Summary & Specs
reviewed by
It's obvious the F-150 has been a good truck. People don't buy you into the top spot
year after year if you aren't top spot material. But Ford decided keeping its top spot
meant making a good thing better, and showed confidence in also making it quite a bit
different in the process. There may seem to be a bit of bet-hedging here, since Ford
will keep the 1996 model on sale through most of the year, but that's only because of the changeover required at two more plants.
Will Ford's new F-150 encounter resistance? Or will it lure buyers in even greater
numbers? Only time will tell. But we're betting on more buyers. The North American
Truck of the Year jury gave the F-150 top honors this year, and we think they called it right. This one's a winner.
Specs
| Vehicle Category |
Pickups |
| Editor |
Mike Knepper |
| Model Lineup |
|
| Engines (standard) |
4.2-liter ohv V6 |
| Engines (optional) |
210-hp 4.6-liter sohc V8 |
| Transmissions (standard) |
5-speed manual |
| Transmissions (optional) |
4-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) |
Rear ABS, dual airbags |
| Safety Equipment (optional) |
|
| Basic Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled In |
Norfolk, VA; Kansas City, MO |
| Manufacturer Phone |
1-800-392-3673 |
| Manufacturer URL |
www.ford.com |
| Base Price MSRP |
$14,430 |
Specs as Tested
| Model Tested MSRP |
F-150 Styleside |
| Standard Equipment |
AM/FM radio,power steering, intermittent wipers, removable tailgate |
| Destination Charge |
|
| Options as Tested (MSRP) |
Air conditioning, AM/FM radio, chrome bumper, chrome grille, tilt steering |
| Gas Guzzler Tax |
|
| Price as Tested |
$15,450 |
| Layout |
|
| Horse Power |
205 @ 4400 |
| Torque |
255 @ 3000 |
| Fuel Economy |
16/20 |
| Wheelbase |
119.9 |
| Length/Width/Height |
202.2/78.4/72.4 |
| Track Front/Rear |
65.4/65.4 |
| Turning Radius |
40.5 |
| Seating Capacity |
2/3; 5 (SuperCab) |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room |
40.8/61.3/40.9 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room |
|
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room |
37.8/64.9/32.2 in. (SuperCab) |
| Trunk Volume |
|
| Payload |
1700 lbs; 2435 lbs. (long-bed V8) |
| Towing Capacity |
2300; 7200 (V8) |
| Front Suspension |
Independent |
| Rear Suspension |
Independent |
| Ground Clearance |
7.3 |
| Curb Weight |
3850 |
| Stock Tires |
P235/70R-16 |
| Brakes Front/Rear |
disc/drum |
| Fuel Capacity |
25.0 |