If there was ever a vehicle segment that served as the most highly competitive market, it would have to be the battlefield of the half-ton truck market within the United States. For decades this has been a highly contested arms race to see which manufacturer could make the biggest, strongest, and most powerful half-ton on the market to win over American buyers. With strong competition from Ford, GM, Toyota, Ram (Dodge), and Nissan, it has been a battle for the ages as each of the automakers try to outdo one another with each new generation.

Whether it is because they make so many of them, are so aggressive on their pricing, or offer such a deep product line that essentially creates a model for any buyer, Ford has built their reputation on the F150 that offers durability, dependability, and innovation to half-ton buyers. The F-Series lineup of trucks has been one of America’s best selling trucks for 37 years, so when Ford decided to change things up, there were a lot of eyes examining every move they made. 

Ford has been no stranger to innovation over the years, but with the completely redesigned 2015 F150, they took one giant leap for half-ton-kind by going to an all-aluminum body – something that no other half-ton on the market has done yet. With such a huge gamble that could turn into a disaster or the market standard going forward for the competition, we knew we had to get our hands on one to see what it’s like driving the next-generation F150.

The Truck

As a full-size truck enthusiast and having personally owned the past four generations of F150s, when our Magnetic Metallic 2015 F150 4×4 SuperCrew test truck pulled up, I was extremely happy to get my hands on it. Coming equipped with the 302A XLT package, the test vehicle came with Sirius satellite radio, the full SYNC package, remote start, 110V/400W outlets, LED box lighting, a backup camera, and a host of other standard features.

The truck was then further optioned with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 making its return from the previous generation, 3.55:1 electronic locking rear differential, voice-activated navigation, 20-inch six-spoke wheels, and much more. With the intention for our review to take place both on-road and off, we were pleased to see that our test vehicle was also equipped with the FX4 off-road package that includes four-wheel-drive, skid plates, and all-terrain tires, all of which would be put to the test.

Interior Impressions

Since our F150 carried with it the XLT moniker, it was equipped with black sport cloth interior with dual captains chairs surrounding the flow through center console. Upon entering the 2015 F150, it became apparent that Ford really upped the ante on the quality of the materials used throughout. From the feel of the leather-wrapped steering wheel to the new-for-F150 style buttons that control the door locks and power windows, everything felt more refined from the outgoing generation and more like a luxury car than a half-ton workhorse.

Aiding in driver visibility, the fold down rear seat headrests find their way back into the 2015 F150 – a much needed feature if you plan to see out the back window.

Driver visibility has always been one of F150’s strongest attributes from the large front, side, and back windows to the seating position that keeps the driver relatively upright in the saddle. This trend continues with the 2015 F150 and has been strengthened by expanding the drop-away front side windowsills, keeping the dashboard relatively low, and especially the addition of the eight-inch display backup camera. 

Redesigned seating architecture front and rear help create more cabin space in every direction.

Ford did however add A-pillar mounted handles to assist getting in and out of the vehicle that have not been seen since the 1997-2004 (2004 including the 2004 Heritage F150) generation, and while we do like their functionality, they are rather large and do create a blind spot at times. The interior still feels big and spacious, especially with the new seat architecture that takes up a lot less room.

The biggest change from the outgoing generation of F150s to the 2015 has got to be the overall feel of the dashboard. The dashboard found in the 2009-2014 F150s was physically flat and relatively far away from the driver. In contrast, the 2015 dashboard has a lot of strong styling cues, like the air vents that protrude out from the dash, and it feels like it surrounds the passengers more so than with previous generations.

We had twenty-some people go in and out of the F150 over the week we had it, and while some didn’t care for the “airplane cockpit” sensation, the vast majority greatly preferred the interior fit, finish, and feel over the previous generation.

The gauge-mounted LCD has considerably better resolution than prior generations.

With new technology comes a lot of new “Easter eggs” to be found within the F150’s interior. The first time you drive a 2015 at night, you will notice right away that the interior is now lit up by LEDs for the dome and map lights, which really makes it feel next-gen. The gauge-mounted driver information screen has also been much improved over the previous generation with a much higher resolution – think iPhone Retina display versus an old-school 3GS. Finally, one of the coolest features is the tow/haul switch mounted on the shifter which now has an additional “Sport” mode – but more on this awesome feature later.

Exterior Impressions

We actually found snow in SoCal, believe it or not, and the F150 handled the tough conditions very well. Aided by the traction control system and smooth power delivery, snow driving was a piece of cake.

With the exception of the rounded-off 1997-2004 body style, the F150 has been known for strong features, bold design cues, and a rugged-yet-civil exterior that definitely continues into the 2015. From first glance, the 2015 model definitely looks like an F150 and has a design that looks like the previous generation went on steroids.

From the masculine front end with the bold grille and newly-designed headlights to the tailgate that takes the spoiler tailgate design to the next level, the 2015 F150 is darn good looking. It’s not all brute either however, as the new design is actually nicely rounded off here and there giving a very clean appearance over the previous generation.

There are numerous exterior features of the truck that look cutting edge – most notably the seamless rear window with power slider. It’s now essentially a flat panel of glass with just a small square cutout of the center that slides out of the way for ventilation. Ford also finally added usable doorstops to the driver and passenger doors.

