2018 Ford F-150

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab is offered in two trims: XL and XLT. The pricing for these trims starts at $27,705 and goes up to $37,025 for the top trim. This pick-up truck comes with RWD and an optional 4WD that will cost around $3,500 more than the RWD version. The truck comes in two bed lengths, a 6 feet 5 inch and 8 feet one. The Regular cab trims come with some optional packages as well.  The 8 feet XLT has the option of the 2.7L V6 as well. 

The XL trim comes with a very well feature-rich 101A package that costs $1,305. There are some other options as well, like the Chrome ($275) and Sport ($775) appearance package, Trailer Tow package ($995), Smokers package ($95), CNG/Propane Gaseous engine prep pack ($315), and stand-alone options such as side steps, a tailgate assist step, remote vehicle tracking, and spray-in bed liners. The XLT trim gets all the 101A package features and has optional packages apart from the XL's optional packages such as the Mid 301A Package  ($1,100) and the Luxury 302A Package. Standalone options regular/panoramic sunroof, box side steps, inflatable rear seats, navigation system, and some driver assistance features. 

We recommend

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab XLT trim is the one that we would recommend with the 4WD. At $36,725, it is not cheap but pretty well-equipped for a regular cab. The optional stand-alone safety packages are a must, and we also recommend the Luxury 302A Package as well.

“For the 2018 F-150: More 10-speeds, more power, more better." - TheCarConnection

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab is powered by an all-new 3.3L V6 engine that replaces the earlier 3.5L V6 engine without any drop in output power seen on the 2017 F-150 Regular Cab. This 3.3L engine outputs 290 hp @ 6500 rpm and has a torque output of 265 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. As standard, the F-150 comes with RWD with 4WD being an optional extra for a premium of $3,500. On the Regular cab, apart from the 3.3L engine,  a turbo 2.7L V6 EcoBoost (+$995) and a 5.0L Twinturbo V8 (+$1,995) are available as well. A 10-speed automatic transmission is also available for these powertrains.

The F-150 Regular Cab does not get the 10-speed automatic gearbox at all. The 6-speed transmission is pretty efficient, but at times it can have slower response timings at gear shifts. The gearing helps with the low-end grunt that the F-150 has. For standard work-duty, this 3.3L V6 is more than enough. The 10-speed transmission was developed with GM and this gearbox is quick and precise at shifts.

All rivals in their base forms are equipped with a V6, and come with RWD. 4WD is optional for all. The RAM 1500 makes the most power, and the most torquey engines are on the Sierra and the Silverado. The F-150 has the least power output. Except for the RAM 1500, all engines come mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The F-150 also has the smallest engine among the four. 

2018 Ford F-150 Acceleration

The 2018 Ford F-150 with the 3.3L V6 engine accelerates from 0-60 mph in a time of 7.6 seconds, and completes the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds. The truck has a top speed of 102 mph. Even with the change in the base engine, there is no difference between the 0-60 mph from last year to this year on the standard trim. 

The RAM 1500 has the best 0-60 mph time among these four, at 6.4 seconds. The Chevy is just behind, at 6.5 seconds. The GMC also performs well with a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. The Ford F-150 is the slowest of the lot. However, the Ford is pretty quick in the quarter-mile, with a time of 13.7 seconds. The rivals are comparatively slower, with a time that ranges in the 14th second. In terms of top speed, the RAM 1500 has the highest top speed of 105 mph. The RAM benefits with its more powerful engine compared to the rest.

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Ride and Handling

The F-150 Regular Cab is a pick-up truck that has a strong low end. The engine is very smooth and refined, and even under hard acceleration, the engine is pretty quiet except for a good V6 grunt. In a straight line, the steering feels on the F-150 is pretty good. However, around turns the feel is lacking, and it does not inspire confidence. On highways, the F-150 can maintain cruising speeds pretty well.

