Model tested: 2018 Ford F-150 4X4 SuperCrew
Engine: 3-liter, V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: 10-speed automatic with tow/mo
EPA ratings: Unavailable
Base price: Unavailable
As tested: Unavailable
Overview: The 2018 Ford F-150 is perhaps the most innovative of today’s full-size pickups. Restyled for 2018, it boasts a lightweight, high-strength, military-grade aluminum-alloy body and lightweight, high-strength steel frame — meaning better fuel economy, improved performance, shorter stopping distances and more payload.
The F-150 is America’s best-selling pickup — although the sibling Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra together outsell it. Other competitors include the Nissan Titan, Ram 1500 and the dated Toyota Tundra.
The F-150 is available in numerous body styles and trim levels; however, nearly all F-150 buyers choose the SuperCab extended cab or SuperCrew with four full-size front-hinged doors — our test vehicle.
Ford’s SuperCrew earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As you can tell from the photos, we’re living proof of just what that means.
Walkaround: The F-150 presents an angular, more chiseled look than pre-2015 steel models. The bed and cab are built from aluminum panels, glued and riveted together and secured to the ladder frame.
Stylish rectangular headlights flank the tall grille, while the beveled hood flows air across the roof. SuperCab and SuperCrew models offer a choice of three different bed lengths.
Interior: The F-150 SuperCrew is roomy upfront, with ample reclining-rear-seat legroom. A deep, wide console big enough to hide a laptop rests between the front seats. Platinum models offer genuine wood trim.
Under the Hood: Our test driver featured the 3-liter V6 diesel married to Ford’s smooth 10-speed automatic.
Behind the Wheel: We didn’t get much seat time in the F-150. The day it was delivered, while parked out of the way of a police officer putting down a spike strip, we were rear-ended by someone running from the police. Authorities estimated the impact speed at 50-plus mph.
Bottom Line: The pictures tell the story. The Ford F-150 probably saved us from much more serious injuries than we sustained — neck and shoulder soft-tissue bruising, plus a concussion. Gives an entirely new meaning to the slogan “Built Ford Tough.”
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