The F-150 isn’t just Ford’s best-selling model, but the best pickup to date. It’s versatile, powerful, efficient and affordable. The recipe has been copied by lots of manufacturers, but none have come even close to matching Ford’s F-150. It is, for all intents and purposes, all the truck you’re ever going to need. It’s a great daily driver, a workhorse when you need it to be and a genuine off-roader should you wish to let your adventurous self out.
Now in its thirteenth generation, the 2017 Ford F-150, which made its big redesign debut back in 2015, gets a few upgrades for the 2017 version, keeping it ahead of the pack. Although most of the changes are found underneath, they add up to make a significant difference.
EXTERIOR RUGGEDNESS
From the outside, the vehicle is instantly recognizable as an F-150. Ford has gone down a different styling route for the 2017 F-150 current generation, but it still pays homage to its F-150 predecessors. A striking exterior displaying bold ruggedness is perhaps the best way to describe the design from the outside. It’s aggressive and purposeful with just the right amount of understatement. The flagship trims with the running boards and LED headlights turn heads left and right, not something we expected from such a large pickup truck.
The biggest change comes in the form of its structure. This 2017 Ford F-150 is made almost entirely from aluminum. Only the frame itself remains high-strength steel to maintain the same level of rigidity and integrity. This drastic change has knocked off almost 750 pounds from the older F-150s, a staggering amount for such a large pickup. So although it still looks large and bulky, it’s a genuine athlete underneath.
COMFORTABLE INTERIOR FUNCTIONALITY
Though not flashy, the interior of the 2017 Ford F-150 is a superb mix of luxury, heavy duty and style. The dashboard and center console are well thought out and the layout of everything is extremely intuitive. Ford has used high-quality materials to build this cabin, and it definitely shows everywhere throughout. You can’t find cheap plastics anywhere, but instead you see a high quality build with long lasting materials.
Both front and rear seats of the 2017 F-150 provide plenty of support without compromising comfort. The standard leather bucket seats on the Lariat are well-shaped and keep you comfortable over thousands of miles at a time. They also come with heating and ventilation functions as an added bonus.
Wind and road noise are basically nonexistent on the highway, even with the larger, wider tow mirrors. While there is a bit of engine noise entering the cabin, it can be expected from a pickup truck, and it’s still quite minimal. In fact, it’s a pleasant soundtrack reminding passengers of the power capabilities, especially if the truck is equipped with the massive V8. It rumbles at idle with an eight cylinder orchestra only a Ford V8 can emit.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The F-150 is offered with five different engine choices, but only two come with the new ten-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5L V6, 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and 5.0L Coyote V8 all feature the older six speed automatic transmission. While, by no means is the six speed a bad transmission, but the updated ten speed unit is just that much slicker, faster and more efficient. It shifts so quickly and smoothly that if it weren’t for the gear display you wouldn’t be able to figure out which gear you’re in. Impressively, the transmission always seems to be in the right gear, regardless if you’re asking for power or fuel economy.
This new ten speed automatic transmission is only paired with Ford’s 3.5L EcoBoost six cylinder engine outputting 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. If you want power though, the high output version of this same engine is found in the Raptor model, outputting 450 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
This new engine and transmission combination makes for one deadly weapon. It’s effortless performance both on and off road. It’s the ultimate go-anywhere do-anything truck that money can buy.
While quite large in size, the 2017 Ford F-150 may prove tricky for some drivers to maneuver, but with the enhanced park assist, automated parallel and reverse parking will help to reduce the anxiety.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The 2017 Ford F-150 is offered in 7 different models with various sizes of engines, cabs and beds, so you can definitely find the one that’s right for the job. Although the new 10-speed transmission unit is a joint venture between Ford and GM, the Silverado from GM still doesn’t even come close to matching the F-150 as an overall package. If you’re after the best pickup on the market, look no further. It can be used for almost any purpose, which is one of its best selling features.
