2019 F-150 Continues to Rule the Roost
Newer competitors have emerged, but Ford’s full-size truck still holds its own against them, says Business Insider.
Product cycles make the automotive industry interesting. If every automaker introduced their vehicles simultaneously, it would be harder to judge how a particular design holds up over time. Case in point: The Ford F-150. General Motors and Fiat Chrysler introduced completely redesigned versions of the Silverado and Ram 1500 within the last several years. Do they outclass the Ford, or does the Blue Oval’s crown jewel still shine brightly?
That’s the question Matthew DeBord of Business Insider asked himself when he conducted a comparison test that pitted the F-150 against the Silverado. He concluded that while the Silverado is a very competent truck, the F-150 is better. DeBord’s verdict matches what pretty much everyone has been saying about the Ford.
It should be noted that the trucks DeBord reviewed had a large price delta between them. He first reviewed a $57,000 2019 Silverado LTZ, then decided to compare it to the $72,000 F-150 Limited you see above. A price gap that large is noteworthy, but does it really matter? In terms of interior amenities, probably. But overall a lot of the features, most notably the powertrain, will be similar to a $57,000 F-150. For example, a SuperCrew Raptor retails for around $55,000, and that model comes equipped with the same high-output 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 that DeBord had in his tester.
To that end, DeBord starts off by commenting on the aesthetics of the Ford. “To my eye, it’s all a bit heavy, but it could also be called busy,” says DeBord. We feel that Ford’s latest iteration of the F-150 is actually pretty restrained for what it is. But he does have a fair point. Nearly every truck on the market boasts an aggressive front end.
Although he was ambivalent about the F-150’s front end, DeBord really liked the Limited’s interior. He especially enjoyed the two-tone leather seats, which he called “el primo” and “supremely comfortable.” Sync 3 also won him over. “The Sync 3 system is generally superb, with excellent navigation, easy Bluetooth pairing, USB integration, and a Sirius XM introductory subscription” says DeBord. He also enjoyed the Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. He did find the eight-inch touchscreen to be a bit modest by contemporary standards, but it appears that Ford is rectifying that for the upcoming 2021 model.
DeBord also highlighted the additions that make the Limited stand out from the lower-priced trims. The embossed driver’s armrest and the real wood above the glove box earned praise from him for their quality. His overall conclusion? “As a full-size pickup, it has almost no flaws. The brilliance of the high-output V6 is tough to overstate,” says DeBord.
As for the Silverado, DeBord also called out the Chevy for it’s overly aggressive grille, but he did conclude that the Ford does it a bit better. He liked the headlight design, but didn’t Ford do this overall package first? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery though, so we can understand why GM did it.
‘As a full-size pickup, it has almost no flaws. The brilliance of the high-output V6 is tough to overstate.’
On the inside, DeBord generally liked how Chevy positioned everything in the cabin. The four wheel drive controls and powertrain buttons were a standout for him due to their location to the left of the steering wheel. He also felt that Chevy’s touchscreen was a bit more responsive than the Sync 3 unit. DeBord also really enjoyed the Chevy’s column-mounted shifter. While that might free up some space in the center console, it should be noted that manual shifting mode becomes much harder because GM placed the gear shift buttons directly on the stalk. DeBord doesn’t mention that but one of his pictures demonstrates it.
There is one notable feature that Ford could use on their trucks. Chevy’s integrated side step bumpers are a very useful feature for shorter people who need help getting into the bed. Aesthetically they don’t look great, but their location is unbeatable and it would be nice to see them on future Ford trucks. DeBord justifiably highlights them.
DeBord was satisfied by the Silverado and he found it to be a competitive entry in the full-size truck segment. Nearly everything the Chevy did was worthy of his praise, and he especially liked how much luxury was contained in the truck. He was surprised at how well the Chevy’s interior held up when compared to the F-150 Limited, despite the vast price discrepancy between the two.
Ultimately, DeBord gives the F-150 first place because of the high-output EcoBoost V6. “The Chevy 6.2-liter is a beast, but the EcoBoost 3.5-liter high-output is a masterpiece. You could almost say that Ford is cheating with this configuration. At no time did I think I was helming an underpowered rig” says DeBord. Ford’s turbocharged engines debuted with excellent refinement and easily available power right out of the gate, so DeBord’s conclusion is understandable. Every iteration of the 3.5 liter EcoBoost is great, and owners can easily modify the engine to get way more output if desired. DeBord’s review shows that while the F-150 may not be the newest full size truck on the market, it’s still the best. We can only imagine that the upcoming redesign will take things up a notch.
Photos: Business Insider