Leaving Los Angeles on a family vacation, we drove west on I-40, cutting across the desert on Highway 95 and then over Highway 163 into Laughlin, Nevada. Suitcases, chairs, coolers, pop-up canopy, three passengers, and a jet ski in tow proved no match for the F-150.
Putting over 800 miles on a vehicle in a few days can give you a pretty good idea of how well it's able to perform the tasks for which it was intended.
The interior of our Lariat long-term tester is a great place from which to watch the miles roll by. The adjustable steering wheel and power-adjustable seats and pedals allow any driver to find a comfortable position. Legroom is plentiful for front and rear seat passengers, even with the front seats back as far as they will go. The ride was quiet and smooth, both of which came as quite a surprise in a 4x4 truck.
The controls are logically located and operate with no fuss. The Ford SYNC entertainment system is simple to use when linked to an iPod and provides great sound. The A/C, aided by the cooled front leather seats, cools the cabin quickly after a day parked in the blazing sun where temperatures were routinely 110-plus.
The only complaint on the interior came from the front and rear passengers. All during the trip, they had to keep unbuckling their seatbelts, retract them to get them to unlock, and then rebuckle. This never happened with the driver's seatbelt.
Our truck is equipped with the backup camera and sensors. The camera made hooking up to the trailer a breeze. The backup sensors were another story. The constant beeping while backing down the boat ramp was a bit unnerving. You can turn the sensors off by toggling through a menu with a button on the dash; however, it must be done while the vehicle is in park. A busy boat ramp is not the place to do this. The sensors will automatically reset to the On position each time the vehicle is started. I would forget about that until it was my turn to back down the ramp, when it was too late to stop and toggle through the menu again.
Driving a big truck through a parking garage can be intimidating, even more so when you've got a jet ski trailer hitched to the back. Our tester maneuvered easily through the parking garage or city streets. The trailer towing mirrors make lane changes easy and allow you to keep your eyes on all the traffic.
On the freeway, with the cruise control set to 65-70, we averaged 16.4 mpg according to the on-board computer. That isn't bad, considering the size and weight of this truck.
Overall everyone came away impressed with the F150. If you need a truck but don't want to give up the ride and quiet of a car, the F150 is a perfect compromise.