Here’s What Top Auto Critics Are Saying about the 2018 F-150
Detroit Free Press, Automobile, Motor Trend, and Pickup Trucks all rave about the 2018 F-150. Surprised? We didn’t think so.
As the best-selling car in the U.S., Ford had large shoes to fill with the 2018 F-150. The automaker had the difficult job of improving on an already incredible vehicle, while ensuring that consumers still received something that lived up to the old F-150. Well, Ford did the impossible, as top automotive critics had nothing but good things to say about the new pickup truck.
While the 2018 F-150 got a host of changes, major upgrades took place under the pickup truck’s hood. “Engine and transmission improvements that deliver more power and higher fuel economy power the updated Ford F-150’s bid to remain America’s best-selling vehicle,” says the Detroit Free Press. The recipe to get more power and better fuel economy figures, as Automobile points out, has taken place throughout the truck’s entire lineup of powertrains. Everything from the new entry-level engine, the 3.3-liter naturally-aspirated V6, to the 5.0-liter V8 has direct-injection technology.
And the new technology really helps the new 3.3-liter V6 shine. “Starting out in the 2015 F-150’s 3.3-liter V6, the max acceleration rate felt perfectly competitive with other base engines,” says Motor Trend. “Once the V-6 builds up some steam, its performance is stout – you won’t be winning any drag races, but this motor isn’t meant to race; it’s there to work,” says Pickup Trucks.
Stepping into the next engine up, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, which, as Motor Trend puts it, “brings a big bump in performance.” “Drop the hammer, and the transmission instantly selects the ideal ratio for peak acceleration from your current speed, always landing in a sweet spot along the broad, flat torque curve and frequently delivering a sharp jolt of acceleration,” says the outlet.
Automobile Mag found the 2.7-liter engine with the 10-speed automatic transmission to be the best powertrain. “Of all the variants I drove, this engine was the one I’d pick for myself, and the one I think suits most buyers,” says the outlet. “The marriage with this new 10-speed is indeed a happy one; gear selection is always on point and shift action is both smooth and consistent.”
The 5.0-liter V8 engine will draw die-hard fans in with its old-school charm, which isn’t a bad thing. “The 5.0-liter V-8 does make 395 hp and 400 pounds-feet of torque, so it’s still a robust engine that can deliver some highly motivating thrust when called upon,” says PickupTrucks.com. The sound is another highlight of the naturally-aspirated V8 motor. “The sound alone makes me understand why,” says Automobile Mag. “When I dug deep into the power well, the entire cabin of the V-8 powered Lariat SuperCrew 4×4 filled with a bassy roar, and the smoothness of predictability of the free-breathing V-8 has a strong appeal.”
The top dog, though, is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which makes towing a breeze. Automobile Mag didn’t get much time in a F-150 with the 3.5-liter engine, but the outlet did get to park a boat with the truck. “While I was nowhere near the truck’s best-in-class max towing capacity of 13,200 pounds, I had no trouble backing the boat into the water,” said the outlet.
While pickup trucks look like old-school machines that don’t have any high-tech goodies, the new F-150 is fitted with various features, including the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system that makes any driver a towing pro. “The steering wheel takes care of itself, so all you have to do is watch the mirrors and adjust as necessary,” says Automobile Mag. “Piece of cake.”
PickupTrucks.com provided a full list of new features on the F-150, which includes “an excellent B&O Play premium audio system by Bang & Olufsen, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go that works even when you’re trailering a load, a precollision system with pedestrian detection and autonomous emergency braking, and a new Wi-Fi system…” Clearly, the new F-150 isn’t some old pickup truck.
All of the outlets were blown away by the new F-150, especially with the truck’s new powertrains. And the Detroit Free Press summarized the pickup perfectly. “It was smooth and quiet in the lake and horse county west of Ann Arbor,” says the outlet. “The interior was roomy, quiet and luxurious…”
With new powertrains, more high-tech features, and a classier look, we agree with the auto critics when they say that the latest F-150 is one of best vehicles to wear a Ford badge. The new 2018 variant will definitely help the automaker retain the title of being the best selling vehicle in the U.S.