 | Positives: Built like a tank, premium interior is well-executed and roomy, EcoBoost engine is a monster, great power running boards, easy to drive. |
 | Negatives: Exterior design is getting dated, some of the door trim seems bulky in its design, shift knob is abnormally large. |
 | Bottom Line: It drives well, has tons of room, and is incredibly well built and appointed, especially in Limited trim. This truck, as well as the new Ram 1500, are at the top of their respective games. |
Driving Experience
Trucks are really not supposed to drive this well. They're supposed to feel ponderous, awkward, and frankly very truck-like. The F-150 shows just how much times have changed.
Ride Quality: A great blend of compliant and firm, the F-150 handles every gap and bump like a big champ.
Acceleration: The 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost is a monster of an engine and has more horsepower and torque than the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, as well as the 5.0-liter V8. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost will launch the huge truck to 60 mph in the mid-six second range. That's fast for something this big.
Braking: The brakes are strong, and the pedal feel is very good. There's no mushiness to speak of.
Steering: Unsurprisingly, there's not much feedback at all, but the F-150 turns in well and has the right amount of effort.
Handling: Of course, there's some body roll, but the F-150 manages its mass well in turns. The big 22" wheels and rubber help.
Technology
There's a lot going on in the F-150 Limited, from a great infotainment system to trailering tech and built-in Wi-Fi. Ford outfitted the Limited with just about everything it has in its arsenal.
Infotainment System: SYNC3 continues to be one of our favorite systems thanks to its simple and easy graphics, as well as the speed of the system's responsiveness to inputs.
Controls: Overall, the F-150's interior controls are pretty good, but the buttons in the center stack could use a more linear setup. The audio and climate control knobs are, thankfully, really big and easy to grip.
Styling
When the current generation of F-150 bowed a few years ago, its design was almost radical, from the stylized grille C-shaped headlights to the front side window cutouts, but now it's starting to look a bit dated.
Front: The grille is less blocky than previous year's versions within the same generation, and now the headlights meld with the grille. The center bars in the grille extend outward and give the truck a wider look from the front.
Rear: The brushed metal look trim on the tailgate looks refined, and the twin round pipes are excellent. There's not much you can do with a pickup's rear fascia, but the Limited's is very well executed.
Profile: The profile is pretty conventional with not many styling elements. We do like the edging on body just above the fenders.
Cabin: The cabin uses excellent materials, and it looks and feels luxurious. Too bad some of it is on the clunky-looking side like the blocky HVAC vents and the wood waterfall-like door trim that seems like an afterthought.
Comfort
Pickup trucks, especially the higher-trimmed versions, seem far removed from the rather spartan pickups of old. In Limited trim, the F-150 is downright regal in its comfort levels with room to match.
Front Seats: The big leather front seats are wide and accommdating. Very good cushioning that's not too soft and decent bolstering make them great places to park your backside for hours on end.
Rear Seats: The rear seats have ample head, shoulder, and legroom. Only the Ram 1500 beats it.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): Other than the anger of the turbocharged engine under hard acceleration, the F-150 is quiet. No rattles or squeaks wer noticed during our drives.
Visibility: It's a tall truck and the squarish front end does present some front sightline blockage, but it's not bad. The 360 camera works wonders for tight maneuvering.
Climate: The heated and cooled seats were quick to respond, and the climate system is powerful and fast.
Safety
The F-150 is a safe truck. It scored well in crash tests, and the level of safety tech in higher trims is astounding.
IIHS Rating: It didn't nab the top scores overall, but it scored "good" in all crash tests, only suffering from poor headlights. The accident avoidance tech puts in "excellent" territory for higher trim levels.
NHTSA Rating: The F-150 gets five stars from the federal government.
Standard Tech: Limited gets a big set of standard features such as smart cruise control, 360 camera, active parking, cross-traffic alert, inflatable seat belts, a post-crash monitoring system that alerts authorities if it's detected an accident, and tire pressure monitoring.
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
What good is a big pickup truck without ample cargo and storage options? The F-150 is one of the best. You'll look for things to throw in here.
Storage Space: The cabin is rife with small and medium-sized storage options. There's a compartment at the front of the center console, a slim compartment for phones next to the twin cupholders, a deep and wide center armrest, a top dash compartment and great door pockets.
Cargo Room: The Supercrew has two bed length options, the 5.5- and the 6.5-foot, but not the big 8-foot version. Even in the shortest bed length like our tester, there's still ample hauling capability.
Fuel Economy
No one will ever call a full-sized pickup truck efficient, but the 3.5-liter Ecoboost is decent while providing robust power. It's rated at 19 combined by the EPA, which is the same as the Ram 1500 V6 and a couple of miles more than the Ram 1500 HEMI V8.
Observed: 16.8 mpg
Distance Driven: 153 miles
Audio
The premium Bang & Olufsen system in the Limited trim is a great sound system that provides fullness, volume, and ample bass. It's one of the better systems found in pickup trucks today.
