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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Ford F150 Regular Cab

Overview

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2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 8.3

Holding the title of America's best-selling pickup truck for 34 years running is no small feat, which is why the 2012 Ford F-150 pickup deserves every accolade it receives. With stiff competition from Ram and Chevy, not to mention Toyota and Nissan's full-size entries, Ford refuses to rest on its laurels, continuing to improve the F-150 full-size pickup with new features and better mechanical components. Last year, Ford gave the F-150 all-new engines and transmissions, and this year there's expanded use of an electronic locking rear axle replacing the old limited-slip unit. Yet, despite all its improvements, the 2012 Ford F-150 remains a tough workhorse designed to tackle big payload and towing jobs. With class-leading capabilities, impressive fuel economy and the only turbocharged 6-cylinder engine in the segment, the more than 30 different version of America's favorite pickup truck should continue to set sales records and send the competition scrambling to keep up.

You'll Like This Car If...

"Built Ford Tough" isn't just an advertising slogan, it's the reason the Ford F-150 is the best-selling truck in the country. An impressive range of models and options permits the F-150 to be everything from a simple work truck to a super-plush family hauling machine.

You May Not Like This Car If...

With its strong resale and reliability ratings, about the only reason not to like the 2012 F-150 comes down to whether you like its bold and boxy styling.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

8.3
Driving Dynamics

7.6
Comfort & Convenience

7.8
Design: Interior & Exterior

8.0
Value

8.0
Safety

8.0

How It Ranks

#6

out of 19

MPG

#4

out of 19

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.7 out of 10

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consumer ratings

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

The 2012 F-150 pickup receives a few important new features, beginning with the addition of Hill Start Assist and the inclusion of neutral tow assist on all 4x4 trucks. A new automatic 4x4 system is added to Lariat and higher trims, while a new FX Appearance package adds flat-black wheels and accents, black leather seats with red piping, and FX graphics. The FX Luxury package gains heated and cooling front seats.

Driving the F150 Regular Cab

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions Despite its impressive payload and towing ability, the 2012 Ford F-150 doesn't ride like a stiffly-sprung work truck. In fact, it rides more like a plush Lincoln SUV. Every version...

of the F-150 we tested was devoid of a rough ride, with no shudder or hopping over rough or unpaved roads and a level of quiet unheard of (no pun intended) in a full-size pickup. Each version also provided ample power, with the least-liked engine being the base V6, and the most appreciated being the new twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. Thanks to the F-150's electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), we experienced a level of steering feel and control that belied the big Ford's size and heft. Perhaps most impressive was the towing demonstration in which we hauled 20-foot trailers with absolutely zero drama, thanks in large part to the pickup's trailer sway control, rearview camera and integrated trailer brake controller.

Favorite Features

Tailgate Step
Designed to deal with the awkward and potentially dangerous chore of getting into the pickup truck's bed, the integrated tailgate step on the 2012 Ford F-150 scores big. It deploys easily and even offers a safety hand-hold.

Roomy SuperCrew Cab
The cab in the 2012 F-150 SuperCrew is so roomy it out-measures some full-size sedans. In fact, the rear-seat legroom is absolutely limousine-like, and the mechanically-articulated second-row seat flips up and out of the way, delivering an ample 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats.

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab Details

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2012 Ford F-150 has a sophisticated yet practical truck interior. Knowing that the hands controlling the F-150 will often be clad in some type of glove, be it work or ski, the F-150's design team has created buttons, knobs and switches that are slightly oversized, widely spaced and easy to reach. A thoughtful center console design can swallow two or more laptops or tablets; there are even slotted ridges along the sides for holding hanging files in place. In fact, there are clever storage compartments throughout the 2012 F-150's cabin for holding everything from beverages to cell phones. There are even two 12-volt outlets, one on the dash and one in the console, for recharging portable electronics, and an available 110-volt outlet. As for overall comfort, we think the F-150's contoured front seats are among the most comfortable in the class. The same goes for the rears seats, at least those on SuperCrew models.

