By Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Smooth, powerful 5.0L V8 engine
• Surprisingly luxurious interior
• SuperCrew cab means plenty of room for passengers
• Decent fuel efficiency, especially for such a large truck

Cons:

• Ride gets choppy over rough pavement
• Shorter bed length limits cargo capacity

The big news for Ford truck fans this year is an entirely new engine lineup for the best-selling F-150. Replacing the underperforming 4.6 and 5.4 liter V8 engines is a quartet of new motors, including two new V8s, a new base model V6, and even a turbocharged V6.

Although putting a turbo six in a full-size truck is a risky move for Ford, the 3.5L EcoBoost engine has the goods, producing 355 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, and up to 22 mpg on the highway, a potent combination with gas still close to $4 a gallon. The base 3.7L V6 engine is also an overachiever, making 302 hp and earning 23 mpg on the highway. With numbers like these, even hard-core truck owners might be convinced to abandon their V8s.

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By contributing editor David Colman

Hits:

• Now with four full-size doors with the Supercrew version
• New cab configuration increases interior volume and allows for more comfort for rear passengers
• Large 36 gallon fuel tank
• Unique Raptor motor roar
• SelectShift automatic transmission as close to a manual transmission as an automatic can be

Misses:

• Large 36 gallon fuel tank
• Uncomfortable upright rear seating position

If Popeye owned a pickup, the Raptor would be it. When you fit the 6.2 liter, 411hp engine to this 4×4’s beefy frame, you’ve got way more muscle than a tin of spinach. No other truck in our care has ever engendered so many conversations. Most of them began with the question, “Is that the Raptor?” because lots of truck fans have been on the lookout for this stout rig since it was announced at the beginning of the 2010 model year. However, the mid-year addition of the $3,000 optional 6.2 liter V-8 motor, which produces 434lb-ft of torque, is just what the hefty 5,850 lb Raptor needed to make it fly. If you need a power boost for passing, the 6.2 is your ticket to the fast lane. On back roads, just drop the massive shift lever into second or third gear, and the Raptor will jump obligingly when you prod the accelerator. On the freeway, in the “Drive” gate, a stomp of the gas pedal instantly drops the rig into passing gear. The 6.2 liter V-8 rocks the truck slightly at idle, and sounds like a motorboat at full chat. It’s a delightful motor that failed to use a full tank of gas during a week of heavy-footed driving.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Luxo interior and ride quality
• Microsoft Sync – the only endearing Microsoft product in existence
• Gutsy and fuel efficient Triton V8

Dings:

• Mundane exterior styling…
• …except for the obnoxiously large faux chrome grille
• Cargo loops in bed smaller than a needle hole

Ruling: Although you might not notice at first glance, Ford’s F-150 really is new and improved.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• High-Quality Hide
• Luxurious for a truck
• Solid, reliable performer
• Deals galore can be had on them right now

Dings:

• Outpowered by competitors
• Four speed automatic with no tow/haul feature
• Heavy (duh)
• Thirsty (double-duh)

Ruling: The F-150 is as functional as a Leatherman and more boring than watching C-SPAN, but at least functional boredom comes in classy Texas-style luxury.

Until the Honda Civic recently de-throned it, for decades, yes decades, the F-150 pickup has been the number one selling vehicle in the good ‘ole US of A. If this statistic comes as a surprise, then you either live on the east coast, the west coast or the lost coast. Heartland America is where the F-150 thrives. Take a trip down to the local diner in Peoria, Illinois sometime. You’ll see pickup beds filled with everything from horse feed to Hemi engine blocks. They range in age and condition from rusty, run-down, Reagan era models to a brand new shiny, speck-free 2008 King Ranch Edition; identical to the one we tested.

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