10 Features within the All-New 2015 Ford F150 – Some Smart, Others Fluff

Which ones meet your needs?

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug. 22, 2014



2015 Ford F150 – On sale late this year in XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch trims. Pricing and EPA data have not yet been released.



A range of four engines will be available but its the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines within the all-new lighter platform that we are most interested in.



The 2.7L is equipped with Auto Start-Stop and standard Active Grille Shutters.



There are 10 features of the all-new 2015 Ford F150 pickup that Ford said were designed to satisfy owners without them even noticing. Some appear useful. Others? Let's just say Ford's content factory is known to expect readers to push the "I believe button" with boastful pronouncements rather than actually satisfying customers.



Here is that top 10

1. Hard buttons on keypad: Designers wanted smooth capacitive touch keypad buttons on the outside of the driver-side door, but pickup truck drivers prefer tactile feedback, allowing easier usability for when they’re wearing gloves. For customers who wear bifocals, hard buttons also enable input by feel, instead of having to tilt their head back to read numerals. <-- I’m calling BS on this one. A proximity keyless entry system is far more useful for those getting into and out of trucks all day long. Screw a keypad with a code. Hate the damn things when they came out 10 years ago and that has not changed.
   
   
   


2. Beltline armrest on front doors: The beltline on the front doors is wide enough to accommodate most arms with the window up. The feature could be considered an armrest, and is at the same height as the center armrest. <-- Do like. A lot! Some have a small outcrop but this looks like a full armrest and at the right height. This cold be the new F150s best feature!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Proper width, proper height, and proper softness.
   
   
   


3. Sculpted, finger relief inside door handle for easy hold: When grabbing the inside handle, the hand is already holding the door – a helpful feature to avoid losing control of the door on a windy day. <-- I could see this being a nice addition.
   
   
   


4. Buttons clustered for ease of use: Customer surveys showed a strong preference for controls clustered together. All lighting controls – headlamps, side spotlights, bed light – are grouped together on the left-hand side of the instrument panel, while all radio controls are to the right and below with the climate controls. Towing and other controls are to the right of the steering wheel as well. <-- Ok for some but I am not a fan of reaching down under the wheel on the lower dash to make lighting adjustments. Well designed cars have placed these controls within the stalks and it has worked for the luxury set for years. This sounds more like a $ saving “feature” than a useful feature to me. See the location in the picture?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Not a fan of lighting controls underneath the dash. :(
   
   
   


5. Steering wheel feel: Finger indents remain on the back side of the steering wheel, a feature that on some competitor trucks is now smooth. These indents allow a lighter feel on the wheel for ease of maneuverability, especially when backing up a trailer or off-roading. <-- No opinion but personally like smooth thick and soft leather wrapped wheels with minimal stitching intrusion.
   
   
   


6. MyView productivity screen customization: Because each customer uses the truck differently, the importance of specific features can vary. The truck is the “multi-tool” of vehicles. Some truck owners haul produce to farmers markets, while others tow horse trailers or go off-roading, making it tricky sometimes for engineers to determine the most essential information to include in the instrument cluster. Ford’s solution is MyView, which allows truck customers to sort and organize their top seven favorite gauges in the cluster on the 2015 F-150’s 8-inch screen. One button click can shift between individual tire pressure, trailer information, off-road mode or trip fuel – whichever their favorites are. <-- Loved Ford Trucks Productivity Screens in the past and will continue to like them in the 2015. Best in the business with RAMs latest displays just a scosche behind.
   
   
   


7. Entertainment information exclusively in center stack: Ford made a data-driven decision to not include any radio or entertainment features in the instrument panel cluster behind the steering wheel. Ford stated that their customers were adamant that trucks are different from cars, and vehicle information is essential. The only entertainment information that appears in the instrument cluster of the F-150 are incoming calls and turn-by-turn directions. <-- I will call BS on this one too. Why the King Ranch? Because oit is the most car like truck Ford sells. Electronic customization is cheap. Not allowing infotainment customization is cheaper. Smells like a cost saving move to me.
   
   
   


8. Four-spoke steering wheel: F-150’s traditional, four-spoke design allows for a comfortable grip on the lower portion of the steering wheel. Other pickup truck manufacturers have closed off the bottom portion of the steering wheel. <-- Chevrolet uses a 4-Spoke wheel. RAM uses a 2 central spokes to each side and two thinner spokes to the bottom of the wheel with a central cutout on the bottom making it a 4 spoke.
   
   
   


9. Grooves in tailgate handle: For ease of grip and use, grooves in the tailgate handle allow a customer to open and close the tailgate with one hand. <-- Never had that problem although with wet leather gloves, I could see it being a problem with some tailgates. Maybe Ford does have a better idea here although the grooves look far less exposed than I would have instilled?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


10. Large box step: Ford made sure there was enough surface area on the box step of F-150 for a customer to place a full-size work boot – both to stand on the step and to push it back under the bed when not in use. <-- I like this side step. A lot! Like the built in bumper step the Silverado/Sierra’s supply but this is my second favorite. Problem however is this is a hinged and trussed step and it is not inexpensive to add on to the truck. Expect only higher end trims or a pretty steep upcharge for it.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Unique mechanical extending sidestep as seen as this years Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee Auto Shows.
    
    

I cannot wait to try some of these “features” but I suspect some are not as “cool” as the Ford PR group is trying to pump up.

10 Features within the All-New 2015 Ford F150 – Some Smart, Others Fluff