Review - 2023 Ford F150

If you’re after something big and bold with enough towing power to move the moon, the addition of the Ford F-150 to Australia looks to be a great option for buyers looking for a versatile workhouse, towing powerhouse and family package.

While it’s new to the Australian market, the Ford F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in its home market of the U.S., but the question remains of how well it will translate to the roads here in Australia.

Ford F-150 Competition

Starting Price: $106,950

OnlineAuto Savings: Enquire now

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the Ford F-150 range kick off from $106,950 for the entry-level F-150 XLT SWB, while the move to the F-150 XLT LWB brings the price up to $106,945.

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat SWB brings the price up to $139,950 while the range-topping F-150 Lariat LWB is priced at $140,945.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

Using OnlineAuto’s car buying service, our car sourcing specialists can help you find the best value model for you.

Ford F150 - XLT SWB (4x4) Specifications

What Features Does the Ford F-150 Have?

Ford’s entry-level F-150 XLT comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloys and receives halogen headlights with LED tail lights, side steps, cloth upholstery, cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, a spray-in tub liner, tailgate with access step and workbench, power-adjustable front seats, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a seven-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat adds LED headlights and fog lights, chrome exterior highlights, a twin-panel moon roof, a powered tailgate, leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, a pair of 12-inch displays and an upgraded 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Range Features:

• 20-inch alloys

• Halogen headlights with LED tail lights 

• Cloth upholstery

• Cruise control

• Rear-view camera with rear parking sensors 

• Spray-in tub liner 

• Tailgate with access step and workbench 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster 

• LED headlights & fog lights (Lariat)

• Twin-panel moon roof (Lariat)

• Leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats (Lariat)

• Adaptive cruise control (Lariat)

• Surround-view camera (Lariat)

• 12-inch infotainment & instrument displays (Lariat)

• 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system (Lariat)

Is the Ford F-150 Comfortable to Drive?

While it might measure in with similar dimensions to a football field, Ford has done a great job at ensuring the F-150 platform is approachable for buyers new to the segment and user-friendly around town.

Under the bonnet, the F-150 comes powered by a 3.5-litre ‘Ecoboost’ twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that produces 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque, with power sent to all four wheels via a ten-speed automatic transmission.

That gives the F-150 some decent pull off the line, especially considering its weight, making for brisk acceleration and more than enough power and torque for towing heavy objects.

On the road, the F-150 feels substantial, but it doesn’t feel as though you’re driving a tank, with its approachable nature bolstered by a lightweight steering rack that makes low-speed turns and parking a far simpler task than you might anticipate.

The suspension package has translated well to Australian roads, with the F-150 ironing out small and moderate bumps without an issue, while larger bumps don’t unsettle the heavy-duty platform.

On the open road, the F-150 is unrelenting, making for a great long-distance tourer that can confidently tackle rougher Australian B-roads without breaking a sweat and making for a very compelling driving package for such a massive package.

What are the Ford F-150’s Towing and Payload Figures?

With the help of Ford’s 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 under the bonnet, both variants of the Ford F-150 offer 4,500kg of braked towing capacity, matching segment-leading figures posted by the RAM 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado.

The payload, gross vehicle mass (GVM) and gross combination mass (GCM) figures for the F-150 range below.

Ford F-150 Payload Figures

• XLT SWB: 769kg

• Lariat SWB: 685kg

• XLT LWB: 794kg

• Lariat LWB: 710kg 

Ford F-150 Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)

• XLT SWB: 3320kg

• Lariat SWB: 3320kg

• XLT LWB: 3265kg

• Lariat LWB: 3265kg 

Ford F-150 Gross Combination Mass (GCM)

• XLT SWB: 7720kg

• Lariat SWB: 7720kg

• XLT LWB: 7765kg

• Lariat LWB: 7765kg

Is it Fuel Efficient?

All the towing power on offer in the Ford F-150 has come at the expense of fuel efficiency, though all things considered, it’s not an excessively thirsty powertrain when you remind yourself of the towing power on offer.

Officially, both the XLT and Lariat members of the F-150 range are rated at 12.5L/100km on a combined cycle, while the fuel tank measures 136L in total.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you might expect for a vehicle of this size, the Ford F-150 offers a massive space and practicality increase over your typical dual-cab ute.

Measuring far larger than your standard ute, the F-150 offers more of a loungeroom on wheels than a typical cabin, meaning space and practicality are two extremely strong selling points of the F-150 platform.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have acres of space and absolutely no issues in terms of headroom, even for the tallest of front occupants.

The tall dashboard sinks to meet a super wide centre console that houses two separate storage trays, a clever smartphone holder, a pair of cupholders and an immense amount of storage inside the folding armrest.

Bundle that with two tiers of storage in the door sills and you’ve got yourself endless storage options for loose items inside the F-150’s undeniably practical front cabin.

Move to the second row of the F-150’s cabin and you’ll find there’s more than enough space for adults to stretch out and get comfortable, while some clever under-seat storage options help to swallow up loose items.

The second-row bench seat also features ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts to accommodate forward and rear child seats, with easy access into the cabin thanks to the wide-opening doors.

All up, the F-150’s cabin is undeniably practical and spacious enough to easily accommodate five adults in comfort.

What are the Ford F-150’s Tray Dimensions?

Tray dimensions for the Ford F-150 range depend on which variant you’re opting for, with both short and long-wheelbase versions of the F-150 on offer that offer different tray dimensions.

F-150 SWB Tray Dimensions

• Length: 1705mm 

• Width: 1656mm

• Width between wheel arches: 1285mm

• Height: 543mm

F-150 LWB Tray Dimensions

• Length: 2005mm (up 300m)  

• Width: 1656mm

• Width between wheel arches: 1285mm

• Height: 543mm

Is it Safe?

The Ford F-150 is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP, however, it received a five-star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As standard, the F-150 is packaged with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, driver attention monitoring, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and Ford’s trailer backup assist feature.

Stepping up to the F-150 Lariat adds evasive steering assist, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor with front-mounted parking sensors, lane centring and intersection assist.

This means that the entry-level F-150 XLT comes fitted with the important safety tech you’d expect at this price point, though the adaptive cruise fitted to the Lariat would be a nice touch.

Our Verdict: Is the Ford F-150 Worth it?

If you’re looking for a comfortable loungeroom on wheels that can tow pretty much anything you can throw at it, the Ford F-150 is an almighty package.

While it doesn’t come cheap, the F-150 range offers towing figures that only a few vehicles on the market can match, giving it a solid footing in the segment and more than deserving of a spot on your shortlist for a powerful, comfortable and versatile towing powerhouse.

 If you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol produces 298kW/678Nm

3. 10-speed automatic with locking rear differential 

4. 4,500kg braked towing capacity 

5. 12.5L/100km combined cycle fuel economy