Ford F-150 – What you need to know

The reigning carsales Best Dual Cab 4x4 Ute, the Ford Ranger, now has a bigger brother standing alongside it in Blue Oval showrooms – a MUCH bigger brother, in the shape of the Ford F-150.

While the F-Series has long been available through independent importers and local right-hand drive conversion companies, and remains so, the F-150 officially returned to Australia in 2023 under a factory-backed remanufacturing program that converts the iconic US-built full-size pick-up truck to RHD at facility run by partner RMA Automotive in Melbourne.

F-Series pick-up trucks have been manufactured since 1948 and they’re the Blue Oval’s biggest seller. In 2023, the F-Series celebrated its 47th consecutive year as the world’s best-selling truck.

Big on power, interior space, payload and towing capacity, the 2024 Ford F-150 range sold through Ford Australia is available in two model grades: the entry-model XLT and the top-spec Lariat.

Both are 4x4 dual-cabs sporting a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with a 10-speed automatic. Both are available in short- and long-wheelbase versions and are five-seaters.

Like what you see so far? Let’s delve into the features to discover the best one for you.

Getting behind the wheel of the entry-level, short-wheelbase Ford F-150 XLT will cost $106,950 plus on-road costs, and it comes with the following standard features:

• 4500kg towing capacity
• 8.0-inch infotainment screen
• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio
• Cloth trim
• Rear-view camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Cruise control
• Dual-zone air-conditioning

Paint finish colour is the only major option on the Ford F-150 and up to six are available, with all except Oxford White adding a $700 premium.

The Ford F-150 includes a host of safety features and driver assist tech.

Emergency assistance, six airbags, electronic stability and traction control and anti-lock brakes are fitted to all models. So too is autonomous emergency braking (AEB), reverse brake and post impact braking assist, hill start assist, trailer sway control, cruise control and rollover mitigation.

Also standard is a rear-view camera with hitch assist, rear parking sensors, a trailer hitch light, tyre pressure monitoring, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto-on headlights, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and trailer tow coverage.

Stepping up to the Lariat nets you rain-sensing wipers, auto high beam LED headlights, evasive steering assist, intersection assist, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with lane centring and stop-and-go functions, speed sign recognition and a 360-degree camera.

The Ford F-150 XLT models use an 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen that has AM/FM/digital radio playing through seven speakers, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

All F-150s have steering wheel-mounted controls, sat-nav, SYNC 4 voice-activated control and Bluetooth music and phone streaming.

There are 12-volt outlets and USB-A and USB-C ports are placed at the front and rear of the centre console so both rows have access. The XLT also has an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

Climb into the Lariat and you’ll see the infotainment screen and the digital instrument cluster have both grown to 12.0-inch and the audio system is upgraded to a Bang and Olufsen ‘unleashed’ sound system boasting 18 speakers. You also score wireless phone charging.

Step inside any Ford F-150 and you are treated to privacy glass, sun shades with vanity mirrors (illuminated in the Lariat), power windows with auto up/down and a multitude of cup and bottle holders throughout the cabin.

Also standard is dual-zone air-conditioning with rear vents, and underneath the rear seat with its fold-down centre arm rest is a storage area (lockable in the Lariat). There’s also a tilt/reach-adjust steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a sunglasses holder.

Do you want leather seats? Bypass the XLT models with their cloth trim and sign up for the Lariat-badged F-150s. Not only do you get leather-accented seat upholstery, but also a leather-wrapped steering wheel with power adjustment and power-adjustable pedals with memory settings.

How about power-adjustable seats? Pick any Ford F-150; they all have them. The driver’s seat is 12-way adjustable with power lumbar support, while on the Lariat there’s a position memory function too.

In XLT variants the front passenger has a 10-way adjustable seat with manual recline and powered lumbar adjustment, but the Lariat snares 12-way adjustability. It also has heated and cooled front seats and heated rear outer seats.

All F-150 models have a 60/40-split folding rear seat with three child seat anchor points and adjustable head restraints.

While the XLT models have a column-mounted shift lever, Lariats come with a shifter in the console that, with the push of a button, disappears into the console while the console lid flips over to become a desktop. Very clever.

Are selectable drive modes on the wish list? Sport, Eco, Tow/Haul, Normal, Slippery, Deep Snow/Sand and Mud/Ruts are the seven modes featured in all F-150 models and can be enabled on the go.

