Driving Impressions
reviewed by
Forget everything you know about the way pickups ride and drive when it comes to
experiencing the F-150. Never has a full-size pickup been so refined. Ford has taken
the "truckiness" out and given it a car-like feel in this respect, just as the
designers did with the interior.
The ride is smooth and motion free. What happened to the constant state of bounce?
Gone. In its place, a compliant ride that soaks up road irregularities. For anyone
with a lot of truck time, it's almost spooky the way it goes down the road. It's also
quiet in there. The new rounded shape did its job in that department--no wind noise.
Typically, a pickup's box and frame are designed separately, then bolted together.
This time around, the two systems were designed to work together. The result is an
absence of squeaks and rattles, even on rough terrain. The truck has a solid feel that
has nothing to do with ruggedness. This one is built to endure.
Both engines are strong, with the increased torque of the V8 obvious in a back-to-back
comparison. But without that comparison, no one would likely sell the V6 short. Both
are smooth, with the V8 a bit quieter.
The most remarkable thing about these engines is how much power--particularly the kind
of power we call torque--Ford has been able to extract from relatively small
displacements. Both engines are based on Ford's highly successful 4.6-liter modular
V8, used in several passenger cars. For truck use, the 4.6 induction system was
retuned for stronger low-end performance. Overhead cam engines aren't part of American truck tradition, but we don't think anyone will have any trouble adapting to this one.
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