Ford's F-150 has been America's best-selling truck for the past 26 years.
Ford's F-150 has been America's best-selling truck for the past 26 years, but will the all-new-for-2004 version have what it takes to keep it at the top of the sales charts? It had the stuff to carry the day in our Truck of the Year voting, earning it an automatic spot in our one-year-test fleet. Our 4x4 SuperCrew came trimmed in Silver Clearcoat Metallic and packing Ford's new three-valve 5.4-liter Triton V-8 backed by a four-speed automatic transmission.
To the $34,185 base price we added $225 worth of LT275/65R18 all-terrain Goodyear tires, the $350 trailer-towing package, the Audiophile sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer (at $545), heated exterior mirrors and autodim interior mirror ($165), aluminum bed extender ($195), $320 for a set of 18-inch machined-aluminum wheels, $245 for the reverse-sensing system, $285 for the power-driver's seat, and $1150 for the leather-trimmed sport captain's chairs. With $795 in destination charges, our F-150 totaled a not-insignificant $38,460, but it is a lot of truck. So far, it's meeting our every expectation, and there are no problems to report.
Click on above image to view the larger version of the Ford F-150 Engine and Interior.
From The Logbook
"Every time I climb into the new-gen F-150, I'm surprised and delighted by how inviting the interior is."
--Ron Sessions
| 2004 Ford F-150 |
| Base price | $34,185 |
| Price as tested | $38,460 |
| Vehicle layout | Front engine, 4wd, 4-door, 5-pass |
| Engine | 5.4L V-8, SOHC, 3 valves/cyl |
| Hp @ rpm | 300 @ 5000 |
| Torque @ rpm | 365 @ 3750 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph, sec | 8.9 |
| EPA mpg | 14 city/18 highway |
| Total mileage | 2163 |
| Average test mpg | 13.5 |
| Problem areas | None |
| Non-warr cost | $0 |