The interior of the F-150 is far more car-like than before, surprisingly so, in light
of the truck's rugged (Ford would never say macho) image. The basic instrument cluster
contains gauges for the important functions, but no tachometer. The usual controls are
to the right in a soft-cornered rectangle. The radio has a real on/off knob, but tunes
with a rocker switch.
Organic shapes abound-door handle, glove box handle, ashtray door, vents. Not your
standard truck fare, but Ford feels its traditional buyers will like the looks inside
and out, and also feels the new look will attract more of those buyers who want a
pickup for non-work driving.
The regular cab has more head room and more seat travel. The standard seat is a
3-person bench with a 40/60 split bench standard on some models. There is increased
storage area behind the seat and more clearance for the optional reclining seats.
The SuperCab has more rear-seat leg room than the previous F-150. A split bench rear
seat is available. The lower cushion of the rear seat can be folded into a flat floor.
Nice touches include extra-large cupholders, a second power point on the instrument
panel for laptop computers and the like, an optional driver's side secondary visor
shade, a glove box handle oriented toward the driver, adjustable D-rings for greater
ease of shoulder belt adjustment, two large coat hooks and a passenger grab handle.
F-150 models are available in Standard, XL, XLT and Lariat interiors. The XL interior
is standard on the Flareside.
Forget everything you know about the way pickups ride and drive when it comes to
experiencing the F-150. Never has a full-size pickup been so refined. Ford has taken
the "truckiness" out and given it a car-like feel in this respect, just as the
designers did with the interior.
The ride is smooth and motion free. What happened to the constant state of bounce?
Gone. In its place, a compliant ride that soaks up road irregularities. For anyone
with a lot of truck time, it's almost spooky the way it goes down the road. It's also
quiet in there. The new rounded shape did its job in that department--no wind noise.
Typically, a pickup's box and frame are designed separately, then bolted together.
This time around, the two systems were designed to work together. The result is an
absence of squeaks and rattles, even on rough terrain. The truck has a solid feel that
has nothing to do with ruggedness. This one is built to endure.
Both engines are strong, with the increased torque of the V8 obvious in a back-to-back
comparison. But without that comparison, no one would likely sell the V6 short. Both
are smooth, with the V8 a bit quieter.
The most remarkable thing about these engines is how much power--particularly the kind
of power we call torque--Ford has been able to extract from relatively small
displacements. Both engines are based on Ford's highly successful 4.6-liter modular
V8, used in several passenger cars. For truck use, the 4.6 induction system was
retuned for stronger low-end performance. Overhead cam engines aren't part of American truck tradition, but we don't think anyone will have any trouble adapting to this one.