For hundreds of years, Individuals have held a fascination with dimension and energy. From their meals to their properties, the US is famend for doing every part on a grand scale. This obsession extends to autos, together with the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT.
Re-engineered, or remanufactured in the event you desire, to right-hand drive for the Australian market, the F-150 has undergone a metamorphosis, with every part from the steering rack to the seat controls, wiring harnesses and equipment selector meticulously transformed.
The brake pedal meeting, brake traces, local weather management system, exterior mirrors, and even voice command have additionally been switched, with the extent of element and energy put into this conversion greatest described as outstanding.
A traditional American pickup, the F-150 exudes nostalgia, with a touch of journey, if just for its shear dimension. The XLT variant we’re testing is the lengthy wheel-base model and options halogen headlights and a putting entrance finish that instructions consideration.
It’s so huge it’s exhausting to overlook, let’s be sincere. As you progress down the aspect, you realise simply how lengthy the truck is, measuring greater than 6.0-metres in size. The 20-inch wheels add a pleasant contact, and the kink within the home windows provides an nearly semi-trailer look.
Weirdly, the push button within the door deal with is on the passenger aspect, and clearly received missed within the conversion. That apart, the rear of the truck options LED taillights, an built-in step for simple entry, and a ruler printed on the tailgate.
The rear tub is protected with a spray-in mattress liner, LED lighting and tie-down hooks for added comfort. When it comes to load capability and dimensions, the mattress is just below 1700mm huge, 545mm in depth, and a couple of.0m lengthy (brief wheelbase is 300mm shorter).
The payload capability is 710kg, the GVM is 3265kg, and the towing capability is 4500kg, making the Ford F-150 a dependable and succesful workhorse for varied duties. Inside, there’s loads of exhausting plastics, which can disappoint some.
That apart, the cabin is well-designed, with such good touches as simply accessible seize handles, and knobs for the local weather and quantity controls. The structure is utilitarian however useful, which works nicely for practicality.
The fabric seats, that are powered up entrance, really feel premium and are surprisingly plush, with unimaginable assist. Within the rear, there’s ample head and knee room, making it simple for even taller people to get comfy. You can even lay throughout the seats for a kip.
The flat flooring supplies loads of area to stretch out, and in the event you want room to stack stuff again there (as soon as the monstrous tray is full), the rear seats might be raised for extra storage.
Creature comforts embrace two massive cup holders in a drop down console, a 12-volt outlet, a USB-C and USB-A port. For these needing to suit a child seat, there are ISOFIX anchor factors on each outboard seats, in addition to prime tether factors.
The sheer dimension of the truck additionally makes becoming a child seat simple, with loads of room to retailer further gadgets on the ground. Again up entrance, steering wheel adjustment is handbook, however you’ll be able to alter the pedals, making it easy to attain the right driving place.
Seemingly countless storage choices abound too, together with supersized door bins and cup holders. Notably, the storage compartment within the centre console stands out as one of many largest we’ve seen, able to storing a laptop computer.
It’s geared up with USB-C and USB-A ports, and there are a heap of these littered all through the console, in addition to a 12V socket. The break up glove field supplies further choices, and the armrest that covers the central storage might be transformed to a piece desk.
An 8.0-inch infotainment show and equally sized semi-digital driver’s show perform successfully. The mixing of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is welcome too.
When it comes to security, the Ford F150 XLT LWB come geared up with autonomous emergency braking, emergency help, blind spot monitoring, lane hold help, a reverse digicam, cruise management and rear parking sensors.
The get together piece although must be what Ford calls Professional Trailer Backup Help, which permits for handy management of the truck when towing. Through the use of a swivel wheel situated simply left of the steering wheel, drivers can simply manoeuvre the trailer into tight areas.
But it surely’s on the highway the place the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT LWB defies expectations with its driving prowess. Regardless of sporting a 3.5-litre V6 twin turbo engine in lieu of a conventional V8, this truck nonetheless affords 298kW of energy and 678Nm of torque.
The ten-speed automated transmission seamlessly transfers all this energy to the rear wheels, permitting the F150 XLT to go from 0 to 100km/h in simply over 6.5 seconds. Not solely does it pack a punch, however it additionally affords spectacular gasoline effectivity.
With its 136-litre tank full, you’ll be able to common 11-7 to 12.3-litres/100km and anticipate no less than 1000km in journey vary from a single fill (unladen, in fact). That’s unimaginable contemplating the dimensions and weight of this factor.
It excels at lengthy journeys and cruising, offering a easy and responsive trip. The ample energy and torque permits for a powerful blast of acceleration when required, which undoubtably provides to the driving expertise.
The exact steering makes manoeuvring by means of metropolis streets surprisingly simple, though it’s on the highways the place it actually shines, feeling way more like its smaller Ranger sibling {that a} huge American pickup.
It does fall brief from being good when parking although, or in the case of such duties as executing a three-point flip, with the latter turning right into a cumbersome 100-point manoeuvre.
Off the overwhelmed path, the F-150 is well-equipped with 4H, 4L, and a rear locking diff for while you wish to get soiled. The truck’s suspension could really feel bouncy on uneven surfaces, however its concentrate on long-distance driving slightly than off-roading is clear.
Its quiet cabin and big towing capability make it a flexible selection, whereas seven driving modes imply its prepared for something. It’s a formidable powerhouse while you put all of the components collectively.
Priced at $107,950 plus on-roads, it’s loads of truck for the cash. It additionally makes loads of sense in case you have an enormous boat or caravan to haul across the countryside. It exudes traditional American pickup vibes, and is strong and spacious.
Up towards the likes of the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, it’s actually price greater than a sideways look. You will discover out extra by visiting the Ford Australia web site, or by speaking to your native dealership.
To get a low fee finance quote in your subsequent car buy, discuss to Australia’s greatest reviewed automobile finance dealer; Credit score One. To see an incredible vary of autos on the market, take a look at OnlyCars.com.au.
Our take a look at car was offered by Ford Australia for impartial evaluate functions.