum head and an aluminum block.
Our tester was equipped with the second engine offered - an optional 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 that produces 325 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. This engine consists of a compacted graphite iron-aluminum block and aluminum head.
The base engine is offered with a traditional 6-speed automatic with tow/haul mode. The other three engines come mated to Ford's SelectShift 6-speed automatic with a progressive range select and tow/haul mode.
In addition to the SelectShift, the F-150s equipped with the 2.7-liter turbo also include start/stop technology.
The EPA rates 4x4 2.7-liter F-150s at 15/21/17 city/highway/combined mpg, which isn't bad although it hardly seems spectacular given the nearly 700 pound weight reduction the new F-150 has undergone.
On the road
The new F-150's handling is secure with a decent mount of road feel through the steering wheel. It is, after all, a pickup, so there's a noticeable amount of body lean in corners, although we could detect very little nosedive even under the hardest braking.
But although it's well-controlled, the F-150's ride can get bouncy over uneven road surfaces. In addition, we're still not sold on the very noticeable start/stop system. It won't engage if the wheels are turned, but when it does engage, it reduces the HVAC fan speed and also shuts off the power assist to the steering system – which can be more than a bit unnerving until you get used to its' operation.
On the other hand, braking is sure with excellent feedback through the brake pedal.
At freeway speeds the F-150 feels secure and it's unaffected by crosswinds, grooved pavement or pavement irregularities. The suspension has a great deal of travel and does a nice job of absorbing even larger potholes.
We should also mention that interior noise levels are one of the high points of the new F-150 with sound levels comparable to that of many luxury sedans we've driven.
2015 Ford F-150 prices
2015 F-150 pricing starts at $26,195 for a 4x2 XL and can top out at more than $65,000 for a fully optioned and accessorized Platinum 4x4. Although the XLT Supercab 4x4 we tested didn't come with a complete Monroney label, it did come with an accompanying price sheet that seems to differ from the Ford website, so keep that in mind.
According to the supplied price sheet, this Blue Flame Metallic XLT Supercab 4x4 tester had a base price of $37,005. Besides the 301A package ($1,400) and its $795 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine, it also came with the optional 3.55 axle ratio ($50), trailer towing package ($495), manual folding mirrors with power glass ($275), remote start ($195), LED side-mirror spotlights ($175), tailgate step (375), 23 gallon fuel tank ($195), integrated trailer brake controller ($275), LED box lighting ($125), XLT chrome appearance package ($1695), 40/console/40 front seating ($125) and spray-in bed liner ($495 – although this was missing), bringing its total cost, including a $1,195 destination and delivery charge, to an MSRP of $44,850 (although, in all fairness, without the bed liner the MSRP would be $44,375 - for what it's worth).
The Bottom Line
There's a lot to like about the new Ford F-150. It comes with a comfortable interior, both the brakes and steering are very good, the turbo V6 offers up plenty of power with decent fuel economy while the cabin is close to library quiet, even at freeway speeds.
On the other hand, the start/stop system needs some work, the ride can get bouncy over uneven pavement and shedding all that weight hasn't resulted in the stellar fuel economy many expected.
But despite those shortcomings, Ford should be commended for going where no full-sized truck manufacturer has gone before. The new F-150 should not only please current Ford truck owners, it should bring many more pickup buyers into the Blue Oval's fold.
