2010 Ford F-150 Review and Prices
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Price: $22,795 - $47,475
MPG: 15 / 21 / 17
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2010 Ford F-150 Buying Advice
The 2010 Ford F-150 is the best truck for you if you’re more impressed by performance on the road than by numbers on a spec sheet.
The 2010 Ford F-150 is an encore to the redesigned F-150 that debuted for 2009. Styling, features, and body configurations repeat, but a high-tech twin-turbo V-6 is slated to join the engine lineup. This engine, Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, has the power of a V-8 and the fuel economy of a six.
Should you buy a 2009 Ford F-150 or wait for the 2010 Ford F-150? We would have advised waiting for the 2010 Ford F-150 had Ford followed though on its plan to offer a diesel engine in this half-ton pickup. It’s a big deal to get the extended range and extra towing muscle of a diesel V-8 without the expense and mass of a three-quarter or one-ton truck. But as the economic tide turned, Ford saw what it would have to charge for the diesel (a lot) and what buyers would pay to fuel it (15-20-percent more than gasoline). Ford decided the EcoBoost made more near-term sense. We should mention that with two turbochargers, direct fuel injection, all-aluminum construction, and other advanced do-dads, the EcoBoost won’t be a bargain-priced option. And while it’s likely to be added to the F-150 engine roster during calendar 2010, Ford hasn’t decided whether the EcoBoost F-150 will be designated a 2010 or 2011 model. So unless you’re itchin’ for EcoBoost, go for the 2009 F-150. It’s a buyer’s market, and the 2009 model won’t be distinguishable from a 2010.
2010 Ford F-150 Changes back to top
Styling: The big, square nose, soaring slab sides, and ribbed tailgate introduced with the 2009 redesign return on the 2010 Ford F-150. This truck is on average a couple of inches longer than the 2004-2008 F-150 generation, but the only major change in wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear axles) is a six-inch stretch for the SuperCrew crew cab model, which now has cavernous rear seating. The SuperCrew is again offered alongside the two-door regular-cab and the extended SuperCab model, which has small, rear-hinged back doors. Bed lengths of 5.5, 6.5, and 8 feet are available. Ford has strengthened this truck’s frame, though the F-150 doesn’t follow the latest Dodge Ram 1500 by switching to a coil-spring rear suspension. Passenger-compartment trim ranges from plebian to platinum, with slightly retro-looking main gauges and a monolithic central stack of audio and climate controls.
Mechanical: Horsepower numbers don’t tell the whole story when it comes to half-ton pickups. Indeed, the 2010 Ford F-150 offers two versions of a 4.6-liter V-8, which, at 248 and 292 horsepower, have less horsepower than the competition’s entry-level V8s. And the F-150s top engine, the 5.4-liter Triton V-8 with 320 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, is 70-80 horsepower shy of its rivals’ top V-8s. But the F-150’s re-engineered ladder frame and astute final-drive ratios compensate by substituting strength and efficiency for any power deficits, Ford says. It claims the F-150 meets or beats comparable competitors for towing and hauling capability. With the 5.4 V-8, Ford tops all rivals with a trailer rating of 11,300 pounds and a payload ceiling of 3,030 pounds. Towing and hauling would have been even easier with the “Power Stroke” diesel V-8, which packs well over 400 pound-feet of torque and would have delivered a 20-percent improvement in fuel economy over the Triton 5.4. Power and fuel economy on a more modest scale are the goals of Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, versions of which appeared first in the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS cars and the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT crossover SUVs. The F-150’s EcoBoost should have about 340 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque while weighing some 175 pounds less than a V-8.
Features: Convenience and communications are the bywords. Cargo beds can be equipped with a variety of storage-management systems, including water-tight side storage boxes, movable panels, and a bed extender. To help you more easily reach into the bed, metal steps slide from beneath the sides or rear of the truck. Towing is made less intimidating with sway control that automatically applies selected brakes or modulates engine power when it detects wayward trailer motion. Reducing marital stress is a reverse camera that simplifies trailer hook-up. Hands-free control of cell phone and audio function is possible with the Ford/Microsoft Sync system. Voice-activated navigation can display real-time weather maps and localized fuel prices. USB iPod connectivity and 5.1 surround sound also are available.
2010 Ford F-150 Prices back to top
Seven trim levels, three cab styles, a trio of bed lengths, two- and four-wheel drive, and a slate of five engines makes up the 2010 Ford F-150 catalog. Prices for 2010 models were unavailable in time for this report, but expect modest increases over 2009 prices, which ranged from $21,320 to $44,860, not including options.
