From family fun vehicles to commercial workhorses, Ford F-Series pickup trucks have been a staple on American roads for around 70 years. When outfitted properly, they can handle just about any task that's thrown at them, and over the years they've helped define what a pickup truck should be. However, with stiff competition from the likes of Dodge and General Motors, along with some competitive models from overseas, one has to wonder if the Ford F-150 still has what it takes to stay on top.
2018 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 Super Crew Exterior
Three years after its initial redesign in 2015, Ford has seen fit to bestow a minor refresh on the F-150 for the 2018 model year. A redesigned double-slat mesh grille flows into new headlamp casings and gives the front-end a wider overall feel. A newly sculpted bumper houses recessed fog lamps out back, with the tailgate and taillights receiving minor changes as well. Our King Ranch edition came to us coated in Ruby Red Metallic paint up top with Stone Gray lower accents and wheel arches.
Then there were the large 20-inch chrome wheels running 275/55-series all terrain tires and a big ole' tailgate length insert that states that you are in fact, the KING of the Ranch. Our Super Crew was outfitted with the 5-1/2' bed and rode on a 145-inch wheelbase. For those looking for more room and optional 6-1/2' bed is available. 2018 also offers six new rim designs that range in size from 17" to 22".When Ford redesigned the F-150 back in 2015, the big news was that the body was crafted from high-strength, military grade aluminum, which resulted in a vehicle weight that was up to 700-lbs lighter than previous steel models. From the outside you'd never know this, but according to Ford's bed testing, damage from dropping heavy materials resulted in dents that were 30% shallower than that of the previous steel bed. Something to consider if hauling full loads is a common occurrence.
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2018 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 Super Crew Interior
The idea of a luxury pickup truck has been around for quite some time. And while the F-150 King Ranch ensures you'll be coddled in leather, technology and luxury, it does so in a way that doesn't make you feel like you're showing off. Just be prepared because if you're going to opt for the King Ranch you'll have to fork over a base amount of $55,355.00. Our fully loaded 4x4 unit came equipped with options like the King Ranch Chrome Appearance Package ($1,995.00) along with Equipment Group 601A ($3,780.00) that adds such items as inflatable rear safety belts, a tailgate step with tailgate lift assist, power running boards and special machined aluminum wheels. When tallied up the final price was just under $65k.Keep in mind as well that with a vast array of features like leather clad heated, vented and monogramed seats, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, power retractable running boards and Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system, this F-150 feels like something a fortune 500 CEO would drive.
The cab is also quiet at speed, there's ample room for 5 full-size adults, and in the event you don't have occupants that would enjoy the heated rear seats, simply fold them up and you've got storage that rivals most small SUVs.The gauge cluster is also well laid out and provides the driver with information on everything from the 4x4 system, to a digital hill-assist reading and off-road settings, to facts about the trailer that may or may not be behind you. There are also power ports for USB, 12v standard and even an inverter that can handle up to a 400w max output.
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2018 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 Super Crew Performance
There are those who firmly believe that a pickup truck should have nothing but a V8 engine under the hood, which is exactly how we like it as well. Our truck came equipped with a 5.0L V8 with direct injection that produced 395hp and 400 lb-ft. It's also capable of getting the 4,700+ pound truck to 60 mph in around 6.0-seconds while at the same time returning up to 22-mpg on the highway, 16-mpg around town and 18-mpg in combined driving.
The main use of a pickup however is hauling and towing and here the F-150 does not disappoint. With a max tow rating of up to 13,200-pounds and a max payload rating of up to 3,270-pounds, one can equip the F-150 to suit their needs.Power is delivered to the wheels via a smooth shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. The shifts are smooth and thankfully the transmission delivers abrupt downshifts when needed and smooth upshifts when cruising around. This is a truck that drives much smaller than its dimensions would dictate. The ride is smooth and compliant over all but the roughest surfaces.
Handling and braking performance is on par with others in the class with the steering offering nice feedback to the driver. Size will always be an issue when driving a full-size truck, however visibility, thanks to an airy cabin and large side view mirrors is excellent, especially when used in conjunction with the optional 360-degree camera. We did not get a chance to try the F-150 off-road, but as we've driven others where the pavement stops we can say with certainty that it can tackle mild to mid-grade off-road duties with ease.
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2018 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 Super Crew Safety
With electronic stability control (ESC) and roll stability control (RSC), full ABS with traction control, side impact beams, airbags throughout the cabin, blind spot monitoring, a 360 degree camera along with a host of other safety features, Ford has gone through great lengths to make sure the F-150 is one of the safest full size trucks on the market today with an overall 5-Star government safety rating for 2017 models. You can read more about the safety features in the 2018 Ford F-150 by clicking here.
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2018 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 Super Crew Overall
The 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch is a perfect example of how to incorporate rugged luxury into a full size pickup truck. It provides performance, decent fuel economy and utility into a package that makes driving a full-size pickup on a daily basis a very pleasant experience. Drop by your local AutoNation USA today to check one out!
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Contributed by - Mike Musto
