I have never been a truck person, but when the latest version of the Ford F-150 came out, there was something about it that made me look twice. Maybe it was the clean lines, or the way the side windows dip down beside the wing mirrors. For whatever reason, the truck caught my attention.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally had the chance to drive an F-150. The staff at Merit Ford, was enthusiastic about a new engine choice, and were anxious to see what I thought about it. So they gave me the keys to a drop-dead gorgeous, dark blue metallic, Lariat-edition, and for the next day I was being converted to truck heaven.
There are some industry-insiders who say the Ecoboost could be the engine of the future, and frankly, I think they might be right. It develops 365hp at 5000 rpm, with 420 Lb-ft of torque at only 2500 rpm. Not bad, you may think, until I tell you that this is only a 3.5L V6. That's right folks; this "small" V6 out-performs the 5.0L, V8 engine that's also available for the F-150, and it delivers better fuel economy.
For all you "he-man" types who think the only engine that matters is a V8, you better think again. Ford's wildly-enthusiastic about this new V6, and rightly so. The engine is innovative, powerful, and delivers the maximum towing (11,300 lbs) and payload capabilities in the class. In the F-150 it also delivers something else to the driver, a grin like a Cheshire cat. How do they do it? Here's the formula, high-tech engineering + two turbochargers + high-pressure direct injection = fabulous performance.
Since the test truck already had over 800 kilometres on the clock, I decided to test its acceleration on an empty stretch of Hwy.48. No traffic, quick stop, floor the pedal and... All heck broke loose as I was pushed back with G-forces. 100 km/h in around six seconds, and then I released the pedal before getting into "ticket territory." Holy cow, I was so happy I did it again, just for fun.
Of course, if you drove it like that all the time, you'd need a mortgage for the fuel, but on the way back from Wawota I kept it on cruise and averaged only 10.8L per 100km. I could live with these numbers, but would have to baby the truck to achieve them. Hmm, not sure I could resist the use of that superb acceleration though.
On the inside of the SuperCrew cab, the amenities were high-class. The Lariat edition had beautifully-appointed and very comfortable leather seats, with more settings on them than I had time to test, including heat and cooling. The truck was equipped with the latest gizmos from Ford, including the voice-activated control system and the multi functional display with rearward camera for accurate reversing. Navigation systems and satellite radio were included, and everything on that large screen could also be activated simply by touching the glass. Instruments were clear, and the driver information centre was easy to operate from buttons on the wheel.
Rear seat passengers have plenty of room too, central armrest is a nice touch, and there's even a regular power socket if you want to plug in your laptop, shaver, toaster... whatever. Of course the rear seats can swing up and provide extra space for storage, and even the rear window is powered. Staying comfortable on a long drive would be no problem in this ride. And talking about the ride, it is very balanced and smooth, indeed the suspension is better than some cars I've driven. Well done Ford!
In the very back, the box is pretty spacious and there are several length choices available to buyers. The tailgate incorporates a patented step, with skid-resistant surfaces and even a grab bar, so getting in and out of the box is not an issue. Available accessories for the cargo area include commercial grade tool/cargo box, bedliner, and a hard colour-matched tonneau cover.
OK, time for my impressions of this Lariat-edition Ford F-150. If ever I was going to be swayed from cars to trucks, this is the vehicle that could do it, provided I had the almost $59,000 to cover the sticker price of this particular test example. The F-150 is a handsome machine inside and out, with tons of option choices to cover most budgets and needs, but man, that tester was loaded and just an amazing combination of utility, luxury, style and performance. Check it out at Merit Ford.
