2015 F-150 XL No Longer the Yugo of F-150s
Until very recently, I referred the F-150 XL option package as the “Yugo of F-150 trucks.” This is because the XL was the bare bones most basic it could get. Cloth seats designed to work hard and not play, mechanically-adjustable seats, a basic AM/FM radio, and air conditioning was pretty much all you got. That’s why that was the trim package I used to see most often when I worked in construction. It was tough and wasn’t fancy, so the guys didn’t mind beating it up.
Ford Refined the XL for 2015
That isn’t the case anymore. Now the base model isn’t so basic. Not it has Ford’s Curve Control, which makes handling on tricky roads much easier. This is coupled with AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control. The brakes are upgraded to four wheel ABS discs. It even has a sporty full gauge pack displaying all engine vital stats. There’s also a center-seat-mounted cup holder. Also fairly new for this year is the SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ standard.
The Dash Gets a Big Upgrade this Year
In years past, the dash on the XL was as basic as they come. The 2015 Ford F-150 XL gets a pretty big upgrade. There is now a 2.3 inch productivity center for the driver that displays pieces of information selected by the driver, such as engine and transmission temp, miles to the next oil change and fill-up, and more. There’s also a 4.2 inch center console (called the Center-stack Screen) with audio controls. It’s even got a CD-player now. This makes it feel more like the Lariat and King Ranch of years gone by. Ford’s Sync system also becomes available for the XL.
Comfort and Safety Upgrades
The XL for 2015 also gets upgraded airbags all-around, as well as the SecuritLoc® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS), but retains manual door locks. There’s also a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), standard. A telescoping tilt steering wheel is also standard now.
All in all, the 2015 F-150 XL isn’t your grandfather’s, or even your father’s XL anymore.