Exterior

With the exception of one generation late in the 1990s, the F-150 has always had an easily-identifiable boxy shape. The 2012 Ford F-150 continues the tradition but adds a healthy dose of oversized ornamentation (think grille, bumpers and mirrors) usually covered in chrome on upper trims. The 2012 F-150 features a strong front end, powerful shoulders and a tall bed wall creating a nice, deep box. Those tall bed walls, however, can be a bit of a hindrance when trying to access a tool box or gear in the bed's center. Understanding this problem, Ford offers an extendable side step on most models. Ford's 3-bar grille receives varying styling treatments depending on the trim level, ranging from simple black plastic pieces on base trucks, to a black mesh grille with the Ford name spelled out in huge block letters on the SVT Raptor, to a chrome-slathered behemoth found on the King Ranch and Platinum versions.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2012 Ford F-150 full-size truck comes in flavors ranging from plain vanilla all the way to banana split with whipped cream, nuts and sprinkles, but one thing all levels share is a robust, hydro-formed, boxed-section chassis that offers superior torsional rigidity while actually being lighter than the old-fashioned ladder frames of the past. The level of standard safety equipment is truly outstanding, including AdvanceTrac with RSC traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags with roll-fold technology for enhanced head protection in rollovers and side impacts. Safety is also enhanced by front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, "smart" airbags and seatbelts, a second-row center head restraint and integrated spotter mirrors.

Optional Equipment

For those who really use their pickup trucks as trucks, the 2012 Ford F-150 offers some exclusive options that are right on the money. Our two favorites are the integral tailgate step that makes clambering into the box easy and the spring-out box side steps that make reaching into the vehicle's deep cargo box much more convenient. Also earning high marks are the stowable bed extender and beefy cargo management system. And for those who have ever left a tool on a work site, never to see it again, the Tool Link radio-frequency identification tracking system enables you to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools and/or equipment stored in the pickup box. When it's kick-back time, Ford's SYNC, SIRIUS Travel Link and a high-powered Sony brand audio system help you while away the time.

Under the Hood

Do you want a gasoline engine or a gasoline engine? Perhaps the only shortfall with the 2012 F-150 is the lack of a diesel option, but the four available gasoline engines – two V6s and two V8s – offer reasonable fuel economy, aided significantly by the addition of a 6-speed automatic transmission. A twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 is offered, a first for this segment and an engine that promises both strong performance and good fuel economy. Both the 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 are fitted with fuel-saving twin-independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) technology and, for towing needs, nothing can beat the two-valve-per-cylinder 6.2-liter V8's best-in-class 11,300-pound tow rating.

3.7-liter V6
302 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
278 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 (2WD), 16/21 (4WD), 12/17 (2WD, E85), 12/15 (4WD, E85)

3.5-liter V6, Twin-Turbocharged
365 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
420 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 (2WD), 15/21 (4WD)

5.0-liter V8
360 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
380 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250
EPA city/high fuel economy: 15/21 (2WD), 14/19 (4WD), 11/15 (2WD, E85), 10/14 (4WD, E85)

6.2-liter V8
411 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
434 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 (2WD), 12/16 (4WD)

Pricing Notes

With more than 30 different variants, the 2012 Ford F-150 pickup pricing chart covers a wide spread. Regular Cab XL models have a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) right around $24,000, while a fully-laden Platinum SuperCrew can run well over $50,000. Somewhere in between those two extremes is where most buyers will find themselves. A look at the Fair Purchase Price on kbb.com shows the typical transaction price being paid for the 2012 Ford F-150 in your area, so be sure to check it out before you set out to buy. The 2012 Ford F-150 is expected to retain a better-than-average residual value, with the SuperCrew models at the top of the chart, followed by the Regular Cab and then the SuperCab. Over a 5-year period, the F-150's projected residual value is expected to be nearly on par with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra, better than the Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan, but slightly below the Toyota Tundra.

