2024 Ford F-150 Review

With its all-American approach to utility, the Ford F-150 is the latest addition to a relatively new segment filled with massive, powerful workhorses with acres of interior space and tonnes of equipment. 

Australian ute buyers have seen their appetite for size and outright power increase in recent years, as more vehicles from the US market make their way Down Under offering almost effortless towing up to 4.5 tonnes.  

The F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for decades, but how does the XXL, star-spangled pick-up stack up for Australian buyers? Let’s take a closer look to find out. 

Ford F-150 Competition

How Much Does the Ford F-150 Cost?

Prices for the MY24 Ford F-150 range kick off from $106,950 for the F-150 XLT SWB, while the F-150 XLT LWB wears a $107,945 price tag. 

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat SWB brings the price up to $139,950 while the F-150 Lariat LWB is priced at $140,945. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs. 

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Ford F150 - XLT SWB (4x4) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Ford F-150 Have?

The Ford F-150 XLT range comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloys and receives halogen headlights with LED tail lights, a black and chrome-finished front grille, black side steps, a spray-in tub liner with Ford’s Boxlink cargo management system, protective skidplates, cloth upholstery with power-adjustable front seats, a fold-out desk, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster. 

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat adds a premium grille with chrome mirrors, door handles and side steps, LED headlights and fog lights, leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, twin powered moonroofs, a wireless smartphone charger, surround-view monitor with front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and some added safety equipment we’ll cover later. 

Ford F-150 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

While it commands a six-figure price tag, Ford’s entry-level F-150 XLT comes packaged with a relatively modest 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display that looks particularly small in the palatial interior. 

Ford’s 8.0-inch display is equipped with DAB+ digital radio, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity and satellite navigation and is paired with a seven-speaker sound system. 

Buyers upgrading to the F-150 Lariat pick up a much more respectable 12.0-inch infotainment system, as well as an upgraded 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and a wireless charging pad. 

Does the Ford F-150 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

The Ford F-150’s infotainment system does not offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, which is a bit of a let-down considering its price tag. 

Instead, the F-150 requires owners to bring their own USB cable to connect their phone to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the move. 

Is the Ford F-150 Comfortable to Drive?

While it shares the footprint of a football field, Ford has done well to make the F-150 reasonably user-friendly and impressively refined on a long haul up a country road or motorway. 

Under the bonnet, the F-150 packs a serious punch. 

Power comes supplied by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol unit that produces 298kW of power and a monstrous 678Nm of torque which is available from 3,100rpm. 

Power is thrown to either the rear wheels or all four wheels via a ten-speed automatic transmission. 

On the road, this gives the F-150 some serious push for a vehicle of its stature, taking off from the line with motivation and what feels like effortless acceleration, while the ten-speed auto provides silky smooth shifts. 

Obviously, with its oversized footprint, the F-150 doesn’t make for the most user-friendly town driving experience with its massive turning circle, though the steering is light enough to manoeuvre without working up a sweat. 

Where the F-150 really shines, though, is when you hit the road with a bit of pace. 

We’ve become used to dual-cab workhorses that ride extremely firm when there’s not a tonne of weight over the rear axle to keep things feeling tied down. 

The F-150, on the other hand, remains extremely refined for such a work-ready package, with its suspension keeping things relatively flat, ironing out small and moderate bumps and embracing the challenge of a country road. 

This carries over to the highway driving experience where it remains extremely smooth and user-friendly on a long haul up the highway. 

When tasked with towing, the F-150 remains composed and very confidence-inspiring. 

The heavy-duty suspension keeps things feeling stable, the twin-turbo V6 helps to keep things moving along smoothly and the steering offers some decent feedback. 

Is the Ford F-150 Fuel Efficient?

The Ford F-150 doesn’t pack the same high-capacity eight-cylinder powertrains that its major US rivals come powered by, which makes it a far more fuel-efficient option - on paper, at least. 

On a combined cycle, the F-150 consumes a claimed 12.5L per 100km. 

This makes it considerably more fuel-efficient than domestic rivals with a V8 powertrain, though expect figures to climb north of Ford’s claims if you’re heavy with your right foot or towing. 

Around town, the heavyweight F-150 drinks 16.8L per 100km while time spent out on the highway will see you sip around 10L per 100km.

Ford’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 can be filled up with 91RON petrol and comes equipped with a 136L fuel tank that offers an average distance of 1,088km between fills. 

How Much Can the Ford F-150 Carry and Tow? 

The headline act for the F-150’s arrival is its braked towing capacity, which totals a mighty 4,500kg. 

Better yet, with a gross combination mass figure of 7,720kg, owners can tap into every kilogram of its 4.5-tonne braked towing capacity while maxing out its gross vehicle mass figures of 3,220kg. 

This will come as welcome news for those looking for a hardcore towing vehicle that allows you to access all of its potential without exceeding any limitations of both the vehicle and current Australian road laws.

Full cargo and pulling specifications for the F-150 range can be found below for both SWB and LWB versions. 

