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The Ford F150 pickup is my favorite vehicle. You should just know that up front. It's not the truck I currently own, but when I replace it, I plan to have an F150 in my driveway.
I've had the chance to test drive a Ford F-150 each year since 2021, and they've gotten better every year. My test drive model this time was the XLT version. And even though there are fancier versions with additional options, the XLT still offers almost everything most people need in a pickup truck.
I had the truck for a week and drove it from Bountiful to Spanish Fork and everywhere in between. I didn't get to test the 4-wheel drive and I didn't tow anything, but I did haul a couple loads of animal feed. I know from prior experience that the F-150 can handle most of Utah's back roads without an issue and it can easily pull my big boat.
Car and Driver gives it a 9/10 rating and states: "It's been a long time since the Ford F-150 was a mere workhorse, and for 2024 it's an even more modern tool for the modern truck buyer. It's also one you'll find on our 2024 Editors' Choice list."
Edmunds.com ranked it No. 1 in its large truck category and wrote: "The updated 2024 Ford F-150 is a better truck than before thanks to revised exterior styling, a new base engine, and updated tech and driver aids. It performs well in everything we expect from a truck, especially when it comes to towing and hauling."
This was my first opportunity to drive a vehicle with a hands-free option. I used it to go from Point of the Mountain to Bountiful and I only touched the steering wheel three times. In comparison, The first truck I drove sometime in the 1970s had a manual choke, a manual transmission and a knob to help the driver turn the steering wheel. Driving without holding onto the steering wheel is something I never imagined.
Here are some of the features that make the Ford F-150 my No. 1 choice for a vehicle.
Comfort and interior
For me, the full-size Ford truck lineup has the most comfortable seats of any vehicle, and I've sat in lots. My wife loves them as well – so much that she is all in on the idea of our next truck being an F-150. She even offered to trade in our luxury SUV.
Of course you can get the optional fold-flat seats that allow you to more comfortably sleep in your truck. Here's a link to a YouTube video that explains why the Max Recline seats are unique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1_sqlQqk7g.
New for 2024, a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard on all F-150 models. In case you haven't experienced a 12-inch vehicle display, it's like having a laptop computer built into the dash. Your music and navigation are easy to control via Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
In addition to the touchscreen, the Ford F-150 has a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. In addition to showing information on things like speed, fuel and RPMs,the cluster can display two views in Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Rock Crawl Drive modes.That means if you are negotiating a tough stretch of road you can view directly in front to avoid rocks or ruts that might not be visible to you through the windshield.
The safety features on new rides are incredible. The f-150 has Ford's Co-Pilot 360 technology that includes blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. There is also a back-up assist that makes it simple to back up a trailer.
One of my favorite features is the 360-degree camera package. The all-sides view makes it easier to confidently squeeze into tight parking spaces or to hook up a trailer.
Performance and Blue Cruise
New for 2024, the base engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Several engine upgrades are available, including a 5.0-liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. My tester had plenty of acceleration merging onto the freeway and for a full-size truck, the handling is responsive.
An available option is Ford's BlueCruise system, allowing for hands-free highway driving when conditions permit. Ford reports, "Whether you're in stop-and-go traffic or on a long road trip, BlueCruise controls the steering, braking, acceleration, and lane-centering. A driver-facing camera tracks eye gaze and head position to help ensure your eyes stay on the road while your hands are off the wheel. BlueCruise works collaboratively with the driver, helping reduce the fatigue of driving, allowing you to arrive more refreshed and energized at your destination."
I'll admit to being a little nervous when I crossed Point of the Mountain going north, activated the Blue Cruise and took my hands off the wheel. I'd only driven a couple of miles when it signaled that it was time for me to take the wheel again. I'm not sure the exact issue, but traffic was heavy and I was coming around the big curve before the Bangerter Highway exit. A couple miles later Blue Cruise signaled that hands-free driving was again available and it stayed engaged and allowed me to drive hands free until about 600 North.
Since this was my first hands-free driving experience, I can't say how it compares to other systems, but it accelerated and braked when needed and kept the vehicle centered in the lane during normal traffic flow on I-15. It was definitely intriguing and something I might consider if I were buying a new vehicle.
Other features
There literally isn't enough space in this review to list all of the thoughtful and handy features that have been incorporated into the F-150. Here are some worth mentioning:
- The shift lever folds flat so you can open the console into an expansive, flat work area.
- Pro Access Tailgate that has an inner section that opens to the side. It can open out a full 100 degrees, but there are also detents at 37 and 70 degrees. This makes it easier to load and unload items in the bed when connected to a trailer.
- Lockable boxes in the bed.
- Automatic high-beam headlights.
- The Pro Power Onboard option that essentially turns the F-150 into a generator. It adds power outlets in the bed meaning you can use the truck to power tools, a mini-fridge, lights, sound systems or anything else you might need.
Final thoughts
I admitted my bias at the beginning of this article. Obviously I'm not alone in my feelings because the Ford F-150 has been among the best selling vehicles in the country for nearly five decades.
I haven't mentioned the interior room, but the cab design of the F150 feels spacious. The rear seat has plenty of room for adults and handles car seats with ease. The ride is smooth and quiet. Those early trucks I drove in my younger days always rattled and they were so noisy it was hard to drive and carry on a conversation.
If you are in the market for a full-size pickup truck, you really owe it to yourself to take a look at the F-150. It likely does everything you need and some other things you haven't even thought about.
More photos below.
