Auto Express - 2015 Ford F-150 review

1955 Views 12 Replies 11 Participants Last post by AG3, Oct 10, 2014

Oldsmobile stopped

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2014 (Edited)

America's favourite pick-up truck must have something going for it besides its size. We drive the Ford F150.

You may not be able to get your hands on the Ford F-150 in the UK, but its popularity across the Atlantic is unrivalled. With over 700,000 finding homes annually for the past 32 years, it’s the best seller in the US market for the whole of that period, so to compare the importance of the F-150 to the Ford Fiesta in the UK isn’t an exaggeration.

The latest-generation F-150 is a complete revolution over the outgoing model. For the first time in this market, Ford has adopted a full aluminium bodyshell, which has allowed the company to achieve a 300kg weight saving – roughly the same as ditching a whole cabin’s worth of passengers.

As a result of the lean diet, Ford is expecting a fuel efficiency improvement of anything between five and 20 per cent, depending on engine. Plus, the F-150 hasn’t been able to avoid the current trend for downsizing, so the 5.0-litre V8 and two 3.5-litre V6 engines have been joined in the range by a new 321bhp 2.7-litre V6 EcoBoost engine.

When powered by the latter, the F-150 feels as solid from behind the wheel as it did before. You sitelevated, high above road level, surrounded by high-gloss surfaces, leather and endless space. Even in sluggish, stop-start traffic, the new 2.7-litre EcoBoost – which engineers proudly claim combines V8 performance and four-cylinder fuel economy – feels responsive and flexible enough to move the F-150 in a relaxed and agile manner.

Yet it also has enough grunt to really gather pace quickly when you put your foot down. You will, however, have to get used to the new stop/start system, which may be a feature slightly alien to some pick-up drivers.

Steering feel is surprisingly precise and only over rutted ground does it become clear how soft and wallowy the chassis is. Plenty of modern tech and driver assistance systems have made their way from more sophisticated passenger cars, too. Buyers can order the F-150 with LED headlamps, a huge full colour central display with SYNC connectivity and also a secondary eight-inch digital display between the instrument binnacle.

But it’s not only the size, the roominess, the robust technical solutions and the hard-to-beat value that define the F-150. This giant Ford also offers a bunch of smart and convenient solutions which are likely to win the hearts of regular pick-up buyers.

Price: $42,110 (£26,190)
Engine: 2.7-litre 6cyl petrol
Power: 321bhp
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
0-60mph: 7.5 seconds (est)
Top speed: 130mph (est)
Economy: 30mpg-plus (est)
On sale: Late 2014

Verdict

4/5 Star Rated
The build quality trails European standards, but the F-150 belies its size with the way it drives, plus it can tow up to 12 tonnes (with the right engine) and carry six people in relative comfort. In the US it’s as fit for purpose as ever, although it’d be a squeeze to drive on UK roads. The big Ford has been a US best seller for 32 years, and there’s no reason why this hi-tech revamp shouldn’t continue the success story

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/f-150/88874/ford-f-150-2015-review#ixzz3FMdwsreC

Build quality trails European standards, what a total load of crap, l have driven the Ranger sold in Europe, the quality was total crap not a bit of paint left underneath on a 18 month old Ranger l hired on vacation in Thailand two years ago, it was completely covered in red rust, all the steering components were covered in rust not a bit of paint left on it anywhere underneath. Mmmm European standards higher LOL. Auto Express want get out a bit more and test something thats a bit more than 10 minutes old.

Nothing at all wrong with US F-Series build quality, AE you need to get out the driving seat, look under a 2 year old European Ford Ranger the build quality is pretty non-existent in European trucks. AE are seat testers don't look much deeper than that.

At least the new aluminium F-Series won't rot fast like a Ranger sold in Europe, Auto Express says European standards are higher LOL, more like they are a joke.

I managed to average 33.5 MPG Thai steel Ranger diesel that l hired, the Thai Ranger and F-150 are not that much different in size, so the aluminium F-150 30 plus MPG is not that good that Auto Express managed to get. Auto Express managed to get 33.2 MPG average when they tested the diesel steel Ford Ranger.

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optiongm

· #2 · Oct 6, 2014

Trails European build standards? What most European brands sold in the USA are not tops in JD Power or Consumer Reports for quality.......
Drinking the Kool-Aid that everything European is better even politics.....complete rubbish!

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Oldsmobile stopped

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 6, 2014 (Edited)

optiongm said:
Trails European build standards? What most European brands sold in the USA are not tops in JD Power or Consumer Reports for quality.......
Drinking the Kool-Aid that everything European is better even politics.....complete rubbish!

It does not mention brands (You are rewriting this for AE review)!! It mentions "European Standards" Ford Ranger has to conform to European Standards, the finish of an EU Ford Ranger is totally abysmal compared to a US made F-150 Auto Express are way of the mark, the US F-150 is much much better, the EU sold Ranger is a complete rust bucket underneath in just over a year. Ford of Europe/EU have approved the Ranger as being acceptable standard for selling in the EU, rust bucket Rangers are an acceptable EU Standard.

US build quality in trucks is much much higher with maybe the exception of Toyota in the US they are rust buckets just like the EU Ranger. Nothing at all wrong with the F-150 they are well put together of a very high standard, not a rust bucket like the EU Ranger that is a rock bottom complete rust bucket in under a year.

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KingElvis

· #4 · Oct 6, 2014

The top speed is rev limited and not 130mph. My Dodge runs up to 105mph and yanks back like a dog reaching the end of its leash. 390hp sure, but the tires can't take that speed for long.