• F-150 SWB Kerb Weight: 2,451kg

• F-150 LWB Kerb Weight: 2,471kg

• F-150 Payload: 769 - 794kg (SWB vs LWB)

• F-150 Gross Vehicle Mass: 3,220 - 3,265kg (SWB vs LWB)

• F-150 Gross Combination Mass: 7,720 - 7,765kg (SWB vs LWB)

• F-150 Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• F-150 Unbraked Towing Capacity: 750kg

What are the Off-Road Specifications for the Ford F-150?

• Ground Clearance: 239mm

• Wading Depth: 600mm

• Approach Angle: 24.3 degrees

• Departure Angle: 25.3 degrees

• Breakover Angle: 20.0 degrees 

Is the Ford F-150 Practical and Spacious?

If you’re after some serious space inside a work-ready, dual-cab ute platform, the F-150 certainly over-delivers on interior accommodation. 

Climb aboard with the help of the side steps and grab the handle and you’re greeted with a massive front cockpit that doesn’t even try to hide its all-American DNA. 

The roofline offers tonnes of space for taller drivers while offering large windows for added visibility, though the dashboard does rise quite high into your eyeliner. 

Move to the second row and there’s no shortage of real estate in the rear of the F-150. 

While the typical dual-cab utes Aussie buyers have become accustomed to range from decent to tight in the second row, the F-150 blows them all out of the water with its palatial interior layout. 

The driving position is comfortable thanks to the plush, supportive seats that make light work of a long journey while offering a great view over thanks to the F-150’s considerable ground clearance. 

Things aren’t quite as premium as you might hope in the entry-level XLT, though buyers willing to splash out on the Lariat receive leather upholstery and an upgraded technology suite. 

Both versions pick up a super practical centre console, though, which houses cup holders, two massive storage trays, added capacity inside the large folding armrest and a neat retractable work tray. 

There’s also a massive storage cubby hiding beneath the centre console itself which, combined with the two passenger gloveboxes and large bottle holders make the F-150 a one-stop-shop for practicality. 

Move to the second row and things are incredibly spacious for those seated in the back of the F-150. 

Even the tallest of adults will have acres of space between their knees and the first-row seats, with the F-150 offering one of the most spacious rear cabins anywhere on the market. 

There’s also some added storage underneath the second-row bench seat and the ability to fold the bench up altogether when you need to keep some cargo safe inside the cabin. 

For the parents out there, the F-150 does pick up two pairs of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts, with tonnes of space to install even the bulkiest of child seats. 

How Big is the Ford F-150’s Tray?

With both short and long-wheelbase versions on offer, tray dimensions for the F-150 depend on which wheelbase you’re opting for. 

Tray dimensions for both the F-150 SWB and LWB can be found below. 

F-150 Short Wheelbase Tray Dimensions 

• Length: 1,705mm

• Width: 1,656mm

• Width between arches: 1,285mm

• Height: 543mm 

F-150 Long Wheelbase Tray Dimensions 

• Length: 2,005mm

• Width: 1,656mm

• Width between arches: 1,285mm

• Height: 543mm 

Ford’s rear tailgate features a clever design that incorporates steps and a grab handle for easy access into the bed, while the tray itself receives a number of tie-down hooks. 

Upgrading to the F-150 Lariat adds a powered tailgate with the same in-built access steps as well as a 12V power outlet. 

Is the Ford F-150 Safe?

The Ford F-150 comes packaged with a decent list of safety equipment, though a few too many features are omitted from the entry-level XLT grade. 

As standard, Ford’s XLT base model picks up autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with trailer tow coverage, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitoring, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and Ford’s Pro Tailer Back-Up Assist system. 

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat adds adaptive cruise control, intersection assist as well as lane-centring, evasive steering assist, a surround-view monitor, front-mounted parking sensors and traffic sign recognition. 

While the equipment omissions probably make more sense back in its home market, considering even in the entry-level XLT SWB is priced above the $100k mark here in Australia, we’d like to see the full raft of safety tech included as standard.

The Ford F-150 is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP and remains unrated. 

What Warranty Does the Ford F-150 Come With?

Ford offers the F-150 range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty. 

The company also offers four capped-price services, each priced at $429 per visit, or $1,716 over the course of four visits to the service centre. 

Service intervals for the Ford F-150 range stand at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first. 

Our Verdict: Is the Ford F-150 Worth it?

The Ford F-150 is a mighty capable workhorse that can tow up to 4.5 tonnes - for that fact alone, it is a seriously attractive proposition for Aussies in need of an oversized towing vehicle. 

With surprisingly refined on-road manners and outstanding interior space, the F-150 fills a niche for those looking for a massively practical, powerful tough towing workhorse. 

It’s worth noting, though, that in base XLT form, the F-150 misses out on some key equipment additions that we’ve become accustomed to at this end of the price spectrum, though it’s not lost on us that you’re paying for what the F-150 can do and how easily it can tow. 

Don’t forget that our team of car-buying specialists is waiting to help find you the best possible price on your next car. 

Five Ford F-150 Specs You Need to Know

• Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

• Four capped-price services

• 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol produces 298kW/678Nm

• 4,500kg braked towing capacity, 769 - 794kg payload figures

• 12.5L per 100km combined cycle fuel economy