Ford's full-size, light duty F-150 pickup is one year removed from a complete redesign. Carried over from that 2009 update, it possesses aggressive sheet metal and features designed to take on the competition in the full-size pickup market.
While Ford has loaded the F-150 with such innovations as a pull-down 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. Available on rear wheel drive, CrewCab XL and XLT models is an SFE trim that uses various modifications to boost fuel economy to 15 miles per gallon city and 21 miles per gallon highway.
Initial base MSRP for the 2010 Ford F-150 is $21,380. 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 muscular exterior of the best selling Ford F-150 only hints at a truck that's loaded with innovative features that set it apart from the pickup pack.