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2012 Ford F150 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 473 Ratings for the 2009 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.6/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.8/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.2/10

Brand new

By J.L. (AZ) on Friday, May 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 700

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Price, value, gas mileage for a truck this size"

Cons: "I'm not a fan of the Adobe colored seats....."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"After my 2005 ford ranger 4x4 moved on to truck heaven with over 220,000 miles on it. I decided to upgrade to a loaded 2013 F150 XLT reg cab 4x2 . This truck is getting almost all tens for my review however, I know it's a bit early to be judging its reliability. So far I've been averaging 18.9 mpg with combined freeway and city driving ( 3.7 v6 302hp). I'm sure I could get slightly better with less of a lead foot. The ford Synch and Bluetooth works great along with the voice activated USB and self check vehicle reports. Sticker price on this thing was 32k and some change but if you stick to your guns you can get a really live able price (22495) was my price before tax, title, license, and the BS doc fee. I did utilize every incentive I could find though and three hours of negotiating. Over all thus far I love this truck and am incredibly happy I chose it over a Jeep...... I'll live without the four wheel drive :)"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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A great truck

By teebee (FL) on Monday, May 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 13,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Terrific drivetrain, smooth ride, tows 9,000 lbs"

Cons: "Cup holders are inconvenient"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I mistakenly liquidated my 2003 F-150 Lariat a few years ago. I missed it greatly. Last year I needed another truck to haul my motorcycles, but a bare-bones vehicle with a livable sticker price. Picked up the silver STX SuperCrew 4X4. Good choice! This truck is so basic it doesn't even have carpet. Makes keeping it clean a breeze. No navigation, no backup camera, no driving lights, no automatic headlights, no leather anywhere, no heated seats. The new 5.0L powerplant would eat my Lariat's 5.4 for breakfast. And the 6-speed automatic with overdrive is smooth as 12-year-old Scotch. Ford provided EXACTLY the product I needed when I needed it. Haul/tow mode in the tranny pulls two big V-twins and the trailer without even breathing hard in the mountains. 11MPG with bikes, two XXL riders and all associated gear while doing 70-75 on I95. Looking at slide-in campers now and sadly the STX has insufficient payload for anything comfortable. Moving up to F350 with 6.7 turbo diesel. I'll miss the silver STX. A great, great pickup!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Best Truck I've ever owned.

By Ruben (TX) on Monday, May 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,200

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Power, Looks (interior and exterior), comfort,"

Cons: "None."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owed other truck brands but this one is the best I have ever owned. The power on this truck is awesome. Every person that I show my truck to loves it. Ofcourse, I got the loaded Lariat model with the ecoboost engine so it has a pretty good interior and lots of power all through out all rpms. The fuel mileage is a little low (16.8) but then again I have a very heavy foot."

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Superior Multi-purpose Vehicle

By spanky (TN) on Thursday, May 02, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 12,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "decent mpg -comfort-roomy - great power in 5.0-V8"

Cons: "none"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Perfect vehicle for one -car retired grandparents . Wife is comfortable driving it. Ride is quiet and smooth -handles great and makes long trips a breeze. Got a surprising 22.5 mpg on last 700 mi trip at 70mph and get 19.5-20.0 combined with V-8 5.0 l. Super-crew back seat is awesome - grandkids love it.Thrilled with choice!!!"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Wonderfull Truck

By Joe (TX) on Sunday, April 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 8,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Lots of power, very quiet, comfortable"

Cons: "SyncTouch has steep learning curve"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have an XLT Lariat with the EcoBoost engine, and got the 502a package. I couldn't be happier with this truck. Very comfortable. I don't see a problem taking long trips in it when needed. I got the crew cab, and the back seat is very roomy. Pros: Power Quiet Comfort Cons: SyncTouch system's voice commands have a steep learning curve. Ford could do more to help educate users on the voice command tree."

2 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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The best vehicle I have ever owned...

By Vick (OK) on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 41,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Interior space, comfortable seats, sound system..."

Cons: "I have none after 3 years of ownership..."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"The F-150 has been a great truck. I test drove the competitors before I purchased the Ford and found that it just has a better overall feel. It sits high off the road and that is one of the biggest pros in my opinion. The drive is solid and the handling is great. I have a heavy foot and I'm still able to average about 17mpg between city and highway driving. I can get about 560 miles out of a fill up. The V8 never fails to deliver. The back seat is very spacious and I have been able to haul a table and chairs back there with the seats folded up. I know this is pretty common in newer cars, but I fully enjoy the sound system in this truck. Between Sirius and Microsoft Sync with my phone, I never have to hear a commercial! All in all, I honestly can't think of a single thing I would change on the truck. I definitely believe that you get what you pay for!"

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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See all 473 reviews