2015 Ford F-150: Pulling Even

For automakers, being number one sometimes makes you err on the side of caution when redesigning a popular model. If you're already on top, the logic goes, why take the risk of shaking things up? The 2015 Ford F-150 proves that from time to time, major players are willing to throw the established playbook out the window and gamble big on innovation. Moving to an all-aluminium body structure, the introduction of a second, class-exclusive twin-turbo V6 engine, and the shift away from V8 power all fly in the face of established pickup truck practice, but Ford is 'all-in' with its latest full-size strategy and shows no signs of slowing down.

The payoff for all of the F-150's dalliances with accelerated evolution is less clear for buyers. For certain, the new 2015 Ford F-150 is a very good truck - but it's competing against a trio of rivals from Chevrolet, GMC and Ram who, through the continuous refinement of tried, tested, and true designs (and a few unique advances of their own) have staked out a strong claim on a cohort of customers. It really boils down to this: there's never been a better time to be shopping for a full-size pickup.

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V8 Still Available, Still Excellent

Much has been made about the 2015 Ford F-150's fresh 2.7-litre, twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 (325 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque) and its carry-over, 3.5-litre twin-turbo cousin (365 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque). Each of these engines offers exceptional performance with the promise (at least on paper) of better-than-eight-cylinder fuel efficiency.

Sitting in the middle of the spectrum, however, is the F-150's 5.0-litre V8, and it's this engine - with its 385 horses and 387 lb-ft of twist - that was outfitted to my four-door Lariat SuperCrew tester. With the departure of the 6.2-litre mill from the line-up, the 5.0 becomes the only V8 available with the Ford pickup, and it's easy to see why it's been kept in the stable. Acceleration from the unit is quick and authoritative, and having towed with the same engine in the previous-generation of the truck, I've seen how it's capable of delivering similar fuel efficiency under load as compared to the pricier 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6. All three of these engines, as well as the 3.5-litre, entry-level non-turbo six-cylinder, are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and can be paired with optional four-wheel drive.

I spent most of my time driving the F-150 in an urban environment, which meant fuel consumption wasn't great, but that's going to be true of stop-and-go motoring in any large truck. This remains the case despite the substantially lighter aluminium body of the Ford, which ranges between 1,860 and 2,272 kilos depending on body style and options. The truck has shed 300 kilograms compared to the 2014 edition, but it's not dramatically less ponderous than its rivals - perhaps 180 kilos under a similarly-equipped Silverado or Ram 1500.

Enormous Interior

The four-door SuperCrew body style gives the 2015 Ford F-150 an obscene amount of interior room. As in, 'sitting in the rear with your knees nowhere near the front seatback' levels of space. The pickup's SUV-like passenger capacity is complimented by the ability to fold-up the split rear bench for cargo hauling purposes - something you'll appreciate, as the 5.5-foot box that is de rigueur with the SuperCrew isn't necessarily large enough to handle all the gear you need to transport. In fact, I had to head home from the hardware store with eight-foot plywood planks hanging off the back of the F-150 due to the shortness of its box, an all-too-common problem with modern four-door pickups. If you want reams of interior volume, you're going to have to sacrifice bed length, as the eight-foot (and six-and-a-half foot) boxes can only be had with regular and SuperCab models.

A final note on the F-150's cargo features: Ford has heavily advertised its integrated tailgate step and box side steps, each of which are designed to fold out and make it easier to access the bed. During my week with the truck, with temperatures only barely below freezing, I was unable to get any of the three fold-out assists to actually work. They were all stuck in place, glued by either the cold weather or accumulated road grime. This stands in direct contrast to the steps carved into the rear bumper of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which have no moving parts and are 'always on.'

Comfortable Ride, Well-Appointed Interior

The battle for dominance in the luxury truck space has become a heated one, and the Lariat trim level featured by the 2015 Ford F-150 that I drove is the Blue Oval's opening salvo in its three-model play for premium customers (with King Ranch and Platinum rounding out the group). Heated and ventilated leather seats, the MyFord Touch infotainment system, and keyless entry and ignition are all present and accounted for, and the vehicle I drove also featured optional equipment such as a top-down camera system that made parking the long-wheelbase beast that much easier. This is just the tip of the iceberg, too, because your ability to load up on features and equipment is really only limited by your imagination if you choose to run wild on the Ford's options sheet. Overall, the F-150 Lariat's passenger compartment is a pleasant place to spend some time, although it's not quite at the level of the class-leading Ram 1500 in terms of presentation and style.

Large trucks have become popular daily drivers not just for their perceived practicality, but also due to their increasingly comfort-oriented suspension tuning and land yacht driving dynamics. The 2015 Ford F-150 might not offer as much steering feedback as I would have liked, but it was unquestionably composed over most road surfaces. Still, there's a gap between the Ram 1500, with its available air suspension and rear coil springs, and the rest of the full-size pickup pack when it comes to smoothness and handling - a divide that the redesigned F-150 has not fully addressed.

A Good Choice Amongst Several Good Choices

Ford has made a number of important improvements to the 2015 Ford F-150. Addressing the truck's weight by way of its now-aluminium construction has helped the pickup to feel more nimble, and has also boosted its claimed fuel efficiency ratings across the board. Introducing a second EcoBoost V6, and making it an affordable option for regular cab buyers helps to build the twin-turbo brand for Ford, and keeping the 5.0 V8 in the mix satisfies traditional shoppers who maybe aren't quite convinced by EcoBoost's purported benefits.

Ford's only real misfortune with its new truck is timing. While it once could be said that the F-150 was markedly ahead of the curve in terms of features, design, and performance, that's no longer the case. Chevrolet and GMC have brought direct fuel injection to the table, and Ram has not just the top-notch interior and advanced suspension mentioned above but also the availability of a torquey turbodiesel motor to trumpet. The playing field has levelled, and when you're paying this much for a truck (the F-150 Lariat I drove stickered for $62,599 before incentives), it's in your best interests to shop around.