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Ford carries on its pick-up tradition with the latest rendition of the F-150. The example delivered to our garage was a 2009 model with a Supercrew cab in Lariat trim. Stepping way up into the cab, which has four doors and room for five, you leave the rugged truck exterior behind for a plush interior decked out in leather and fake-wood trim.
Ford bridges the gap between an old-school truck and all the modern accouterments we love and expect, equipping the F-150 with its Sync system and inviting occupants to hook up cell phones and MP3 players in a vehicle that can carry 1,700 pounds and tow 7,100.
On the road
Our 2009 Ford F-150 4X2 Supercrew Lariat edition showed ready acceleration and easy maneuverability, given its size, thanks to the over-powered steering and good visibility to the front corners of the vehicle. The sides drop off like a cliff, so there are no hidden protrusions that might end up scraping parking garage supports. Rear visibility is aided by a rear-view camera, part of the Lariat Plus package. As our truck wasn't equipped with the optional navigation system, thus lacking an LCD in the dash, the rear-view camera display was shown on one side of the rear-view mirror, complete with distance lines.
At faster speeds, the truck-suspension becomes obvious, delivering jounces and jolts to the cabin. To accommodate heavy payloads, the F-150 is sprung high, offering a view of the side rails under the truck. Ford claims the frame is 10 percent lighter than on the previous generation of this truck, yet more rigid. As our truck was configured, the bed was only 5 feet and 7 inches long. Getting up into that bed is made easier by a step and a pole that locks into a vertical position, all integrated with the tailgate.
With the top-of-the-line 5.4-liter V-8 in our truck and rear-wheel-drive, acceleration was good, showing no problem dealing with everyday traffic on freeways. That engine makes 320 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 390 pound-feet of torque at 3,500rpm. It's tuned for work, rather than high-speed antics. A six-speed automatic delivers power seamlessly from engine to wheels. It has no real tricks, just a drive mode and three low ranges, which is appropriate for a truck.
