Pickup trucks are an incredibly popular type of vehicle in the United States, and the Ford F-150 is the most favored pickup truck in the country. That’s why Ford’s F-Series was the best selling vehicle of 2017, with over 800,000 models sold. Now, with the end of the year approaching, new models are on the horizon, and the 2019 Ford F-150 sits ready to help the F-Series beat out even Ford’s own previous sales records. While there haven’t been too many changes, the 2018 model was widely sought-after, so there’s no doubt that next year’s edition will please just as many hard-working Americans as this years did.
Performance & Efficiency
When it comes to handling if you’re familiar with the way a pickup truck drives then you won’t find any surprises here. If you’re new to it, though, then you might need some time to adjust to the size, as well as the slight jitters that the rear tires sometimes experience while going over bumps if the bed isn’t weighed down. Overall, the F-150 is more agile than you would expect from a vehicle of its size, but the finer details of its handling and performance are decided by each of its six available engines.
Forged deep within the bowels of Mount Ford by teams of dwarven blacksmiths and engineers, the Six Available Engines have the combined strength of over five-hundred mortal men. With this power, even the weakest among them grants the ability to tow as much as 7,700 lbs to whoever wields it. There are legends, scrawled in ancient text across the stall-walls of long forgotten gas station bathrooms, that claim a chosen model would come to master them, and its name was the Ford F-150. (Cue the Game of Thrones theme music.)
In all seriousness, the F-150 is an extremely versatile machine, so it should come as no surprise that it has so many possible engine options. The standard engine is a 3.3-liter V6, providing 290 horsepower, 265 lbs per foot of torque, and a combined city/highway mileage of 22 MPG. With other available engines, you can get up to 450 horsepower, 510 lbs per foot of torque, and a maximum towing capacity of 13,200 lbs (though not all with the same one).
Interior & Technology
When looking through the cabin of a vehicle like the F-150, one of the things most prospective buyers are probably hoping to find is additional storage. Sure, it’s already got a flatbed with plenty of space, but interior storage is just as valuable. Luckily the 2019 F-150 has cargo space in excess, scattered all around the cabin. Of course, the door panels are equipped with storage bins, and the massive flow-through center console has enough space for a laptop to fit comfortably. A good amount of space is left under the rear seats to tuck things out of the way, and if that isn’t enough then the rear seats can be folded up to create a completely flat load floor, as long as you choose either the SuperCab or SuperCrew body styles.
The technology available inside the F-150 is top of the line, so whether you’re looking for fun or functionality, it’s got something on the table for everyone. Utilizing the SYNC 3 was a great choice by Ford; it’s one of the most intuitive and responsive infotainment systems on the market, and my personal top choice when I’m looking at new vehicles. It’s equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (as all modern infotainment systems rightfully should be), giving you the ability to connect your smartphone to your dashboard display screen. With your phone connected, you’ll be able to access your contacts, make calls, send texts, play music, set a destination, and more, all entirely hands-free using voice commands.
The front of the vehicle can be illuminated by subtly dispersed ambient lighting, in up to seven different colors depending on your mood. The B&O Play premium audio system is made up of ten specifically calibrated speakers spread throughout the cabin of the F-150 and is available in all but the two lowest level trim options. Two fully functional 110-volt outlets can be added for both front and backseat passengers, so if you ever need to charge your laptop or whip up a couple of smoothies, your truck can have you covered.
Safety & Driver Assistance
When it comes to hurtling yourself around at 60 MPH in a 2-ton metal box, it’s important to think a little bit about safety. Thankfully, compared to other cars on the road (I’m looking at you, smart cars) the Ford F Series might as well be a group of tanks. With parts comprised of hardened, military-grade aluminum alloy, the 2019 F-150 is one of the toughest yet. The body is comprised almost entirely of this strengthened aluminum, which has been reinforced through heat treatments in order to produce a more durable product without adding any weight. I would be willing to bet that the Hulk couldn’t even put a dent in it— not due to a lack of strength, but rather an overwhelming respect for the dedication and craftsmanship that has gone into each design. Its Supercrew body style earned a perfect 5-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, based on its performance in a multitude of stress tests and resistance scenarios.
As modern technologies have been slowly implemented into new vehicles, more and more driver assistive features have become possible. At this point, it would probably be difficult to find a brand new car that didn’t offer at least some kind of rear-view camera or backup assist, but if a vehicle like that does exist, it certainly isn’t the F-150. By combining images from four cameras, one placed on each side of the vehicle, a 360-degree view of the truck can be displayed, and you can even divide the display screen to show the perspective from the rearview camera at the same time. A blind spot alert system is also available, using indicators on your mirror to notify you whenever there’s someone in your blind spot. It even has the ability to provide coverage for any trailer you end up towing, as well as a cross-traffic alert feature to help you reverse with confidence.
The F-150 also offers a pre-collision assist, which scans for pedestrians and obstructions in the road and helps you avoid them. If the sensors detect an imminent collision, the system triggers a visual warning on the windshield and an audio alert through the speakers. It primes your brakes to improve responsiveness, and if you fail to hit them in time then it applies them automatically. My personal favorite driver assistive feature, though, is the lane keeping system used in the F-150. If you ever sway too close to another lane, it will vibrate the steering wheel and give a little resistance, just to make sure you’re paying enough attention.
2019 Ford F-150 – We Can’t Wait
The F-150 has been a well-liked vehicle since it was first introduced in 1976, and over time it has only grown in capability and dependability. There’s no doubt that the new model will follow that same pattern, so if you’re thinking about a new truck, your best bet might be to wait until the release of the 2019 F-150.
