KansasCity.com's view

Sometimes it’s hard to know when a car is a car and a truck is a truck.

To wit: Car-based hybrid SUVs such as the Pontiac Aztek and Ford Escape are taking on the look and function of trucks, while trucks are sprouting four doors, full-size back seats and softer rides.

Ford’s 2001 F-150 SuperCrew is just such an animal. Built in Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant at Claycomo, it sits on the same 138.5-inch wheelbase as the F-150 extended cab, but it substitutes a 5.5-foot bed for a roomier cabin and four full-size doors. Back-seat passengers can sit comfortably without their knees crammed up under their chins, and whatever hauling capacity is lost is generally academic in a personal-use truck anyway.

The solution to the loss of bed space comes in the form of the optional bed extender. This three-tube, pivoting cage flips out onto an open tailgate, enclosing it on three sides and creating a 7-foot-long load space. When the tailgate is closed, the extender fits inside the bed and forms a space for small items so they won’t slide around. There’s only one downside: Because the extender takes up space inside the bed, any object longer than 3 feet or so requires the tailgate be opened or the extender removed.

Prices range from $26,780 for a two-wheel-drive XLT to $31,790 for a four-wheel-drive Lariat. I have driven both, but this test vehicle was two-wheel drive.

Aside from its bigger cab, the first thing one notices about the SuperCrew is its civilized ride. The rear shock absorbers have a staggered mounting, one in front of the rear axle and one behind. This arrangement takes some of the harshness out of bumps and makes back-seat passengers more comfortable.

On the road, the SuperCrew feels smaller than it is, perhaps because the ride has been tailored to be plush and supple. It doesn’t feel top-heavy or cumbersome in tight turns, and that was especially so with the two-wheel-drive version which sits a little lower to the ground. It settles down so nicely on the highway that it’s hard not to let the speedometer needle creep up too far. The SuperCab has small back doors that can only be opened after the fronts are open, but not so the SuperCrew. It’s like a four-door sedan. Getting into the back seat is easy, and there is plenty of knee room. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat can be collapsed to create a flat-floor, indoor cargo space that provides lockable security. Such versatility heightens the SuperCrew’s appeal and makes it even more useful.

The front bucket seats and instrument panel are no different than other F-150 trucks. Power, adjustable pedals are standard and offer short drivers the chance to get comfortable without having to sit right on top of the steering wheel. Keeping a safe distance from the steering wheel’s airbag is another benefit of adjustable pedals.

Grab handles to facilitate entry and exit are located on the windshield pillar for both driver and passenger.

The front seat s are separated by a large center console that contains two cupholders and a place for a cell phone or notebook.

If there’s any one complaint about the radio, it is that it has to be tuned with buttons instead of a knob and the light-green digital readout can be hard to see in certain conditions.

Power comes from one of two V8 engines: a 220-horsepower, 4.6-liter or the 260-horsepower, 5.4-liter. Both trucks I drove were equipped with the larger engine, which would be better for towing. Properly equipped, the SuperCrew can tow 8,000 pounds, which would make it ideal for pulling a fifth-wheel trailer.

Anti-lock brakes are standard, as is shift-on-the-fly capability for four-wheel-drive units.

Price
The base price of our test truck was $26,780. Options included the 5.4-liter engine, cab steps, trailer towing group, keyless entry, bed extender, power driver’s seat and two-tone paint.

The sticker price was $29,590.

Warranty
Thre years or 36,000 miles.

SPECS

Point: SuperCrew is a natural evolution of the personal-use truck. It puts people space first, yet it can still haul an 8-foot load with the tailgate folded down. The ride is smooth and the interior is about as plush as any SUV.

Counterpoint: Ford’s overhead-cam V8 truck engines are slightly less powerful than rivals from Chevrolet and GMC.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Engine: 5.4-liter, V8
Transmission: automatc
Two-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 138.5 inches
Curb weight: 4,581 lbs.
Base price: $26,780
As driven: $29,590
Mpg rating: 15 city, 19 hwy.