2009 Ford F-150

Ford F-150 takes the crown among '09 pickups

Experts say the redesigned 2009 Ford F-150 is not only the most hardworking full-size pickup truck you can buy, it's also one of the most passenger-friendly. Add excellent crash-test scores, good reliability and resale value and a unique set of very useful features, and most reviews conclude that the new F-150 is the best all-around pickup in its class.

"This truck can be whatever a buyer wants it to be," editors of Truck Trend say of the Ford F-150 -- a strategy that could prove extremely smart, as experts predict that the slow economy will see fewer people buying trucks solely for recreation or driving around town.

Most reviewers see the Dodge Ram 1500 (*Est. $21,270 to $43,240), also redesigned for 2009, as the F-150's main competition. Dodge concentrated its redesign around a powerful top-level engine and super-smooth ride. Some reliable experts say it's the better truck, but most say the new Ram neglects its working-class roots too much. The Ford F-150 boasts enormous maximum towing (11,300 pounds, more than 2,000 pounds more than the best-equipped Ram) and payload capacities (3,030 pounds, more than 1,000 more than the Dodge Ram). Some testers say the F-150 grows sluggish under load, but others say it tows more easily than other pickups.

Truck shoppers will find the Ford F-150 also includes a lot of helpful extras you won't see on other pickups, reviews say. The rear floor is flat for easy cargo loading. You can opt for a built-in trailer brake controller and steps to help you into the bed from either the side or the back of the truck.

On pavement, testers say the Ford F-150 more than holds its own. It posts one of the quickest times in one autocross test, and its excellent steering "had many judges lauding the F-150s for feeling smaller and nimbler than their Dodge counterparts" in Motor Trend's 2009 Truck of the Year competition (which the Ford F-150 wins). The F-150 does have a big turning circle, and testers differ on its ride and braking. Some say the Ford's stiff chassis makes for a serene ride, and braking distances are short. Others say the F-150 takes a long time to come to a stop, and it delivers more of the pickup jitters than the smoother-riding Dodge Ram. Critics do agree on the F-150's interior. It's enormous, seating up to six with ample legroom in back for 6-foot-tall passengers. Materials are high quality and upper trims are plush, reviews say.

Ford F-150 offers flexible (but sometimes confusing) options

The Ford F-150 comes in three cab styles. The regular cab has a 6.5- or 8-foot cargo bed and room for three with a 40/20/40 split front bench. You can get either of those beds or a short 5.5-footer on the extended SuperCab, which has narrow reverse-opening doors and room for up to six with a 60/40 flip-up rear bench (front captain's chairs are available). The Ford F-150 SuperCrew comes with either the 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed, four full-size doors and room for five or six.

Edmunds.com does a good job differentiating between the F-150's seven confusing trim levels: "base XL, sporty STX, popularly equipped XLT, rugged FX4, luxurious Lariat, leather-saddle-inspired King Ranch and blinged-out, top-dog Platinum."

The entry-level F-150 XL (*Est. $21,565 to $32,835) has vinyl upholstery and very few features, except for air conditioning and a radio (XL SuperCrew cabs get power accessories and a few more conveniences). The Ford F-150 STX (*Est. $24,365 to $30,860) adds cloth seats, a CD player and sporty wheels and body trim.

The F-150 XLT (*Est. $25,535 to $35,510) is a popular model, with power accessories and cruise control. The off-road Ford F-150 FX4 (*Est. $34,100 to $37,810) includes four-wheel drive, a locking rear differential, skid plates and a towing package, plus conveniences like satellite radio. An F-150 in this trim level lagged behind competitors in an off-road comparison test conducted by Petersen's 4 Wheel & Off-Road.

Reviewers say the F-150 Lariat (*Est. $32,655 to $38,760) is plenty luxurious, with leather seats, the Sync voice-command feature for phone and entertainment systems, automatic temperature control and more. But the Ford F-150 comes in two even more richly appointed versions: the F-150 King Ranch (*Est. $39,310 to $42,755), with saddle-inspired leather seats (heated and cooled up front) and a six-CD changer, and the F-150 Platinum (*Est. $40,910 to $44,355) with 20-inch chrome wheels and its own special interior and exterior trim.

Fuel economy, towing capacity, reliability

The Ford F-150's base 248-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful 292-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 and top-level 320-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8 are both mated to a six-speed automatic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says fuel economy is best with the middle-sized engine and rear-wheel drive (15 mpg city, 20 highway and 17 combined) and worst with the biggest engine and four-wheel drive (14 mpg city, 18 highway and 15 combined). Edmunds.com points out that the best-towing F-150s get the worst gas mileage, even though that won't show up on the window sticker.

"The EPA doesn't require re-certification for each axle ratio, so this truck has an impressive EPA rating," editor Dan Edmunds writes. But when he tests the F-150 with the maximum towing capacity -- and the 3.73:1 axle ratio necessary to achieve it -- he gets only 12.6 mpg, "well below the window sticker ratings of 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway (which were achieved with the standard 3.55:1 ratio)."

Experts note that if you don't plan to tow or haul extremely heavy loads, you probably don't need a full-size pickup truck like the Ford F-150. The midsize Honda Ridgeline (*Est. $28,200 to $36,530) offers spacious front and rear seats in a very reliable, high-quality, rollover-resistant truck, reviews say. The compact Toyota Tacoma (*Est. $15,170 to $27,075) is adequately roomy, with better fuel economy than bigger trucks.

The Ford F-150's reliability has been at least average, experts say. It carries a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Just about every major auto publication has reviewed the 2009 Ford F-150. Most of them (including the first 12 reviews listed here) test the F-150 head-to-head against rivals, but it's a good idea to read several of these to get a complete picture; some experts prefer a truck that tows a lot, while others pick a winner because it accelerates quickly or has great on-road manners. Kelley Blue Book doesn't test trucks directly against each other, but it does name a Recommended list of pickups (including the F-150) and its full reviews estimate the resale value of each truck. We found official fuel-economy ratings at the EPA and safety ratings at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. J.D. Power and Associates bases its ratings on owner surveys.