Used 2018 Ford F150 Super Cab

When it comes to the battle for truck supremacy, it’s down to Ford, Chevy and Ram, which are also the three top-selling vehicles in America. Ford stays at the top of the heap thanks to constant innovation that makes it easier to get work done while increasing luxury and comfort. With the F-150, Ford has advanced the design of a full-size truck beyond what its competitors are doing, including use of an aluminum body, a 10-speed transmission and tech features that make it easier to tow a trailer. For the 2018 Ford F-150, there are plenty of engine choices: a traditional V8, a new base V6, and three EcoBoost engines that deliver plenty of power for towing and hauling as well as respectable fuel economy. A forthcoming a turbodiesel V6 will round out the power offerings.

The new 3.3-liter base engine is lighter than the 3.5-liter it replaces, has more horsepower and torque — and better fuel economy, too. It’s a good base engine with enough get-up-and-go for the daily drive and carrying payload. It’s not blazing fast, but it’s easy to get to and stay at freeway speeds. The 2nd-gen 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 has 25 lb-ft more torque, so it’s even quicker off the line. Its combination of speed, efficiency and capability makes it our favorite of the lineup. With the 5.0-liter V8, acceleration is natural and linear. The 3.5-liter makes the F-150 fast when unloaded and a capable, stout hard worker. Towing is effortless. The F-150’s SuperCrew cabin is roomy, offering excellent legroom and a comfortable ride. Suspension and brakes were designed so that whether the truck is loaded or unloaded, the ride doesn’t suffer and brakes feel confident and strong.

The 2018 F-150’s interior is rugged and attractive, but above all, it’s easy to use. There are new interior colors for 2018, and plenty of available cool features like 3-prong power outlets, adaptive cruise control that can bring the truck to a full stop, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, active park assist, and the ability to have the Sync 3 infotainment system read text messages to you while you drive. The SuperCrew (crew cab) is extremely roomy, with rear-seat legroom that bests some full-size sedans. Because the F-150’s floor is flat, even the dreaded middle rear seat is comfortable.

Ford’s full-size pickup continues to use a military-grade aluminum body, but for 2018 that body has been restyled to emulate the looks of the big-brother Super Duty lineup. New grilles, headlights and wheel designs help differentiate the different trim levels. Aside from the truck’s new look, much about the design was born from necessity. The tailgate is available with a pull-out step that makes it much easier to get into the bed to manage payload. There are also pop-out steps on the sides that help with the same purpose.

2.7-LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE
The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine has as much torque as the available 5.0-liter V8, has the best fuel economy of the gas engines, and has the power to tow up to 8,500 pounds, plenty for a boat or RV. It’s the sweet spot in the lineup and the best-selling engine.

TOWING-ASSIST SYSTEMS
When parking a trailer, Pro Trailer Backup Assist allows the driver to input left or right commands via a knob, watching on a screen as the F-150 handles steering and braking. The Blind Spot Information System covers truck and trailer. The 360-degree camera eases the task of connecting a trailer.

The base-model F-150 is a regular-cab, 2-wheel-drive (2WD) XL, which comes with enough standard equipment that makes it possible to buy a decent truck to get work done at a reasonable price. Even trucks equipped with the new 3.3-liter base engine and 6-speed automatic transmission come standard with auto start/stop, and all F-150s get the same ultra-strong hydroformed, fully boxed frame. Hill-start assist and Trailer Sway Control are standard, as are Curve Control, 17-inch wheels and air conditioning.

There are plenty of appealing upscale trim levels, including the King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. Available options make the interior luxury plush, such as heated leather front and rear seats (10-way-power, cooled and massaging front seats), Sync 3 and Bang & Olufsen Play or Sony audio systems. A variety of towing assist and safety systems are offered, as are adaptive cruise control and side steps that deploy when a door is opened and retract when the door closes. On the safety front, the 2018 Ford F-150 is offered with inflatable rear seatbelts and a blind-spot information system. Four-wheel drive (4WD) is available.

The 2018 Ford F-150 will be available with six engines, one of which is a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel set for release later in the model year. The new base engine is a 290-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 — more powerful and more efficient than the engine it replaces — and the only one in the line with a 6-speed automatic. The rest use a 10-speed automatic, including the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, now with 25 lb-ft more torque than last year and the best fuel economy of all the gas engines. The 5.0-liter V8 gains horsepower and torque, and both versions of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost remain unchanged. However, thanks to a new towing package and other changes, you can now tow up to 13,200 pounds with a 3.5-liter-equipped F-150.

3.3-liter V6
290 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
265 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg (2WD), 18/23 mpg (4WD)

2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6
325 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 2,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (2WD), 19/24 mpg (4WD)

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
375 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
470 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 mpg (2WD), 17/23 mpg (4WD)

5.0-liter V8
395 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/high fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (2WD), 16/22 mpg (4WD)

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Raptor)
450 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
510 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/18 mpg