Start with the entry-level XL trim level, which for 2009 began at $21,320 in regular-cab form. The STX models began at $24,120, and the XLTs at $25,290. The popular XLT SuperCab started at $29,160. Upscale Lariat models had a base price of $33,160, the off-road-oriented FX4 went for $34,605. King Ranch versions with standard heated and cooled and other amenities began at $39,815. The F-150’s new top-line Platinum edition has a satin chrome grille with fine-mesh inserts, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, tuxedo-stitched leather upholstery, and cabin accents of real wood and brushed aluminum. It started at $41,415.
Prices with the EcoBoost V-6 were not available in time for this report, but it should carry a slight premium over either of the 4.6-liter V-8s.
2010 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy back to top
Don’t look for a fuel-sipper among full-size pickups, but there are economies of scale, so to speak. Ford’s best effort is the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package, which combines a two-wheel-drive F-150 with the 292-horsepower 4.6 V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission to attain an EPA estimate of 15 mpg city/21 highway. It’s downhill from there for the gas V-8s. The 248-horsepower 4.6, which uses four-speed automatic, rates 14/19, tops. The 5.4 Triton uses a six-speed automatic and peaks at 14/20. Look for the EcoBoost V-6 to come in around 17/22.
2010 Ford F-150 Release Date back to top
The 2010 Ford F-150 is due in showrooms by autumn 2009.
What's next for the 2010 Ford F-150 back to top
Saying the Ford F-150 was fully redesigned for 2009 is a bit misleading. It was thoroughly reworked and substantially improved, but the next true clean-sheet redesign is slated for model-year 2012 or 2013 -- if economic turmoil doesn’t disrupt Ford’s development timeline. In any event, the next-generation F-150 will be a far more aerodynamic truck than today’s. It’ll employ advances in computer-aided design that will create a frame lighter yet stronger. And it’ll use a new family of efficient turbo V-6, direct-injection V-8, and diesel engines. Meanwhile, Ford will wrestle with prospects for a baby F-150 to replace the discontinued Ranger compact pickup. This role could in effect be served by the next-generation Explorer SportTrac, which will essentially be a crew-cab pickup derived from the next-generation unibody Explorer SUV, due in model year 2011 or 2012. And it could be called the F-100. Ford also could tap its Australian arm to create a global design for a fuel-sipping subcompact pickup.
2010 Ford F-150 Competition back to top
2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: All-new for the 2007 model year, this is the oldest of the F-150’s domestic-brand competitors. It shows mostly in a dearth of rear-cabin space and in fewer cargo accessories. But Silverado stays mechanically fresh thanks to the recent introduction of a 332-horsepower gas-electric hybrid V-8 (21/22 mpg) and a hydraulic body mount for better ride comfort and control. GM did pull the plug a diesel V-8 that would have given the Silverado 1500 some 520 pound-feet of torque and estimated fuel economy of 18/23. Still, smart pricing, proven mechanicals, a wide range of features, and no-nonsense design sustain the 2010 Chevy Silverado as a formidable choice in a full-size pickup. Maximum towing capacity is 10,700 pounds. Base price range is around $18,600 to about $46,000.
2010 Dodge Ram 1500: Fully redesigned for the 2009 model year, it acquires a hybrid-engine option for 2010. Ram has two-fisted styling and is first in class with a rear coil-spring suspension instead of leaf springs. Highlights include a best-ever Hemi V-8 (14/20 mpg), and a gas-electric version of that Hemi powertrain (around 20/21). Dodge had also planned a diesel option for the 2010 Ram 1500; it says the engine is on hold, not scuttled altogether. Added attractions for the latest Ram 1500 include storage versatility and top-notch refinement, though at 9,100 pounds, maximum towing capacity is slightly less than that of its half-ton rivals. Ram 1500 base prices are in the $23,000-$46,000 range.
2010 Toyota Tundra: Tundra was upsized for model-year 2007 to become the first import-brand pickup to march lockstep with Ford, GM, and Dodge in the half-ton arena. It offers 231-horsepower V-6 and 271- and 381-horsepower V-8 engines, plus a competitive selection of cab types and bed styles, but no diesel-engine or hybrid options. Bad timing and some early design snafus defused its impact, but Tundra is worth considering if your loyalty isn’t pledged to one of its domestic rivals. This pickup is built in the U.S. Fuel-economy ratings peak at 15/19 and dip to 13/17, depending on engine choice. Maximum towing capacity is 10,800 pounds. Base price range is around $24,000-$44,000.