New for 2015
The F-150 is all new for 2015. It gets one of its most thorough redesigns ever, with an aluminum body, a greater range of efficient EcoBoost engines, and more technology options.
Light on its Toes
The Ford F-150 is already the bestselling vehicle in the U.S., so the bar was set pretty high for this 2015 redesign. Ford didn’t take the task lightly, making unprecedented changes like an aluminum body and the smallest turbocharged EcoBoost engine it’s ever offered in a truck.
The result is a truck that’s as tough and capable as ever, but with the fuel efficiency and technology features buyers of virtually every vehicle demand these days.
Powertrains and Performance
With the 2015 F-150, Ford is emphasizing fuel efficiency more than ever. That’s why you’ll find more downsized turbocharged engines in the lineup than ever before, and they can still get the job done when it comes to hauling, too.
Proving that Ford is serious about its efficiency mission is the new-for-2015 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6. The smallest engine currently offered in a full-size truck, it punches above its weight with 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. Like all F-150 engines, it’s paired with a six-speed automatic and either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
EPA-rated fuel economy is an impressive 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway) with rear-wheel drive and 20 mpg combined (18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway) with four-wheel drive, making the 2.7-liter EcoBoost F-150 one of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the road.
Also new for 2015 is a 3.5-liter V6, which produces 282 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. It returns respectable fuel economy too: 20 mpg combined (18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway) with rear-wheel drive,* and 19 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway).*
That naturally-aspirated engine is complemented by a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that carries over from 2014. The turbocharged 3.5-liter makes 365 hp and 420 lb-ft. It also returns 20 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway) with rear-wheel drive* and 19 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway)*—the same as the non-turbo 3.5—with four-wheel drive.
Of course, the F-150 wouldn’t be a proper full-size truck without a V8 engine option, and with 385 hp and 387 lb-ft the 2015 model’s 5.0-liter unit doesn’t disappoint. Fuel economy for the big V8 is 18 mpg combined (15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway)* with rear-wheel drive, and 17 mpg combined (15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway) with four-wheel drive.*
Features and Trims
The 2015 Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck available with three cab configurations and three bed lengths, with seating for up to five. There’s a two-door Regular Cab, Super Cab with rear-hinged half doors, and the Super Crew with four full-size doors. Prices start at $25,420.**
The F-150 may be a tough truck, but even the base XL model comes with a decent amount of standard equipment, including a 2.3-inch Productivity Screen, a front 40/20/40 vinyl-covered bench seat, cargo-box tie downs, 17-inch steel wheels, and Halogen headlights.
Next up is the XLT, which builds upon the XL by adding more equipment on top of the applicable standard features from that model. That includes a SecuriCode entry keypad, fog lights, cruise control, an auxiliary audio input jack, cloth seats, chrome trim, and Ford’s Sync infotainment system.
Superseding the XLT is the Lariat, which adds dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, front heated seats, and woodgrain interior trim.
The penultimate F-150 model is the King Ranch, which brings this truck further into luxury territory with features like a Sony audio system with HD Radio, a heated steering will with power (and memory) tilt and telescoping, and a flow-through center console.
Finally, there’s the F-150 Platinum. In addition to the applicable standard features from the other models, the Platinum includes power-deployable running boards, remote engine start, 20-inch alloy wheels, and its own upscale wood and leather interior trim.
Exterior/Interior
The 2015 Ford F-150 features handsome exterior styling borrowed from recent Ford concept trucks and Super Duty models, but the biggest headline isn’t the look of the skin, but the skin itself.
That’s because the F-150 has an aluminum body, which Ford says cuts up to 700 pounds compared to the last model. Ford used a military-grade alloy in what is the largest-scale deployment of aluminum in a product vehicle so far.
At the back, the bed is more than just an aluminum box. It features a remote unlocking tailgate, bed step, LED lighting, and accessory ramps and tiedowns for different cargo.
The interior seems more like that of a luxury car than a truck. Even base models come standard with Ford’s Productivity Screen, but the full suite of Sync infotainment features—including voice control—can be specified. There’s also a 360-degree camera that makes parking a breeze.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2015 Ford F-150 includes anti-lock brakes, and stability and traction controls. Front, side, and curtain airbags are standard, with rear seatbelt airbags optional. A blind-spot intervention system with cross-traffic alert is also available as an option.
Bottom Line
The 2015 Ford F-150 has all of the virtues of a traditional full-size truck, but the fuel efficiency and technology that’s become expected of all modern vehicles.
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* EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary.
** MSRP Shown. Price excludes destination and handling.
Image: Ford
