Up Close: 2009 Ford F-150

My first glimpse of the redesigned F-150 was of a Lariat SuperCrew loaded with most of the goodies, including a side step that you pop out of the rocker panel in front of the rear wheel by kicking a button. It definitely allows you to reach over the side of the cargo box, which can now be outfitted with many optional features, like Ford’s take on C-channel rails that let you position tie-down cleats anywhere along the box’s length. They use a spring-loaded pin design, like GM does, so they can be repositioned in seconds without unscrewing anything.

There was also a heavy-duty partition that can wall off a section of the bed, and a secure Ford-branded tool box that hangs on the inner side of the bed wall. With a kick, I stowed the side step and moved to the tailgate, which borrows from the Super Duty trucks in providing a step of its own that pulls out and swings down. One of the most useful features, also from the Super Duty line, is a split bed extender. It detaches in the center, allowing either side to stow against the bed wall. Sweet.

The interior is definitely an improvement, though I don’t think it’s better than the competition — at least in this Lariat, which is a high trim level. The materials look pretty good, with the exception of the faux aluminum; it might be better than the Toyota Tundra’s, but it’s still not my thing. The surfaces, including a leather-clad dashboard, look upscale, but they aren’t as soft as what we’ve begun to see in the market, even in some trucks.

The crew cab’s backseat is as huge as advertised, to compete with the Dodge Ram Mega Cab and Tundra CrewMax. It may even be larger than it needs to be for the sake of passengers. Are we just in a marketing war now to see who can boast the biggest backseat, or is the storage space alone worth it? These cabs could end up being too large – and they may already have.

More information and photos (Cars.com)