The new F-150, in Lariat trim, offers a surprising amount of luxury in the cabin, plus the facility for modern-day cowboys to hook up MP3 players and cell phones.
Ford updated its bread-and-butter F-150 pick-up truck for the 2009 model year, adding modern conveniences and a variety of trim and configuration choices.
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The boxy truck features cliff-like sides and Ford's three-bar grille, which gives the front the look of a tractor-trailer.
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This version of the truck is fitted with a 5.4-liter V-8, the top engine choice, which makes 320 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. A 4.6-liter V-8 is also available.
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This truck has a Supercrew cab, giving it four doors and plenty of space in the rear seat.
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The high-sprung suspension makes the frame rails visible in the wheel well, which Ford says is 10 percent lighter than on the previous generation.
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Ford makes getting into the bed easier with a small fold-down step integrated in the tailgate, along with a grab pole.
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The interior of the Lariat trim F-150 looks too luxurious for a pick-up truck, with plenty of leather and fake wood trim.
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The steering wheel is configured similarly to the wheels found in Ford's cars, with buttons for cruise control, audio, and phone.
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Between white-faced gauges is a display showing trip information.
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The six-speed automatic transmission does its job without being intrusive. It downshifts when needed, and includes three low ranges for truck duties.
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Sync integrates MP3 players and cell phones with the F-150. The USB port is located at the bottom of the stack.
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The display at the top of the stack shows audio information for an MP3 player connected to the truck with Sync.
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Bluetooth phone support is also included with Sync. Lacking a dashboard LCD, the phone information is shown in this display.
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A Sony audio system, featuring 10 speakers and 700 watts of amplification, is available in the F-150.
