2018 Ford F-150

The 2018 Ford F-150 has carried over the same revolutionary aluminum body that helps it stay lightweight for delivering excellent fuel economy and high payload rating. The base XL trim at $27,380 is your entry ticket to the F-150 club. And then is the F-150 Raptor with high output3.5-liter Eco-boost V6 and off-road spec drivetrain. For the cowboys among you, Ford has an old school 5.0 liter V8 and an aptly named “King Ranch” trim to go with it. And now, the latest addition is the 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V6. Frequent haulers, get your cheques ready.

Trim	Price	Engines	Transmission	Key Standard Features
XL	$27,380	3.3L V6 (2.7L V6, 3.5L V6 and 5.0L V8 optional)	6-speed Automatic (10-speed Automatic optional)	Rear View Camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist
XLT	$32,970	3.3L V6 (2.7L V6, 3.5L V6 and 5.0L V8 optional)	6-speed Automatic (10-speed Automatic optional)	SYNC with Applink
Lariat	$40,685	2.7L V6 (3.5L V6 and 5.0L V8 optional)	10-speed Automatic	SYNC 3 and Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Raptor	High Output 3.5L V6	10-speed Automatic	FOX Racing Shox
King Ranch	$51,600	5.0L V8 (3.5L V6 optional)	10-speed Automatic	B & O PLAY Premium Audio System with Single CD and HD Radio
Platinum	$54,155	5.0L V8 (3.5L V6 optional)	10-speed Automatic	BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and Cross-Traffic Alert
Limited	$60,520	3.5L V6	10-speed Automatic	Twin Panel Moonroof (SuperCrew)

We recommend

• For most of us, the Lariat trim offers the best value for money. For just $8000 over the XLT trim, you get the more efficient, more powerful and more refined 2.7L Ecoboost engine as standard along with class-exclusive 10 - speed automatic. On infotainment front, Lariat has SYNC 3 and Sirius XM Satellite Radio as standard.
• Those in need of a workhorse for their business can go for the XL trim that comes with 3.3L V6. However, we recommend you to get the 2.7L Ecoboost V6 as it delivers exceptional fuel efficiency (best in class). 2.7 L V6 also has higher power and torque specifications that make them more productive.
• King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trims are more of a luxury item. They all come with the cabin so well equipped with modern luxury amenities, luxury sedan will melt in shame. Platinum has all the bells and whistles you expect from a luxury truck. However, they can cost you more, but it's worth the investment.

“Sure, the F-150 posts some of the best acceleration, roadholding, and braking results in its class. But what really earns our respect is that it balances all of that with a pleasant ride, good agility, responsive power, and an irresistible engine note—a combination its competitors can’t match.” – Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission

The biggest news for 2018 Ford F-150 is the addition of a 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 developing 440 lb-ft torque as low as 1750 rpm. However, you have to wait until spring for it. Base 3.3 L V6 has sufficient grunt and can meet daily driving needs. However, the advanced 2.7 L turbocharged EcoBoost V6 delivers effortless performance (0 - 60 in 6.3 - 6.5 sec) and best in class fuel economy and it is the one to get.

The EcoBoost is also available as a higher displacement 3.5 L V6 with 375 bhp @ 5000 RPM and a phenomenal 470 Nm of torque @ 3500 RPM. It can tow 10,500 Lbs. with standard axle ratio and you don’t have to compromise heavily on fuel efficiency either.

Trucks	Ford F-150 XL	Ram 1500 tradesman	Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck	GMC Sierra 1500
MSRP	$27,380	$27,095	$28,285	$28,905
Engine	3.3 L V6	3.6 L V6	4.3 L V6	4.3 L V6
Torque	265 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	269 lb-ft @ 4175 rpm	305 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm	305 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm
Power	290 bhp @ 6500 rpm	305 bhp @ 6400	285 bhp @ 5300 rpm	285 bhp @ 5300 rpm
Transmission	6 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	6 Speed Automatic	6 Speed Automatic
Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive

Cowboys worry not as your big bad rumbling V8 is still alive among all the environmental madness. Ford has a 5.0 L naturally aspirated V8 blaring out the noise you always crave for. This time, Ford has improved its fuel economy too. Perfect harmony of old-school romance and modern technical wizardry.

