When Ford decided to move to an all-aluminum design for the body of the F-150, this caused a lot of controversy and arguments among fans of the brand. People were confused about how this would affect the model in the long run – and even in the shorter one – and nobody was sure as a whole about what to expect. There was a lot of skepticism from some about the handling and fuel efficiency specifically, but now that the dust has settled and people have had a chance to try out the new model for a while, critics have been weighing in with their opinions.
The truck is quite large in size and it’s not the most agile vehicle around, as it does take a bit of extra handling to maneuver around properly. Some critics have pointed out that their initial impressions of the truck’s handling have been less than positive, as they found it too slow to respond and cumbersome as a whole.
And yet, it might be just a matter of warming up for some people as the truck definitely seems to have some potential. It’s actually quite nimble for a pickup, as some critics have said, and it’s pretty good in the fuel department as well. Of course, it’s not the most efficient vehicle around, especially considering that it’s a truck and therefore not designed with economy in mind first and foremost, but it still scored better than many other vehicles in the same market segment in tests.
On the other hand, when it’s taken outside of the city, that’s where its power and abilities truly start to shine. The truck is reportedly very good in its handling in offroad conditions, and it’s easy enough to steer and navigate in order to create a comfortable, yet trustworthy riding experience.
Changing to aluminum has had a positive effect on the truck’s weight, and it’s now lighter by about 700 pounds according to reports – not a small difference, especially given its market segment average. And yet, something peculiar about the Ford F-150 is that its weight difference isn’t felt so much while driving it around, but in other areas.
For example, it has a larger loading capacity and as we mentioned above, it offers an improved fuel efficiency. Not everyone is going to notice the reduced weight in the end, but those who do should definitely appreciate how much it affects the utility factor of the truck as a whole. This might become a standard for Ford, at least in this line, and there would be no problem with that.