2012 Ford F-150 Review Expert Car Review 2012 Ford F-150

2012 Ford F-150 Review

Bruce Sheridan

Overview

The Ford F-150 has long been one of the best full size trucks that money can buy. The 2012 Ford F-150 continues this long storied tradition of American work truck by bringing evolution, not revolution, to an already stellar truck. The EcoBoost technology incorporated into these trucks give it even better fuel economy, giving it better mpg than any other non-hybrid full size truck on the road. When you need power and capability, it does not get any better than the 2012 Ford F-150. Improvements come for all the trims, from the basic XL to the brand new FX style series. You can find anything you could want or need and get one of the best 2012 new car deals with one of the 2012 Ford F-150s.

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2012 Ford F-150
Starting MSRP	Max City / Hwy MPG
$23,300	17 / 23
Pros	Cons
Great mpg for full size truck	Power models are gas guzzlers
Powerful and capable	Higher trims get expensive
Highly customizable
High tech features

Trims

With ten unique trim levels, regular, super and crew cab options, four different powertrains and short standard and long beds, there many different versions of the 2012 Ford F-150. There are also exponentially more ways to customize your truck for whatever you might want it for. The most affordable trim would be the regular cab XL, which starts at an MSRP of $22,990. It is also the trim that gets the best fuel economy, with 17 city / 23 highway mpg. The most capable trims are the Platinum, Lariat, SVT Raptor and Harley Davidson trims. The most luxurious, and expensive, trims are the Platinum, Lariat and King Ranch trims. Geared more towards off-road driving are the FX2 and FX4.

Performance

The 2012 Ford F-150, depending on the trim and engine, can pretty much be the best at whatever it wants to be. The EcoBoost equipped v6 engines can get 17 city / 23 highway mpg, and is by no means a weak truck. Drivers will still feel very capable in any model they choose. For pure power, drivers may want to opt for the 6.2 liter v8 engine that can tow 11300 lbs, available with the SVT Raptor, Harley Davidson, Lariat and Platinum models. Every model has above average handling and acceleration, but some might the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 and its new smooth ride have the edge over the F-150. From commuting to towing to off-road adventures, there is a 2012 Ford F-150 that does it, and does it well.

Interior / Exterior

The exterior of the base model XL looks much the way it has the past few years, with a larger than life intimidating grill. The big new change in appearance for some of the models is thanks to the FX series. The FX2 and FX4 both have distinctive exteriors that set them apart from the rest of the F-150s. All models from the base XL and up have interiors geared for functionality. The only cab that offers any considerable amount of space for adult passengers in the back seat is the Super Crew cabs, but other than that this remains as one of the most spacious full size trucks available.

Features

The 2012 Ford F-150 is full of little engineering perks that add up to one of the best trucks ever. The higher end models have enough comfort and technology options you might think it was a luxury car instead of a work truck. Some of the better features on the high end trucks are things like the 4.2 inch LCD message center that gives you a complete display of your truck's settings and vitals. Others include rear view cameras, navigation systems and Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety

Larger, full size trucks are generally considered safer than smaller vehicles. Even so, with stricter safety requirements the F-150 needed to advance even further with its safety. The IIHS named the Super Crew cab models a top safety pick for 2012, and it also scored 4 out of 5 stars on its government tests. All airbags, antilock brakes and trailer sway control and stability control are all standard equipment for every model. Rear view cameras and parking sensors are optional.

Also consider

Car Name	Starting MSRP
2012 Chevy Silverado 1500	$22,195
2012 Dodge Ram 1500	$21,820
2012 GMC Sierra	$22,195

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