You have to feel a bit sorry for Ford.
If ever there was a bad time to launch an enormous petrol-guzzling car into Australia, it’s now. Fuel prices are through the roof, local supply looks shaky, and things are likely to get worse before they get better.
Safety bodies are putting their magnifying glass on full-sized pick-up trucks, and “Brand America” has had stronger moments.
That makes the updated F-150 a tough sell at the moment.
This thirsty full-size ute drinks like a college student at a frat party. Ford says the 3.5L twin-turbo V6 Yank Tank will chug through 12.5 litres of petrol per 100km. Presumably, it then smashes the jerry can on its forehead and asks for another.
MORE: ‘Nightmare’ EV needs four days to charge
The fuel crisis isn’t the only hurdle the F-150 has to overcome, either.
These utes are born as left-hand-drive vehicles. To get them ready for Australian roads, they undergo massive surgery in purpose-built Melbourne facilities to flip the interior, recalibrate the systems, and get the software working for right-hand drive.
So far, this hasn’t been a smooth process.
Since the F-150 was first released in this country, there have been steering issues, lights that weren’t compliant with Australian Design Rules, potential engine fire hazards, and troubles with the car’s wiring. Ford described these as “teething problems”.
I think that’s underplaying things. Perhaps we could describe them as teething problems, but only if the teeth were growing upside down, going through the skull, turning septic and about to pierce the brain.
The faults eventually led to a voluntary halt to all deliveries late last year. Ford says that’s all in the past.
MORE: Tougher safety tests for US utes coming
“When we found out there were issues, we stopped the production of that vehicle,” said Ford’s Program Director Iain Jones.
“We did not want to release any product to our customers here [until] all those products were in our control.”
Suffice to say, Ford needs a very compelling pitch to entice Australian buyers to the F-150. Does the updated version of America’s favourite car rise to that task?
First of all, it’s worth noting that this latest batch of cars might be new in Australia, but are 2024 models in America. This delay is to be expected. It takes time to plan right-hand-drive conversions, and ensure the cars are compliant with local regulations.
In the Australian updated F-150s, the fundamental architecture remains the same – the engine hasn’t changed, nor are there major updates to the chassis. However, there is a new steering system, which replaces the borrowed Ranger unit in previous models.
MORE: Europe’s ‘perfectly timed’ EV arrives
Additionally, the base XLT and the slightly fancier Lariat have had a few aesthetic upgrades. The grilles and headlights have been modernised and a 12-inch screen is now in all models. This has come with a price bump – the manufacturer list price is now $114,950 and $143,950 respectively.
There’s also a new top-of-the-line model: the $163,950 ‘Platinum’.
This is, in every conceivable way, a ridiculous car.
It’s hard to overstate just how big the F-150 is in person. If you go for the long wheelbase, the ute measures over 6.2 metres. For comparison’s sake, Ford sells a 12-seat minibus that’s around half a metre shorter.
That makes the inside of the F-150 spacious like an open-plan penthouse. Both the front and back seats are wide, comfortable, have ample legroom, clever storage spaces, and lots of head clearance.
MORE: EV bloodbath hits two brands in a week
You might even think, ‘I could live in here’. It’s not outside the realm of possibility.
In the Platinum variant, the front seats recline to nearly flat. Sure, it wouldn’t make for a particularly comfortable night’s sleep, but it would certainly work in a pinch. And if you do wake up with a sore back, the chair’s massage function will make short work of any lingering muscle tension. How civil.
Surprisingly, the one place this car doesn’t seem big is on the road. The beefy V6 engine (which provides 678 Nm of torque) makes the F-150 feel light and responsive. Put it on a highway, and suddenly you’re driving a cloud stuffed with feathers.
I used to resent the ute drivers who hurtle past me on highways, but now I have more sympathy. It’s hard to be sensible in these cars, particularly when the low, growling engine sounds so enticing.
But if you’re seriously considering this car, it’s likely that you have big, heavy things that you’d like to move from one location to another. This is where the F-150 shines. It still has a maximum braked towing capacity of 4.5 tonnes, but Ford has found some improvements to its Gross Combination Mass and Gross Vehicle Mass.
As in the previous models, there’s plenty of clever technology to help make towing easier, including the Pro Trailer Backup Assist. This allows you to steer your trailer while reversing using a knob on the car’s dash. This will be a much-appreciated feature for weekend warrior types towing big caravans to bushland camping spots.
But wherever you take the F-150, you can’t escape that this ute is American to its core. It’s so unapologetically big and brash, it almost feels like a parody of itself. It’s just missing a dedicated burger holder and a place to holster a gun. At times it even felt a little embarrassing to drive.
But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also really fun.
This obviously won’t be a car for everyone. The price, the fuel economy, and the sheer size make it a baffling choice for many Australians.
But for the people who actually need what it offers – towing power and no-compromise comfort – the F-150 is a perfectly logical choice. And you know what? Those people are probably having a better time than the rest of us.