In previous generations, the front doors had stops with the door barely open or with the door fully open. This required the passengers to hold the door in an effort to prevent it from swinging open. No longer is this the case, as Ford created multiple door stops that allow you to comfortably rest the door halfway open – just enough space to get in and out without swinging open violently into the car next to you.

Ford’s message of the 2015 F150 being rugged and lightweight is also communicated through the newly redesigned F150 badges.

Another aspect of the truck that will go unnoticed by most is that Ford finally put some material inside the rear wheel well openings to prevent mud, grime, snow, et cetera from getting thrown throughout the inside of the bedsides; well played, Ford. Now that the F150 is made of aluminum, it is up to 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing generation. 700 pounds of weight savings is an all-around huge accomplishment, and while the switch is essentially transparent to most (it still looks and feels like a truck), the truck still feels very solid – even when you tap on the body panels. They sound different than before, but you can be assured that they are sturdy.

On-Road Driving

If you have driven the 2009-2014 generation F150, the 2015 provides a driving experience that is similar, yet more refined. The electronic-assisted power steering has been adjusted to provide more feel and it is noticeably better across the entire driving experience – from parking lot navigation to cruising down the freeway at 80 mph. The suspension and ride quality, which has been nice in previous generations, has greatly improved, especially when driving with an unloaded bed. 

Through sections of notoriously bumpy California freeway that would cause the previous generation to “buck” the rear-end when unloaded, the 2015 F150 glides over them with ease. It’s very apparent that Ford did their homework with the front and rear spring rates, especially considering the weight that was lost by going to aluminum.

The T/S toggle switch represents the fun button for some spirited driving.

As tested, our truck came with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that produces 365 hp and a mind-blowing 420 lb-ft of torque at just 2,500 rpm. This is the same motor found in the previous generation, but with the 700-pound reduction in weight of our SuperCrew, the 2015 is definitely snappier. Hitting wide open throttle from a standstill, as soon as the motor gets to 2,500 rpms, the truck will break the rear tires loose, which is pretty impressive considering the size of the motor.

Full-size trucks don’t exactly have the reputation of being “fun to drive,” but with the 2015 F150’s all new Sport mode, the truck is a darn good time. Previously, F150s had either normal driving mode or Tow/Haul, but for 2015, an additional option (Sport mode) has been added that changes the shift points, throttle response, and keeps the truck in its power band. We cannot stress how much this mode brings the truck to life – it’s like driving a different vehicle and will put a smile on your face. Sure, it’s not a Shelby GT500, but it still has more power than you’re used to out of a half-ton truck. Just be forewarned, it does impact your MPGs for obvious reasons.We used this truck as our daily driver for a week through a combination of freeway, city driving, backcountry two-lane roads, and even the snow. Over the course of the week, we averaged 19 mpg and were able to achieve 22 mpg over a 50-mile freeway commute at 75 mph. These numbers are right in line with the EPA estimates and all things considered are nothing to sneeze at. Truth be told, we could have easily bumped up the freeway mileage had we slowed down to 65-70 mph, but this is California– if you’re doing 65 mph, you’d better be ready to get rear-ended.

Off-Road Driving

Equipped with the FX4 package and some all-terrain tires, we headed out to some local trails in Lake Elsinore to see how the truck performed off-road. Even completely unloaded, the truck feels stable and planted to the ground from low-speed technical driving all the way north of 50 mph off-road. The same spring rate that has smoothed out the on-road ride does great off-road as the truck is deceivingly stable at high speed and could get you in trouble if you’re not careful.

One of the single best off-road features Ford has began implementing in recent years are electronic locking rear differentials, which our 2015 F150 came equipped with. With the rear differential locked in either two or four-wheel-drive, it’s surprising how much traction you can get to go through some pretty severe terrain.

While the locker works lightyears better than an open-diff or even a limited slip in twisty terrain, it does automatically disengage at 20 mph, so much like the traction control system (that automatically comes back on at 35 mph), you have to be aware of your speed when it comes to getting out of tough situations.With a combination of the traction control system, the three-mode four-wheel-drive system, the electronic locking differential, and all the available power on tap, the 2015 F150 FX4 is a blast to drive off-road and really piques our interest of what the 2017 Ford Raptor will be like to drive. Thanks to Ford’s strong build quality and extremely quiet ride, potential owners can look forward to off-roading in luxury as they head out to their favorite trail.

The running boards sit awfully close to the ground below when going through uneven terrain.

If there is anything to be wary about, it’s got to be the running boards that get dangerously close to the ground below in tight situations – but thankfully those can be taken off easily if you know you’re going to go out wheelin’.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Ford hit it out of the park with the 2015 F150 and truly built a truck that feels like a next-generation half-ton. The truck being made out of aluminum should only be seen as a positive by potential buyers, mainly due to the weight savings and the fact that Ford has way too much riding on the F150 for them to release something they didn’t test harder than any owner ever will. The truck is agile and nimble like a midsize yet maintains the size, rugged appearance, and strong capabilities of a full-size truck – which are all positives in our opinion.

Will the F150 remain the king of the mountain in the half-ton market in the coming years? We think so.

While the interior layout is different than previous generations, everything is well-placed and easily within reach thanks to the new design. Simply put, the 2015 F150 improves upon all aspects of the outgoing generation of F150s and should not be overlooked by any buyer looking for a half-ton truck – brand loyalties aside.