Pickup reviews: Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Colorado are home-improvement haulers - ConsumerReports.org
High-tech advances can’t overcome an underwhelming driving experience With the launch of the redesigned F-150, Ford broke all of the rules for pickup trucks. From its much-touted aluminum construction—shaving about 700 pounds from the old model—to available small-displacement twin-turbo V6 engines promising the power of a V8 but with better fuel economy, Ford has shaken things up in a category not... (Read " How Good Is the Revolutionary 2015 Ford F-150. " for more information. The weight-loss program and high-tech wizardry under the hood pay off with an impressive 17 mpg overall fuel economy from the 2. 7-liter turbo V6—edging out the 5. 3-liter V8 Chevrolet Silverado by one hay-hauling mpg. ) The F-150’s 2. 7- and beefier 3. 5-liter turbo-V6 engines provide plenty of punch even at low revs, with quick acceleration and effortless towing ability. Powerwise, you won’t miss a V8. Still, old-school truckers can relax because a 385-hp, 5. 0-liter V8 is also available. 5 turbo is actually a better choice for towing, with a max rating of 11,500 pounds. Rounding out engine options is the base, nonturbocharged 282-hp, 3. 5-liter V6. All powerplants are paired with a six-speed automatic. Large windows and relatively narrow pillars provide better visibility than the competing Silverado or Ram 1500, but a rear camera costs extra. Source: www.consumerreports.org
