2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost review - ConsumerReports.org
The biggest news from Ford's freshening of the 2011 F-150 is the addition of the 3. 5-liter, direct-injection, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine to the top-selling vehicle's lineup. Consumers have embraced the EcoBoost technology, with initial trucks sales being stronger than expected. (See for yourself by spotting all of those EcoBoost trucks on the road by their offset front license plate, which allows airflow to the giant intercooler. So what does the EcoBoost engine get you for its $750 price premium over the also-new 5. 0-liter V8. While the V6 has a slight horsepower gain (365 vs. 360 hp), the bigger change is torque. The EcoBoost has 40 more pound-feet of maximum torque at a lower 1,750 rpm. Other than engine and axle ratio differences, the only variation in equipment between the two trucks was that the EcoBoost had Ford's convenient integrated trailer brake controller. Our V8 stickered at $39,395. the EcoBoost came in at $40,410. A note on axle ratios: Our EcoBoost has a 3. 31 rear axle ratio while our F-150 5. 0-liter V8 has a 3. 55. Changing that ratio affects payload and tow capacities. Maximum towing was within 500 pounds (7,700 for the V8, 8,200 for the EcoBoost) and max payload differed by all of 30 pounds. Is the EcoBoost faster. Source: www.consumerreports.org
