Review: 2015 Ford F-150

Text and photos by Donny Halliwell

The Ford F-150 created the environment for adventures we otherwise wouldn’t have taken. It’s these sorts of memories that stuck with me throughout the review process. Something I’m sure long-time truck owners already know.

I’ve never owned a truck. After spending a week with the 2015 Ford F-150, that certainly may change when it comes time to purchase my next vehicle. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve driven many trucks before yet none of them left me with this feeling.There’s something special here -- something worth buying. Ford has done an amazing job creating a modern, easy-to-drive, and super practical pickup that made a truck lover out of me.

It’s really nice to look at

Where to start? This thing just looks stunning. It’s the kind of vehicle that would have me standing in my driveway every Saturday morning hosing it off and keeping it on display for the neighbours to see. It’s got showboat looks, there’s no denying it, but people who see it also know that there’s something special happening underneath as well. Each of those stunning panels that make the visual statement make a much more important one as well. It’s a weight saving and thus fuel saving marvel.

Shaking up the industry and leading the pack 

Ford pushed the envelope a few years ago with the introduction of the EcoBoost engine. Something competitors were quick to bash. In an industry dominated by tradition, shakeups are risky. We live in the era of Prius, Tesla, and $1.30/L fuel prices, so as an outsider; I welcome the break in tradition. In 2015 Ford has done it again; they’ve stunned industry pundits by introducing lightweight high strength aluminum into the body panels. It’s clear they’re on a mission to make this vehicle efficient to operate whether you’re operating a fleet of workers or you’re the weekend warrior.  

The high strength steel vs. aluminum body argument you see from the competition is moot. It is the kind of chest pounding rhetoric that should be written off as nothing more than marketing. The fact of the matter is, you don’t haul or tow with the body... that’s what the frame and powertrain is for and the F-150 is all steel where it counts.

What do I say to the slew of attack ads from the competition? Haters gonna hate… this thing's got an impressive 12L/100km in my week with it (that’s 0.2 under it’s official city rating for the smaller engine, I might add). 

It definitively bests the competition in real-world use. Considering my 2.3 L Mazda CX-7 gets roughly 11L/100km, what the F-150 accomplished is quite a feat. Especially since it feels like virtually twice the vehicle in terms of size, weight and engine displacement. This is a big step forward for truck lovers everywhere and the business owners who are often picking up the tab at the pump each week. The big thing for me was just exactly how transparent the focus on efficiency is for Ford -- so much so, in fact, that the engine stops itself at rest to reduce idle waste. Further, the onboard computer has menu after menu of ways for the driver to see exactly how their habits are affecting economy. Would I recommend buying this truck on the fuel economy argument alone? Yes. Full stop.  The rest of this review is just gravy.

Day-in, day-out practicality

In the Ford F-150 I was riding high. With the open road in my view and plenty of power under foot  (365hp to be exact) the possibilities were endless. I went everywhere with the F-150, toothy ear-to-ear grin in tow. It made me smile. It wasn’t just about me either, my passengers and my payloads all benefited from the practicality this truck afforded. Space wise this thing is a people mover, as much as it is an equipment hauler. The cabin is so expansive that it quickly became the choice of vehicle to take to the beach, to the store, and into downtown Toronto to catch a Blue Jays game. 

As an amateur trucker, the sheer thought of parking this behemoth almost got the better of me.  It was surprisingly simple, though. With a symphony of sensors and cameras, I could confidently squeeze it into even the tightest of spaces with relative ease. I even earned honours from @Ford on Twitter for their F-150 of the week with a parking selfie I posted.

There are things you can do in the Ford F-150 that you simply can’t accomplish in other vehicles. It hauls more, sips less and just gets the job done. 

It’s what’s on the inside that counts

If kitchens sell houses, I’m saying sunroofs sell vehicles.  So it’s worth noting that panoramic roof in the 2015 F-150 provided a big wow factor for every single passenger that was treated to a ride. If the F-150 were a kitchen it would please chefs with sprawling counter space, plenty of storage, professional appliances and an amazing view; the kind people gush over. “Wow you could actually live in here,” my wife exclaimed on numerous occasions.  

My week with the F-150 just happened to coincide with the peak of the Persieds meteor shower. We took this overlap as a golden opportunity to really do some stargazing. So, on a few nights we loaded up, drove until we were clear of light pollution and enjoyed the show for hours. We made use of both the sunroof, but also the bed, which turned out to be a perfectly cozy perch. The Ford F-150 created the environment for adventures we otherwise wouldn’t have taken. It’s these sorts of memories that stuck with me throughout the review process. Something I’m sure long-time truck owners already know.

Overall impressions

 

At the end of this whole experience, I’ve taken stock and quickly realized that a truck may be the most versatile vehicle one can buy.

The Ford F-150 even more so because it laughs in the face of rising fuel costs. Ford has officially perfected the pickup truck with the 2015 F-150. Here’s why. It’s got a larger, more comfortable interior than anything I’ve ever owned, with ample room for five adults.

It can be used to actually get work done and move large items. It feels safer based on the fact that it’s bigger than almost anything else on the road.  It’s easy to drive despite its size and parking is a non-issue due to the onboard systems that tell the driver exactly what’s going on around it. It costs surprisingly little to operate – this one is a game changer. The focus on fuel economy raises the Ford F-150 not only above those in its class, but all other vehicles as well. Finally, it’s something that you can proudly put on display with modern technology and a stunning visual appearance. The Ford F-150 is what a modern truck should be… it’s what a modern vehicle should be. In my opinion it’s got best in class everything.