In the handling department, the F-150 handles well, and the body control delivered by the chassis and suspension is excellent. The suspension setup is supple, but it's only when the F-150 is loaded. On an unladen F-150, the car bounces around and the ride can get quite bumpy as well. The Regular Cab can be a decent off-roader when equipped with the FX4 Off-Road package.

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Braking

The 2018 F-150 Regular Cab is equipped with ventilated disc brakes in front and rear. The front rotor has a diameter of 13.8 inches and the rear rotor has a diameter of 13.2 inches. The car weighs 4069 lbs, and takes 127 feet to stop from 60 mph to come to a standstill. 

The F-150 gets the biggest front brake rotor at 13.8 inches. The GM twins have the smallest front brake rotor at 13 inches. The rear brake on the RAM is the largest at 13.8 inches. In terms of stopping power, the RAM is the quickest top stop at 126 feet, with the other three cars taking a similar distance of 127 feet.

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Towing capacity

The 2018 F-150 Regular Cab with a 3.3L V6 engine can tow up to 9100 lbs, whereas with the 3.5L V6 engine the car can tow up to 13,200 lbs. The F-150 also has a decent payload capacity of 1910 lbs.

The F-150's towing capacity is among the highest in this segment. However, the RAM 1500 has the most towing capacity of 9730 lbs. The Gm twins have a similar capacity of 8900 lbs. The payload capacity is the most on the Sierra and the Silverado at 1960 lbs. The F-150 has the lowest at 1910 lbs.

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

The 3.3L V6 powered RWD 2018 F-150 Regular Cab returns an economy of 19 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. With the 4WD, the F-150 returns 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. The car has a fuel capacity of 23 gallons which gives the RWD version a combined range of 506 miles.

The Ford F-150 has the most combined mileage at 22 mpg. The Silverado is the next most efficient, with its 20 mpg combined mileage. The RAM and the Sierra are the least efficient, with a combined mileage of 18 mpg and 19 mpg. The Sierra has the most fuel capacity at 26.4 gallons. The range on the F-150 is at 437 city miles and 575 highway miles, which is the least in this comparison, due to the limited tank capacity on the F-150. The Silverado has the most range at 468 city miles and 624 highway miles.

“The F-150's main attraction is still its versatility and usability, but top trims can feel downright luxurious."  -  TheCarConnection

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Seating and Comfort

The 2018 F-150 Regular Cab's interiors are basic but are well-equipped for even a standard trim. The Regular cab comes with quality materials and a well-laid-out dash. The controls and buttons around the dash are logically arranged, and the quality of these buttons is excellent as well. The steering comes with tilt and telescopic adjustment, and there's ample adjustment available as well. However, some of the plastics do look and feel cheap.

The F-150 is a roomy car for even 3 passengers. The single row of seats has adequate comfort on offer, with pretty good support as well. Legroom and headroom are sufficient as well. The cabin environment is quiet and calm as well.  Even with the Off-Road package, the ride quality does not get stiff at all. Also, the noise levels inside the cabin are very low, with good isolation from the outside wind and traffic noises. Getting in and out of the F-150 is not a problem, but the doors open wide and are large for easy getting in and out. 

All trucks seat 3 passengers. The Ford F-150 has a headroom of 40.8 inches, with legroom of 43.9 inches. The RAM's interior lacks the space the others offer. It gets a headroom of 39.9 inches and comes with a legroom of 41 inches. The GM twins have the most headroom among these cars, at 42.4 inches, and the most legroom also at 45.27 inches. Some interior features on the F-150 are:

• Power/ Manual windows
• Cruise Control
• Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Air-conditioning
• Remote locking and unlocking
• Rear-under-seat storage

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Infotainment System

The infotainment system on the F-150 Regular Cab is pretty basic and comes with the most necessary features required. As standard, the truck gets a driver information display, 4.2-inch screen, radio, auxiliary jack, and a 4-speaker system.

The XLT is better equipped and comes with Sync voice controls, Bluetooth, USB port, CD player, satellite radio, and a 7speaker sound system. The tech is not very fast at Bluetooth integration, but it works well. The audio quality is good and crisp.

