Ford has updated its F-150 full-size, light-duty pickup. For 2009, it gets more aggressive sheet metal, and new features designed to take on the competition in this full-size pickup market.
While Ford has loaded the F-150 with such features as an innovative tailgate step and power retracting headlights, they did not skimp on the basic ruggedness that is essential to any full-size pickup. The fully boxed frame of the F-150 helps give it a towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds and payload capacity of 3,030 pounds.
The base engine is a 248 horsepower 4.6-liter V8. A 24-valve version of that engine is available that puts out 292 horsepower. The top-rated engine is the available 310 horsepower 5.4-liter V8. Power is sent through either a 4- or 6-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels or available 4-wheel drive with low range.
Fuel economy for the F-150 ranges from 14 miles per gallon city, up to 20 miles per gallon highway.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Ford F-150 is $21,565. A fully loaded Super Crew model will top out at around $50,000. The F-150 is backed by a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The updated, muscular good looks of the new Ford F-150 only hint at a truck that is loaded with new features that should help to keep it the industry leader that it has been for years.