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DGA

· #5 · Oct 7, 2014

If trailing equals not putting most of your car together with plastic snap buttons then yes...yes they do trail...

KingElvis said:
The top speed is rev limited and not 130mph. My Dodge runs up to 105mph and yanks back like a dog reaching the end of its leash. 390hp sure, but the tires can't take that speed for long.

...or that driveshaft...

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paul8488

· #6 · Oct 8, 2014 (Edited)

Oldsmobile stopped said:
The build quality trails European standards...

LOL. In my experience the difference between a truly good and truly bad car is actually quite slim these days, and no European mass-market car is noticeable better (or worse) than anything from the US. This is silly a silly 'canned' statement that the writer planned before he even started writing the article.

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FishTaco

· #7 · Oct 8, 2014

Economy is 30 mpg plus, estimated (according to blurb on bottom of article).

Lol, this should indicate where the article was sourced from. Hint, the writers posterior was a major contributor.

No one is talking 30 mpg with any off these motors.

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jpd80

· #8 · Oct 8, 2014

FishTaco said:
Economy is 30 mpg plus, estimated (according to blurb on bottom of article).

Lol, this should indicate where the article was sourced from. Hint, the writers posterior was a major contributor.

No one is talking 30 mpg with any off these motors.

The British have a different take on what a trucks is and should be capable of,
more in the line of a rugged off road work vehicle, they have no real concept of
what US half tons are, what they do and why people buy them, let alone the whole
ownership dynamic and relatively low cost of fuel. And that's why articles like this
are a waste of time.

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Jesda

· #9 · Oct 8, 2014

FishTaco said:
Economy is 30 mpg plus, estimated (according to blurb on bottom of article).

Lol, this should indicate where the article was sourced from. Hint, the writers posterior was a major contributor.

No one is talking 30 mpg with any off these motors.

30mpg imperial is 25mpg US

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mchicha

· #10 · Oct 8, 2014 (Edited)

The build quality trails European standards,

Call me when any European company engineers a frame like the big 3, or a motor.. Total BS.

jpd80 said:
The British have a different take on what a trucks is and should be capable of,
more in the line of a rugged off road work vehicle, they have no real concept of
what US half tons are, what they do and why people buy them, let alone the whole
ownership dynamic and relatively low cost of fuel. And that's why articles like this
are a waste of time.

True.. someone should tell them what they write is embarrassing non of their little pick up trucks can hope to Hull like an american pick up.

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CarFreak77

· #11 · Oct 8, 2014

That's the reason I usually don't read those superb European reviews of superb European products. Never sat in new Ranger nor in F150 but one comparison of the interior pictures tells me the Ranger's interior comes from the 90's. Are the ****pits of European cars/trucks from the 90's better than American modern ones? Maybe the local press thinks so, I don't.

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FishTaco

· #12 · Oct 8, 2014

Well, in that case, it'll be close, I guess. Since a 3.6 Colorado 4X4 only manages 24 highway, it'll be a real kick in the teeth for Chevy fans if the full size F150 with the same drive train and body style beats it.

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AG3

· #13 · Oct 10, 2014 (Edited)

Oldsmobile stopped said:
Ford of Europe/EU have approved the Ranger as being acceptable standard for selling in the EU, rust bucket Rangers are an acceptable EU Standard.

US build quality in trucks is much much higher with maybe the exception of Toyota in the US they are rust buckets just like the EU Ranger. Nothing at all wrong with the F-150 they are well put together of a very high standard, not a rust bucket like the EU Ranger that is a rock bottom complete rust bucket in under a year.

EU Approved? First, Ford or the European publications don't refer to the Ranger as a European vehicle.
Did you ever consider the "US Approved" GMDAT Chevy Aveo an American car and a representative of American GM products?

The new high-trim F-150 would also be a much more expensive vehicle for Europeans (premium vehicle). The Ranger is obviously a much lower priced vehicle, so standards are not the same.

I don't know about that Ranger you saw, but here, around the Asia-Pacific region the Thai-made Ford Rangers are popular and a lot of them are still in good condition.
Its pue BS to call all of them rust-buckets based on that one sample you saw.
They are known for being tough trucks specially the class-leading T6 Ranger developed by Ford Australia (old ones were co-developed by Mazda), and so far it has been one of the few pickups to threaten Toyota's Hilux.
The next gen Toyota Hilux is being benchmarked against the T6 Ranger and VW Amarok.

I've seen a Camaro, Mustang and Silverado from the late 90s/early-2000s in bad-shape, should these poorly maintained vehicles represent all American products?

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CarFreak77 said:
That's the reason I usually don't read those superb European reviews of superb European products. Never sat in new Ranger nor in F150 but one comparison of the interior pictures tells me the Ranger's interior comes from the 90's. Are the ****pits of European cars/trucks from the 90's better than American modern ones? Maybe the local press thinks so, I don't.

Most of the European reviews that talk about interior quality, most of the time they just mean tighter gaps and softer touch materials. The Global T6 Ranger is not a European product.
I was impressed by the new global Ranger because of it being a solid truck, not because of how soft or hard the dashboard was, most people who buy these trucks don't really care about crap like that anyway.
90's Interior?
Here's the (supposedly 90s-looking) interior of the Global T6 Ranger which was unveiled 4 years ago at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show.

It's expected to be updated next year during its mid-cycle refresh.

The Ranger's interior might not be class-leading, but it's fairly modern. What makes the Ranger work is if you look at the whole package, i'm sure its the same thing with the new F-150.

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