2016 Ford F-150 Limited
What the heck can anyone say in a review of the best selling vehicle there is? That question stays firmly planted in the back of my mind as I walk up to this gorgeous, $67k-plus luxury vehicle that bears little resemblance to the metal-lined, raw work trucks I grew up with on our farm back in the 70s and 80s.
The chamfered, bold styling of this latest, aluminum F150 is slightly undermined on more pedestrian models, where the standard wheels look too small for the big, slab-sided flanks. That doesn’t apply to the Limited test vehicle, whose polished 22s give it a much better stance, and accent nicely with the carefully wrought detailing of this upper-end model. But in the first few hundred yards you know there’s a price to pay for that fancy footwear: namely an unresolved ride that clomps, bounces and shudders over the rough, 3rd-world roads that ring Denver’s metro area.
More photos of the Ford F-150 Limited:
That’s a real shame, as otherwise the F150 Limited is refined and quiet—it does indeed rival many premium cars in terms of isolation. Its cockpit certainly feels quite upscale; most moldings are matt finished and soft to the touch, and the polished trim is confident and restrained. About the only jarring notes is the giant “Limited” plastichrome badge that tops the center console and gets arm-burning hot in Denver’s sun. Ford’s latest interface, Sync3, is generally great—fast and super-intuitive; it shows that touchscreens can be safe for car duty. The Limited’s massaging front seats are decadently comfy and their leather feels like actual hide; their color and that of the faux wood are actually nicely coordinated and the steering wheel, shifter and most other touch-points are up to snuff. And, its cavernous inside the F150’s cabin; that and the flat floor in back make it very family-friendly. Thoughtful (and expensive) options for tie-downs, built-in ramps, lighting and steps into the bed make it a more practical too.
While the F150 (aside from the over-large wheels) rides okay and handles decently, GM and Ram still do it slightly better. Where the Ford really moves ahead is in the powertrain department; for those of us living in Colorful Colorado, you just can’t argue with the epic, twin turbocharged slam of an EcoBoost engine. Even though its 3.5-liter mill might rate better on the unrealistic EPA test cycle, on this plane of existence it gets basically the same economy as the big V8s in competitors. But it kicks sand in their faces is in terms of midrange torque and ability to shrug off altitude on runs into the Rockies. And all this is with the current, six-speed automatic. For 2017 we get a second gen EcoBoost with 50lb-ft more torque and an additional 17hp (currently the numbers are 365hp/420lb-ft) and a new 10-speed, which is reported to be even better; even the current one makes mince meat of the poorly programmed one in the Silverado and Sierra, and even Ram’s otherwise good offering cant leverage the turbo torque wave that the F150 surfs along on.
Ford cant seem to find the top end to what people will pay for their half-ton truck. Despite its luxury-car price, the Limited is actually one or two steps down the ladder, with the Platinum and upcoming Raptor pushing the MSRP even higher into the stratosphere. Perhaps I show my age here, but there are so many compelling alternatives in the $60-70k range, I cant help thinking that the sweet spot in the F150 range might be a rung or two down, where most all the incredible engineering acumen that makes these trucks so compelling is available as well. Also, this F150 is treading dangerously close to the price point of a nicely equipped three-quarter or one ton diesel truck, which has more capacity for hauling and towing duties. As may be; the F150 Limited is a distinctly ‘Merican take on a luxury automobile and as well as being a darn good truck.
Info: ford.com/trucks/f150/
Isaac Bouchard is owner of Bespoke Autos, an auto brokerage that helps people save time, money and hassle when buying or leasing vehicles. Since 1991 he has helped his clients save over $1 million dollars. He has written extensively about getting the best deal possible when buying or leasing a vehicle, arranging financing or trading in a car. Isaac has been a professional automotive journalist as well for over 12 years, having reviewed most all types of car, truck and SUV.
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