Ford's F-150 full-size pickup sets a new standard for refinement, interior comfort, ride quality and driving dynamics. Its powerful, fuel-efficient V6 and V8 engines have plenty of power for hauling or towing a trailer. It's also among the most comfortable and quietest trucks to drive. And it's loaded with long lists of features that owners can choose from to suit their needs.
The 2005 F-150 carries over the same basic design as its predecessor, but it's more angular and masculine in appearance with a bold, squarer nose. The grille wraps around to the fenders for a precise, sophisticated look. The sheet metal on the sides and cargo box is chiseled, too. The XL, STX and FX4 have a honeycomb grille, while the Lariat and King Ranch use a more traditional bar-style grille.
Our tester was equipped with the 300-hp 5.4-liter Triton V8 that's standard on the XL, STX and FX4. It has a smooth, responsive feel with ample power for hauling or towing. The four-speed automatic transmission is a pleasure to use. The brakes are very responsive, with no dead space in the pedal travel.
Owners give the F-150 high marks for its smooth, refined ride and lengthy feature content, but they're less enthusiastic about certain mechanical issues. Spark plugs that break when removed, timing and cam phaser problems on the 5.4-liter V8, and power window switches that fail are common problems reported by owners. A few 05 models had injector problems for which Ford extended the warranty.
