2001 Ford F-150 Review

Besides the introduction of the four-door SuperCrew, America's most popular truck receives only minor changes in 2001. Power adjustable accelerator and brake pedals are now standard on all F-150 Lariat models and optional on XL and XLT trucks. The Work Series model is no longer available, but there is a newly created Work Truck option group that deletes certain equipment from the XL model. Child safety-seat anchors and four-wheel ABS are now standard equipment on all trucks. XL and XLT trucks have upgraded standard-equipment radios.

One of our favorite light-duty pickups, especially in Super Crew format.

In the music scene, artists that top the sales charts are rarely considered the best in terms of quality. The same thing goes for prime-time TV shows or the most popular fast food restaurants. It almost seems to be an inverse relationship; the worse a product is, the more popular it is.

This theory doesn't bode well for the Ford F-150. Not only is it the best-selling pickup in the country, it's the best-selling vehicle, period. But for whatever reason, the F-150 bucks the trend. It has the sales numbers and the quality.

One particular advantage to the F-150 is its wide range of body and option configurations. You can order the F-150 as either a Regular Cab, SuperCab or SuperCrew, the SuperCrew being the double cab model with four doors and a short bed. Then, on everything except the SuperCrew, you have the choice of a 6 1/2- or 8-foot cargo box in either Styleside or Flareside design. There are three trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. There's also two special SuperCrew models offered this year: The Harley Davidson F-150 and the King Ranch F-150, each with unique trim and features.

Ford offers three different engines. The smallest is a 205-horsepower, 4.2-liter V6 with either a manual or automatic transmission. Next up is a 4.6-liter V8 with 220 horsepower and 290 foot-pounds of torque. The biggest engine available is a 5.4-liter V8 generating 260 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque.

Towing and cargo capacities vary depending on model. For maximum payload ability, you'll want to order the 7700 Payload Group, which includes mechanical modifications that increase gross vehicle weight to 7,700 pounds.

The F-150's feature list is comparable to many family cars and luxury sedans. Driver and passenger front airbags are standard, as are four-wheel ABS and child safety-seat anchor points. Lariat-trim F-150s are the most luxurious, and they come standard with features like 17-inch wheels, power adjustable pedals and leather seating.

Even more car-like is the F-150 SuperCrew. It has been designed for consumers who want more interior space without compromising the functional capability and versatility of a full-size pickup. Unlike the SuperCab, which has smaller hinged doors that swing out from the C-pillar, the SuperCrew actually mates an Expedition cabin with a shortened cargo bed. It has four full-size doors separated by a B-pillar on each side, with inside and outside handles on each door. Despite the larger cabin, the F-150 SuperCrew is still the same overall length as the SuperCab model.

On both pavement and rocky trails, the F-150 offers up a stable ride and plenty of power. Steering is somewhat twitchy, but otherwise this truck can be used for long freeway trips with no problem. The front seats are comfortable, and the extra rear-seat space in SuperCab models is perfect for extra cargo or children. Use the handy Super Crew for adults who need to ride in back. The interior design mirrors that of the popular Expedition SUV, with most of the controls and switches easy to find and operate.

Overall, the F-150 is an excellent blend of style, comfort and utility. The full-size trucks from General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota all have their individual advantages, but none can match the Ford's level of competence in all areas. About the only significantly negative thing you can say about a F-150 is that there's just too many of them on the road!