2005 Ford F-150: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The best-selling vehicle in America returns for 2005 with a new base engine and available manual transmission. Ford's F-150 pickup is available in regular-, extended-, and crew-cab body styles. All cabs have four doors. The regular cab mimics the SuperCab extended cab with standard rear-hinged "half doors." The SuperCrew crew cab has four conventional doors. Extendeds and crews have a rear bench seat for 6-passenger capacity. Crews have a 5.5-ft-long cargo bed. Other F-150s use beds of 5.5, 6.5, and 8 ft, depending on model. All come in flat-side Styleside form; the 6.5-ft bed also comes as a flare-fender Flareside.

The base 4.2-liter V6 has 202 hp. Two V8 engines are available: a 4.6-liter with 231 hp and a 5.4 with 300. A 5-speed manual transmission is now standard on V6 models. A 4-speed automatic is standard on V8 models and available with the V6.

All models offer rear-wheel drive or 4WD that should not be left engaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. No side airbags are available. Extended cabs' rear half doors can be fitted with roll-down windows, unique among large pickups. Tailgates have helper springs designed to make them easier to close.

Six model levels are offered: work-oriented XL, sporty STX, mainstream XLT, off-road FX4, luxury Lariat, and new SuperCrew-exclusive King Ranch. Trim variations and three different instrument-panel designs help differentiate the models. Cabs are available with modular overhead storage compartments to house rear DVD entertainment, among other accessories. For '05, a new Work Truck package is available for XL models.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Large Pickup Trucks are traditionally the vehicle of choice for heavy-duty hauling and towing. They offer an array of cab styles and bed lengths and usually feature powerful V8 or diesel engines. For personal use, consider light-duty ½-ton models. For heavy-duty or commercial use, consider ¾- or 1-ton models.

Our Best Buys include the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, and GMC Sierra. Our Recommended picks are the Dodge Ram, Nissan Titan, and Toyota Tundra.