2003 Ford F-150: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

This report covers the half-ton version of Ford's full-size pickup, which gains two new special editions for 2003. F-150 offers three cab styles. Regular cabs have two side doors. SuperCab extended cabs add two back-hinged rear doors that do not open independently of the front doors; SuperCabs include a 3-place rear bench seat. SuperCrew crew cabs have four conventional doors and a roomier 3-passenger rear seat. Regular and SuperCabs offer cargo beds of 6.5 or 8 ft; SuperCrews use a 5.5-ft bed. The 6.5-ft bed comes in flat-side Styleside form or as a flare-fender Flareside; the other beds are Styleside only. F-150s are available with rear-wheel drive or 4WD that must be disengaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing. Engines are a 4.2-liter V6 or V8s of 4.6 and 5.4 liters. The 5.4 comes only with automatic transmission, the others with manual or automatic. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. The SVT Lightning is a high-performance 2WD regular cab with a 380-hp supercharged 5.4 V8 and sport suspension. The Harley-Davidson Edition is a SuperCrew with exclusive 20-inch wheels, special trim, and a 340-hp supercharged 5.4. The FX4 Off-Road package includes heavy-duty shock absorbers, skid plates, unique body cladding, and 17-inch all-terrain tires.

For 2003, F-150s gain extra sound deadening, and a rear-window defogger is available for the first time; it's standard on all but XL and XLT models. XL and XLT regular cabs and extended cabs can be equipped in new STX trim, a $995 appearance ensemble aimed at 25-35 year olds. It includes specific interior touches, plus body-color exterior features set off by a chrome grille surround, chrome tubular step bars, and bright 17-inch wheels. Also new is the Heritage Edition for the XLT SuperCab. It marks the 100th year of Ford Motor Co. and includes a 2-tone exterior, badging, and other appearance items. The current truck will carryover into '04 as the F-150 Heritage. Unchanged regular and extended cab models will be offered in XL and XLT form.

COMPETITION

With the advent of crossover vehicles, this segment has become less defined. Once the domain of work-related heavy-duty pickups, buyers are now demanding that their full-size trucks do double duty. Our Best Buys remain Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, and GMC Sierra. These trucks offer a wide range of powertrain combinations, plenty of luxury accommodations, and ample towing power--though the GM twins are the only ones to offer full-time 4WD and convenient 4-wheel steering.

Big-rig-styled Dodge Ram matches the new Ford and GM models in most aspects but can't match their ride comfort or civility. We also like the expensive Toyota Tundra. What it lacks in brute strength, it more than makes up for with refined road manners.