Ford's class-exclusive 10 - speed automatic is hugely impressive when coupled to any of the available engines. It allows the engine to operate at its best, be it accelerating insanely in raptor or cruising down the highway with lower output engines.

Ride and Handling

The F-150 has a compliant ride quality and it soaks up bumps with ease. However, the Ram 1500 still has the best ride quality by far in this segment - thanks to the air suspension. The F-150 has lackluster steering feedback and it does not inspire confidence when diving into the corner. The Aluminum body of F-150 definitely make it feel lighter and hence more maneuverable.

Braking

The F-150 is equipped with vented disc brake in front and rear with the front rotor of 13.8 inches and rear rotor of 13.2 inches. The braking performance of the F-150 is commendable even when loaded. The vehicle can stop from 60mph in 127 feet.

Truck	60 mph to 0
Ford F150	127 feet
Ram 1500	126 feet
Chevrolet Silverado 1500	127 feet
GMC Sierra 1500	127 feet

Off-road Capability

For those who need to take their F-150 on the untrodden path, ford offers FX4 off-road package (available in 4x4 equipped F-150 only). FX4 optioned F-150 comes equipped with scuff plates, electronically limited slip differential, and hill descent control to keep things going when the going gets tuff.

Ford has 265/60 R18 BSW all-season tires as an option and serious mud pluggers can go for LT275/65 R18C OWL all-terrain tires. Options are available in between too, so you are never left compromising on this and that when optioning your F-150.

Of course, if you want to go the whole hog (and ready to pay for it), Ford always has the off-road special, glistening F-150 Raptor available for you. The high output 3.5 L V6 that does duty on F-150 raptor produces 450 bhp @ 5000 rpm and 510 Nm of peak torque @ 3500 rpm, sufficient to accelerate all the hefty metal from 0 - 60 in 5.1 seconds flat.

The raptor has off-road specific hardware thrown in liberally. Equipped with off-road FOX racing Shocks and 315/70 R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires, this is the car you want to escape in when a nuclear war breaks out. Of course, you have to shell out a handful of money to escape a nuclear war as this thing costs $49,785.

Towing capacity

The base F-150 with 3.3 L V6 under the bonnet and a wheelbase of 122.4 inches can tow up to 5000 pounds. Those in need of serious load-lugging capability can option F-150 with 3.5L turbocharged EcoBoost V6 for a maximum towing capacity of 11,800 Lbs. That’s more than the tow capacity of much awaited F-150 diesel V6 (11,400 pounds).

However, the difference is not much and the diesel will be much more efficient owing to its massive low-down torque. So if you are a frequent hauler, we recommend waiting until spring 2018 for the F-150 Power-stroke diesel V6. Beyond the big numbers, ford has clever and class-exclusive trailer backup assist and dynamic hitch that makes towing a breeze.

Truck	Towing Capacity
Ford F-150 XL EcoBoost 3.5 V6	11,800 Lbs
Ram 1500 tradesman 5.7 L V8 Hemi	10,620 Lbs
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck 6.2 L Ecotech V8	11,800 Lbs
GMC Sierra 1500	11,700 Lbs

“More trucks with a 10-speed and standard start/stop should net fuel economy gains, but the diesel should be the efficiency champ.” - Carconnection

The 2.7 L V6 equipped F-150 is the most efficient vehicle in its class with its 4x2 iteration giving ~20 mpg in the city and almost 26 mpg on the highway with a combined EPA rating of 22 mpg. The 3.5 V6 is among the most powerful in the segment and still delivers an impressive 17 mpg in city confines and 23 mpg out on the highway with a combined EPA rating of 19 mpg.

