2005 Ford F-150 SuperCab 4x4 New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2005 Ford F-150?
The new 2005 Ford F-150 King Ranch edition finally arrives in showrooms, featuring Castano leather and all the luxuries you could expect in a full-size pickup. At the other end of the trim level spectrum, a new Work Truck package is offered on the F-150 XL, targeting commercial applications. Also new for 2005 is a 4.2-liter V6 engine connected to a manual transmission, developing 202 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Finally, the front passenger airbag receives an occupant sensor to detect when there's enough weight on the seat to deploy the airbag.

Advantages of the 2005 Ford F-150:

• Ride quality
• Steering response
• Braking performance
• Handling
• Quiet cabin
• Comfortable front seats
• Dash design and layout

Objections to the 2005 Ford F-150:

• Weak standard 4.6-liter V8
• Slow downshifts when passing power is needed
• Poorly functioning cupholders

Editor's Advice:
If you can't find a 2005 Ford F-150 that meets your needs, the right truck for you simply does not exist. Though not class-leading, the optional 5.4-liter V8 produces power and torque on par with all competitors except the Dodge Ram Hemi. The Ford F-150 offers outstanding braking, steering, handling and ride quality; thanks for this athleticism go, in part, to a fully-boxed frame that is nine times stiffer torsionally than the previous-generation F-150. Our complaints with the hardware are limited to the underpowered 4.6-liter V8 that came standard on our F-150 STX SuperCab 4WD test truck, the frustration we experienced waiting for the transmission to downshift for passing power, and the muscle required to shift the transfer case lever. Off-road capability is the best we've experienced in a full-size pickup. The cab is commendably quiet at speed, and is constructed of what appear to be quality materials. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the controls are easy to find and use. However, climbing into and out of the 4WD model takes a bit of agility and we wished for more practical storage space. Strangely, more than half of the six front cupholders could not accommodate a one-liter water bottle and the two center armrest cupholders failed to steady a 24-ounce drink. If adults will be frequent passengers, we recommend the Super Crew model, which offers more rear seat space than the SuperCab. Nissan's Titan is an appealing alternative, and we like the Dodge Ram's brash character and powerful Hemi engine, but neither can be tailored to specific owner desires like the 2005 Ford F-150.