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Cargo Capacity

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab comes with a cargo capacity of 62.3 cu-ft. The cargo box has a length of 78 inches, with a width of 65.2 inches, and a width of 60.3 inches. The height of the cargo box stands at 21.4 inches.

Among the rivals, the RAM 1500 has the least space, at 57.5 cu-ft. The Sierra and the Silverado have a cargo capacity of 61 cu-ft.  The F-150's cargo capacity is 1.3 inches more than the GM twins. 

“If you haven't been inside a full-size truck in a while, be prepared for a shock.” – TheCarConnection

2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Dimensions and Design

The 2018 F-150 Regular cab comes in two bed lengths, and in both the styling remains the same. There have been very minute changes to the car's exterior as compared to last year, and the F-150 is instantly recognizable from anywhere. The truck's front grille and bumper have seen a slight revision and the Regular cab truck's front grille still houses the two horizontal bars. The tall stance, the deep wheel arches, and the huge wheels all give the F-150 a brawny look. The tail section remains the same, with the vertical LED taillights and the F-150 badging on the lower part of the tailgate. 

The F-150 gets an aluminum body which gives this truck a weight advantage over the others. The 2018 F-150 weighs in at 4069 lbs. It has a length of 209.3 inches, with a width and height of 79.9 inches and 75.5 inches. The ground clearance stands at 8.8 inches, and the F-150 has a wheelbase of 122 inches with a standard bed length of 6.5'.

The RAM is the heaviest of the lot, with a weight of 5362 lbs. The GMC and the Chevy weigh pretty similar to each other. In terms of length, the F-150 and the RAM are the longest whereas the GM twins have a length of 205 inches. However, it's the exact opposite when it comes to the width. In terms of height, the Ford is the tallest, with the GM twins having the shortest height. The RAM 1500 and the F-150 also have a longer wheelbase than the other two.

Some of the exterior features are:

• Automatic headlamps
• Power mirrors
• Side steps
• Tailgate assist step
• Rear privacy glass
• Regular sunroof/Panoramic sunroof

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab is well-equipped with necessary safety tech such as airbags, traction control, stability control, engine immobilizer, and other standard features. Most of the advanced features are available on the higher trims. In the safety crash tests, the F-150 scored 5-stars from the NHTSA, with a 4-star score in the rollover test and the IIHS rated the truck with their highest rating of 'Good' in most tests. Some other safety features on the F-150 are:

• Post-Collision safety system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Remote vehicle tracking
• Rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rear cross-traffic alert

2018 Ford F-150 vs 2018 RAM 1500

The RAM 1500 has a few perks. It gets a bigger engine, has a refined ride, and smooth ride quality. The RAM's interiors also are well-finished, with good quality materials used overall. The RAM also has quicker acceleration, and a slightly better braking distance as well.

The RAM 1500's interiors are a main positive against the F-150. Also, the RAM 1500 has better reliability, and also costs less than the F-150. It cannot match the F-150's towing abilities, however, and if that's the main requirement then the F-150 is the better choice.

2018 Ford F-150 vs 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is quite a better choice than the F-150 Regular Cab. The Silverado has more powerful engines, a better 0-60 mph time and a well-done interior as well. The infotainment system is on par with the F-150's infotainment system as well. 

The F-150 has better braking power, better economy, and also better reliability ratings. If the main purpose if for towing and payload, then the F-150 is the best choice for you. The F-150 is around $1,000 cheaper than the Silverado.

The 2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab has everything required for hauling cargo and towing heavy items. This truck will mostly be a part of long delivery or transportation fleets, and for that purpose, it comes with a decent feature list. The F-150 is the best workhorse that you should buy, considering its roomy interiors, a long list of engine options, and good safety ratings. However, if towing capacity and hauling capacity are not number one on the priority list, then we'd suggest the RAM or the other car.