This time, even the huge naturally aspirated 5.0 L V8 has got some improved fuel consumption figures (almost 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA rating of 25 mpg). The long-awaited F150 Powerstroke Diesel is expected to deliver 30 mpg in EPA highway cycle. Also, the low down torque of the diesel makes them much more efficient than gas engines when towing.

Truck	3.3L V6 (City/Highway/Combined)	2.7L V6 (City/Highway/Combined)	3.5L V6 (City/Highway/Combined)	5.0L V8 (City/Highway/Combined)
4x2	19/25/22	20/26/22	17/23/19	18/25/21
4x4	18/23/20	19/24/21	16/22/18	17/23/19

Note: 2018 Ford F150 diesel Fuel efficiency figures are still not published. We will update when we have the data.

“The F-150 Lariat gets high marks for everyday ease of use and interior quality. Combined with the ratings for comfort, it's simply a pleasant place to spend a full day on the road.” - Edmunds

The F-150`s cabin is well appointed and has an impressive level of fit and finish. The quality of materials used does not disappoint either. The fit and finish in the F-150 are better than luxury sedans from a few years ago. The driving position of F-150 has been the best in the class and it does not disappoint this time either.

Seating and Comfort

The amount of space available inside is sufficient to accommodate 3 or 6 (based on cab size) tall adults in absolute comfort. The seats provide good support. The cabin also features plenty of small storage space to stow away your knick-knacks.

F-150 can be optioned with 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot bed length. The bed length available depends on the chosen cabin style and you have to option it according to your need. Ford offers a lot of goodies for your tailgate like in-bed LED lights, a system of moveable tie-downs and tailgate step.

The F-150 impresses on the ergonomics front too with thoughtfully positioned controls and perfectly positioned armrest for those long drives. However, the large shifter remains a fly in the ointment. Also, this big truck is not easy to climb on. Ford has thrown in much-needed running boards and large grab handles.

Truck	Ford F-150 XL (Regular Cab)	Ram 1500 tradesman (Regular Cab)	Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Regular Cab)	GMC Sierra 1500 (Regular Cab)
Front Head Room	40.8	39.9	42.40	42.40
Front Shoulder Room (in)	66.7	66	66.03	66.03
Front Leg Room	43.9	41	45.27	45.27
Front Hip Room	62.5	62.9	60.73	60.73
Passenger Capacity	3	3	3	3

Infotainment System

The F-150 in base spec XL trim has nothing worth writing home about except an AM/FM radio to accompany you through those country roads. However you can upgrade to SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Fords Sync 3 and AM/FM single-CD. XLT trim also has Kicker Subwoofer (only in SuperCab and SuperCrew) as an option.

The recommended Lariat trim has the said satellite radio and sync 3 as standard but the things get interesting when you are willing to shell out some extra cash. Ford has a high end 10 speaker B&O PLAY Premium Audio System with single-CD and HD Radio on offer.

"Ford's new F-150 offers a spacious, quiet cabin with firm seating and all controls within easy reach of the driver. Models like the King Ranch and Platinum feel luxury-car lavish." - Kelley Blue Book 

Cargo Capacity

Comparing the different Box styles available in the F-150 Regular cab, it's apparent that the longer box styles offer more cargo volume for your hauling needs. If you require extensive use of the truck as a carrier, we would recommend you to choose either the 6.5 or 8 feet box, however, it does result in a longer wheelbase which may hamper the truck's maneuverability.

Cargo Box Style	5.5 Feet Styleside	6.5 Feet Styleside	8 Feet Styleside	5.5 Feet Raptor
Length	67.1	78.9	97.6	67.1
Height	21.4	21.4	21.4	21.4
Volume	52.8	62.3	77.4	52.8

“Ford's full-size pickup continues to use a military-grade aluminum body, but for 2018 that body has been restyled to emulate the looks of the big-brother Super Duty lineup. New grilles, headlights and wheel designs help differentiate the different trim levels.” – Kelley Blue Book

Dimensions and Design

The F-150 in regular cab and the super cab is available in bed length of 6.5 feet and 8 feet. The SuperCrew is available with bed lengths of 5.5 feet and 6.5 feet. The F-150 Raptor is only available in 5.5 feet bed length.

