2009 Ford F150

Jim Meachen, www.car-data.com

Ford says its truck team had a clear vision when developing the 2009 F-150 ‘ redesign America’sbest-selling pickup truck inside and out to ‘give customers unrivaled capability, unprecedentedchoice and a host of smart, game-changing features.’

A day spent at Ford’s Romeo, Mich., proving grounds showed us that Ford has generally succeeded.

While the new Ford isn’t totally new ‘ what is these days? ‘ there have been extensive changes,some neat innovations, a new top-line trim level for the well healed and the addition of a base 4.5-liter V-8.

The vast buying choices, as al-ways, with Ford are impressive. The usual mind-boggling array ofconfigurations is still there. We counted dozens of basic choices including regular cab, extendedcab and crew cab; three V-8 engines; three bed lengths; seven trim levels; and rear- wheel orfour-wheel drive.

Prices range from $22,070, including a $975 destination charge, for a base rear-wheel driveregular cab XL truck with a 78-inch bed to $44,560 for the base version of the new luxuriousPlatinum crew cab edition. Believe it or not, you can spend around 50 grand if you check off allthe available options.

If you want a new F-150 and can’t find one to suit your taste and pocketbook perhaps it’sbecause you are totally confused.

We have to hand it to the Ford team who allowed journalists to pit the truck’s ‘unrivaledcapability’ against its chief competitors, the Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado and the new 2009Dodge Ram in several proving ground tests including towing, hauling, handling and durability.

Make up your own mind, the Ford guys told us.

Indeed, the new F-150 may not be our hands-down favorite in every facet of pickup driving, butoverall we came away with the impression that Ford has good reason to expect the newest F-150 toperpetuate Ford’s many years of sales leadership.

Dramatic styling changes are not as important in the pickup ranks as in other segments, but apickup does have to offer a rugged eye- pleasing quality without straying from the basic theme. Wethink Dodge hit the right notes with a conservative exterior treatment of the new Ram, and,likewise, we think Ford’s tweaking of the new F-150 is on target.

The new truck looks more massive than the 2008 model with a larger in- your-face grille, muchlike the big front end on the Super Duty. The giant grille, the truck’s squared-off corners and thetall walls of the cargo bed make a bold statement.

The truck remains about the same size, but Ford stretched the crew cab six inches creating alarge living area for rear passengers. When cargo hauling is your mission, there are 57 cubic feetavailable under the roof through the use of flip-up rear seats.

The upscale interior of the previous iteration has been restyled with a slightly bigger centerconsole ‘ the center bin will accommodate hanging file folders and a laptop computer ‘ and as manyas 30 storage areas around the cab. In top wood and polished aluminum trim the cockpit could easilybe mistaken for a Lincoln.

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of living in the new truck is its quiet interior. Fordhas done a commendable job keeping noise levels low.

We found the seats wide enough for our big body and very comfortable.

A tall passenger we were transporting in a crew cab expressed amazement at the rear-seat comfort, something he said he had not found in other pickups.

But we do have a small problem with the interior ‘ the center console display, which mimicsthose found in the newly styled Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape, has too many small, lookalikeblack buttons on the audio and climate controls.

Horsepower junkies may bemoan the fact that Ford decided not to inject a massive V-8 into theF-150 lineup. There’s no 5.7-liter making 381 horsepower as in the Tundra nor is there a muscular 5.7-liter Hemi dispensing 390 horsepower as in the Ram. Those seeking horsepower bragging rightswill have to skip the Ford.

They may be missing the boat, however. We found the F-150′s hauling and towing capabilitiesimpressive with the carryover 5.4-liter V-8 making 320 horsepower and an even more important 390pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed automatic.

Pulling a 7,500-pound load up steep grades, we discovered scads of useable power and we felt theF-150 was a more refined tow vehicle than any of the competitor’s trucks. Ford brags that in toptowing configuration, the F-150 can pull up to an industry-leading 11,300 pounds. Top payload isalso the best in class at 3,030 pounds.

What Ford has that the others don’t is a base V-8 engine. It offers 248 horsepower and 294pound-feet of torque. The downside ‘ it’s mated to a four-speed automatic. The mid-level engine isa new three-valve 4.5-liter that makes 292 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque mated to thesix-speed automatic. It will tow up to 9,500 pounds.

Although Ford didn’t follow Dodge with the controversial use of coil springs in the rear, thetraditional leaf springs are now longer helping smooth out the ride.

We applaud Ford for including numerous safety features as standard equipment in all of itstrucks including stability control, traction control, four-wheel ABS with electronic brakeforcedistribution, tire pressure monitoring, front side-mounted airbags and trailer sway control.

Several neat features include a step that folds out of the tailgate along with a grab handle foreasy access to the truck bed, bed extenders stowable along the bed walls instead of resting in thebed when not in use, and bed-side steps tucked under the fenders that can be opened with a push ofthe foot allowing the average-sized person to step up and handily reach over the tall cargo boxwalls.

Options are many and include the very useable SYNC hands free music and phone system, a reversecamera that shows the truck’s trailer hitch location making hook up easy, and navigation with theSirius Travel Link system that among other things helps you find the lowest gas prices and thendirects you to the station.

Ford has done a creditable job making a good truck better. Most people who desire a full-sizedpickup should be able to find the right combination of size and features for their needs andpocketbook. We predict the best-selling truck in America will hold its position.