Stepping outside, the Ford F-150 XLT makes do with halogen headlights and LED tail-lights whereas the Lariat employs LED lighting for the headlights and tail-lights, daytime running lights and front fog lights.

The tray area is key for buyers, with all F-150s having tie-down hooks, four locking cleats, a step and tailgate work surface area, a ruler marked on the inner tailgate, clamp pockets, a protective top capping, power tailgate lock and a spray-in bedliner.

The Lariat adds a 12-volt socket in the tub, cargo area illumination and the handiness of a powered tailgate.

Manual-folding and powered black door mirrors come standard on the XLT F-150 together with black door handles, a single exhaust and black side steps, while Lariat models use chrome on the door handles, exhaust tips, side steps and the exterior door mirrors, the latter heated, power-folding and incorporating puddle lamps.

The front bumper on all models is chrome and all F-150s come with mud flaps front and rear.

What about a sunroof? The Lariat is the only variant offering a twin-panel moonroof, ambient interior lighting and a powered sliding rear window.

Setting each model apart are the wheels, with the XLT rolling on 20-inch six-spoke machined alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres while the Lariat pair get snazzier 20-inch chrome-like alloys with all-terrain tyres. And all have an 18-inch alloy spare.

Driving the Ford F-150 range sold through Ford Australia’s dealer network is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine producing 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque.

A 10-speed automatic transmission is fitted standard across the range, along with an electronic locking rear differential.

XLT models have a part-time 4x4 system with shift-on-the-fly and a column-mounted gear shifter, whereas the Lariat models are full-time 4x4 and the shifter is mounted in the console.

You might need a bigger garage, carport or shed to house one of these. The Ford F-150 is offered in short- and long-wheelbase versions, with the SWB measuring 5884mm long, 2430mm wide and 1995mm high.

The wheelbase is 3683mm and ground clearance is 239mm.

The LWB variants are 6184mm long and have the same width and height as the SWB. Wheelbase length grows to 3994mm while ground clearance drops to 225mm.

Gross vehicle mass ranges from 3220kg to 3265kg, depending on the variant, while kerb weight spans a 2451-2535kg range.

The standard cargo tub is 1670mm long on all models, with an optional 1980mm-long tub at extra cost.

The maximum braked towing capacity on all models is 4500kg when using a 70mm tow ball.

Payload capacity varies from 685 to 769 litres in the short-wheelbase versions, with the longer versions varying from 710-794 litres.

Towing is a cinch in the F-150 with all models having a tow bar with an integrated trailer brake controller, pro-trailer back-up assist for easier reversing, trailer theft alert and a trailer light check function.

And if you find a track wide enough to go bush-bashing, F-150s come with an electronic rear locking diff and skid plates under the front diff, transfer case and fuel tank.

There’s also a pair of front recovery hooks if you venture too far off-piste.

Jumping up into the Ford F-150, the sheer size of the cabin and the acres of sheetmetal as you peer through the windscreen is a bit daunting. You adapt to its heft pretty quickly, though the first visit to a car park will raise the heartrate.

On the road, the ride is very comfortable and it cruises effortlessly at highway speeds, with plenty of oomph for overtaking. Given its size, it isn’t too bad in traffic-plagued cities, either; you just need to plan a bit more.

With plenty of chrome and by virtue of its sheer size, the F-150 catches the eye and people do notice you. No surprise there.

Inside, there’s loads of space and back seat dwellers feel they’re also travelling in business class like those up front with so much legroom and shoulder-room on offer.

It’s worth pointing out that Ford has also had a number of teething problems with the remanufacturing of the F-150 in Australia, so it’s important to check that all the relevant recalls have been carried out before taking possession.

Now, which one to buy?

For me, it comes down to a choice of short- or long-wheelbase as that’s the budget biter.

If you don’t need the extra tub length and the budget won’t allow an additional 33 grand, the XLT has a decent level of safety, driver assist and comfort features for the money.

If the budget can run to it, or you need the long tub, or you simply want one because you can, slap down your hard-earned on a long-wheelbase Lariat and feel like the king of the road.

How much does the 2024 Ford F-150 cost?
XLT SWB – $106,950
XLT LWB – $107,945
Lariat SWB – $139,500
Lariat LWB – $140,945
*Prices exclude on-road costs