The F-150 has a width of 79.9-inch irrespective of the body style chosen (excluding mirrors). This is typical in this class of vehicle. The height of the F-150 varies from 75.5-inch to skyscraping 78-inch for the off-road special raptor.

Vehicle	Length	Width	Height	Ground Clearance
2017 Toyota Tundra CrewMax, AWD, Standard Box	228.9	79.9	76.2	10.6
2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab, AWD, Standard Box	237.9	79.4	77.4	8.6
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, AWD, Standard Box	238.8	80.0	73.8	8.6
2017 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, AWD, Standard Box	239.5	80.0	74.0	8.6
2017 Ford F150 Crew Cab, AWD, Standard Box	243.7	79.9	77.3	9.4

The ground clearance is among the best in class. Depending on the body style chosen, the ground clearance of the F-150 raptor varies from impressive 9.4-inch to a rather modest 8.6 inch. The ground clearance of the F-150 is only second to the mountain goat of the segment – the Toyota Tundra.

Likewise, the wheelbase varies from 122.2-inch to 141.1-inch. Couple this with short front and rear overhang and you get a truck that can scale mount Olympus when equipped appropriately. 

Modern trucks are filled to the brim with active safety features and the Ford's F-150 has no dearth of clever electronic aids either. Ford offers Blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and parking assist.

The crash worthiness of the 2018 Ford F-150 ensure that you stay alive even if you do something foolish enough to break the electronic safety net. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given five star crash safety rating to this truck so you can munch on that big burger when out on highway with little worry.

2018 Ford F-150 IIHS Safety Rating	Rating
Small Overlap Front Driver Side	Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger Side	-
Moderate Overlap Front	Good
Side	Good
Roof Strength	Good
Head Restraint And Seats	Good
Headlights	Poor
Child Seat Anchors (Latch) Ease Of Use	Medium

The Ford offers a three-year/36,000-mile warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty for 2018 Ford F-150. Over the years, the F-150 has garnered a reputation for reliability that has contributed to its phenomenal success.

Ram 1500 Vs Ford F-150

The Ram 1500 is priced less compared to F-150 in comparable trim and has class-leading ride comfort and cabin quality. However, F-150 scores in fuel efficiency, power, and towing capacity. F150 also depreciates less. All in all, Ram 1500 proves to be a better pick if cabin comfort is your top priority.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Vs Ford F-150

The Silverado 1500 has better materials in interior trim and it has excellent in cabin noise insulation. The Silverado looks menacing with high headlights but that’s about it. The F-150 trumps the Silverado in pretty much everything else. Also, the Chevrolet vehicles (part of general motors) are known for having reliability issues.

GMC Sierra 1500 Vs Ford F-150

The GMC Sierra is the same as the Silverado under the skin. However, it is more upscale. Compared to F-150, the Sierra and Silverado suffer the same drawbacks.

The F-150 performs flawlessly, however, some of its rivals have better ride quality and more impressive interior appointments. Also, the much-hyped 3.5 L V6 can be as thirsty as a V8 when used for heavy haul. But we are nitpicking here.

The F-150 has been a favorite for the people looking for a vehicle that they can use productively on workdays and pack in for a weekend trip to the mountains with family. If you belong from the same clan, go ahead and feel safe with the new 2018 Ford F-150 as it is the same vehicle millions of Americans have trusted their hard earned dollars on.

This time it is ever more refined, even more powerful, even more, efficient and decidedly more luxurious. The addition of the new Power-Stroke Diesel V6 engine has just sweetened the deal. It’s all up to you what you want - the F-150 can do it all.