Test drive the 2018 Ford F-150 in Laval (on the north shore of Montreal)

 

Until a few days ago, I would relate trucks to contractors, hunters or people who own trailers or boats. Driving a subcompact car myself, I didn’t see the appeal of shopping for a full-size pickup truck… until I had the chance to test drive the all-new 2018 Ford F-150 at 440 Ford in Laval, close to Montreal. And I realized that I was wrong on all accounts! If, admittedly, the F-150 has remarkable capacities and does not shy away from work, it turns out that it can also be an outstanding family vehicle. Here is a report of my 3 days on board my test drive model, the 2018 F-150 Limited!

First observation: The F-150 is big and it cuts quite an imposing figure on the road! However, I was feeling perfectly at ease behind the wheel of this pickup. Because, in terms of driving pleasure, I raise my hat to the engineers who were able to make its drive feel like that of a smaller vehicle, both the handling and the ride comfort are exceptional. I particularly appreciated the spacious interior where each of the 5 occupants had enough room both for the head and legs. Indeed, standing at one meter eighty and with his football player stature, my husband did not feel squeezed, even seated on the rear bench! I was also pleasantly surprised by the quietness of the interior, thanks to top-notch soundproofing.

Its sturdy allure and its design contributed to me not going unnoticed on the road and in my neighbourhood! I attracted my share of approving or envious glances since, there is no denying it, no one stays indifferent to its looks! Its imposing grille, the large headlight clusters with the ‘C’ shaped headlights inherited from the Super Duty models, the deployable side steps and the 22-inch wheels are also quite stunning.

Second observation: on-board technologies and commodities do not lack! The superior versions of the F-150 provide heated and ventilated front seats with 10-way power adjustment and even a massage function at the lumbar and seat level, a function that was particularly appreciated during my rides on the highway! Some models also offer heated rear seats, to the delight of the occupants. My test vehicle offered bi-zone climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a most efficient navigation system as well as the Sirius XM system, just to name a few.

The multifunction steering wheel allowed me to quickly access the audio system-B&O Play, by the way-and the hands-free smartphone, this while maintaining eye contact with the road, even to change the station. In addition, I could access the various displays of the dashboard with the simple press of a button on the steering wheel: fuel consumption, towing functions, off-road mode, tire pressure, compass and driving range calculations with or without trailer are only a few of the functions accessible through the console.

I didn’t get the chance to test the functions related to towing, but people that have a caravan trailer, a boat or a simple trailer will love the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. This functionality-exclusive in its class-allows you to guide the angle at which the trailer will turn while in reverse. Then, you only have to back-up and the system will do the rest!

Third observation: safety is omnipresent in the F-150! From the inflatable safety belts at the rear to the adaptive cruise control, including the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and stop-and-go, nothing is lacking in terms of safety! Lane departure alert, 360-degree camera, the back-up sensor as well as blind spot monitoring were particularly appreciated, especially when I was getting used to the vehicle.

Fourth observation: the 2018 F-150 is an ally for workers not only concerning its great capacities (I will come back to this), but also because of all the commodities and features that will allow you to stay connected at all time. You will enjoy the SYNC 3 system with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, the front 12V outlet (and at the rear in the Double Cab and SuperCrew models) and the SYNC Connect system with wireless hotspot, able to connect up to 10 devices at a maximum distance of 15 meters. Even more, you will get one or two 110V outlets, perfect to plug-in your laptop or any other electronic device, not to forget the USB ports. In short, with such a spacious and comfortable interior and fitted with so many technologies, your 2018 F-150 will quickly become your new favorite workplace!

Of course, we can’t talk about the F-150 without mentioning its power and capacities! My test drive model-the Limited-was equipped with a high-performance 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine developing 375 horsepower and generating powerful accelerations, but very smoothly. I had a weakness for the engine’s Auto Start-Stop function, which would cut the contact a few seconds after I would stop at a red light (or in traffic…) and would restart the engine as soon as I would take my foot off the brake pedal. Maximizing energy efficient, this technology allows the Ford engines that are equipped with it to have more than respectable fuel economy ratings and this, no mater the selected powertrain.

In addition to this capable V6, you will get a choice, depending on the model, between a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine of 325 horsepower, a 3.3L V6 generating 290 horsepower, a 5.0L V8 that develops 395 horsepower and, finally, an all-new 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 developing 250 horsepower and an impressive 440 lb-ft of torque. For ore power-and phenomenal off-road capacities-opt for the F-150 Raptor, its 450 horsepower and its 6 drive modes (Standard, Baja, Rock, Sport, Mud/Sand and Snow/Humid). And the towing capacity in all of this? The 2018 F-150 provides the best capacity of its class, with an impressive 13,200 pounds. The model with the 5.0L V8 engine also offer the highest payload capacity of its class.

In short, these few days on board the 2018 F-150 allowed me to changer my opinion regarding full-size trucks, and it is undeniable that it is now part of my list of favourite vehicles because of its technologies, its smooth drive and its versatility. I understand why the Ford F Series ranks first of sales in Canada for the last continuous 52 years! Would I think about purchasing an F-150 in the foreseeable future? Definitely!

Do you want to find out more about the 2018 F-150 and see how practical this truck is, either for work or leisure? Come test drive it today at 440 Ford, your Ford dealership by excellence in Laval, close to Blainville and of the North Shore of Montreal and take advantage of our financing options and our exceptional Ford promotions!

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