2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year: Part 2
2015 Ford F-150
Ford’s new 2015 F-150 is something truly fresh in the half-ton segment.
It feels like something special when you drive it, which an impressive accomplishment considering how good most modern half-tons are. Ford’s engineers achieved a nimble pickup truck that handles better than anything in its segment if not better than any other pickup in general.
FAST FACTS
Engine: 3.5L EcoBoost with 365 HP 420 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Max. towing: 12,000 lbs.
At tested price: $61,485.
Base Price: $26,615 ($22,994 CDN).
It’s great handling makes it a delight to drive, not to mention the powerful EcoBoost V6 that provides plenty of torque low in its RPM range. Adding to the confidence of this truck is the fact that the engine never feels like its being wrung out. It barely breathes hard to get heavy loads up to speed.
Beyond its exceptional dynamics, the technology and usefulness of this truck really set it apart. Ford managed to replace your hard-working buddy Ed, with a truck. For example, you won’t need Ed’s help hooking up a trailer because the F-150’s rear-view camera incorporates an extra guidance line to show you exactly where the hitch ball is going to end up. Once attached, the F-150 can check your trailer lights for you, eliminating the need for a walk around (although you should still check them out yourself).
Before you pull away, the truck can also run through a checklist of trailer safety practices to make sure you’re ready to go. You also won’t need Ed to hold a flashlight for you in the dark thanks to new side spotlights that are extremely bright, lighting large areas on either side of the truck. A massive and completely flat loading floor in the back of our SuperCrew Cab truck also makes loading large cargo easy.
SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford F-150 Review
You don’t even need Ed to yell out at you if you’re coming into a corner too hot, because the F-150’s curve control system monitors speed, yaw and steering input and will automatically drop 10 MPH in a single second to avoid a wreck. Adaptive cruise control is another technology that is being introduced into the segment thanks to the 2015 F-150.
You might miss his company, but the F-150’s new technology is just like having a helper. The usefulness doesn’t stop there either. A new redesigned tailgate step has been installed on this truck, making it easier to operate, but most importantly, eliminating the massive hump on the inside of the tailgate that the old step brought with it. Inside the bed, Ford’s new BoxLink tie-down system is also waiting to help you out. It provides lockable spots for tie-down cleats, which can be removed and replaced with a number of Ford accessories. And finally, Ford relocated the trailer light hook-ups to sit above the bumper.
So now you’re thinking, they’re must be a downside, right? Honestly, there aren’t many that we could spot. One glaringly obvious and extremely frustrating aspect of the truck is the safety chain hook-ups for a trailer. They are deep under the bumper and that makes them difficult to reach with hooks, a challenge worsened by how small and oddly-shaped the cutouts are that you hook to. It’s as if Ford didn’t want to make everything easy, so they made at least one thing painfully hard.
The new aluminum body might also be another problem. We have no way of knowing now how well these new bodies will last. It’s not something we can comment on, but still worth noting that entirely new production processes brings uncertainty.
Our other complaint has to do with the standard mirrors. It seems that aesthetics dictated their shape more than functionality because the mirrors seem taller than they are wide. The view offered isn’t great, and a convex section would be useful. The optional tow mirrors address those issues, but it would be nice if the standard side mirrors were better.
