Truck buyers are fiercely loyal to their brands, which explains why the Ford F-150 has remained the most popular pickup for decades.
Giving buyers exactly what they need, from basic fleet models to all-out luxury versions for up to six pampered passengers, is what helps keeps Ford at the pinnacle of the pickup world.
In mid-2018, a turbodiesel engine was added to a lineup that already included five gasoline-engine choices (all but two turbocharged) that delivers fuel efficiency along with plenty of towing and hauling grunt.
The new 3.0-litre V-6 is marketed by Ford under the Power Stroke brand, a name also applied to the more powerful V-8 turbodiesel that can be specified in the F-series Super Duty trucks.
Although Ford鈥檚 powertrain engineers worked on the development of both diesels, European automaker PSA also had a hand in the new V-6.
The result of their combined efforts is a powerplant that produces 250 horsepower and, most importantly, 440 pound-feet of torque. It peaks at a low 1,750 rpm, which is especially important for towing and hauling heavy loads. The turbodiesel can pull up to 5,180 kilograms or can accept a maximum 920 kilograms in the cargo bed.
The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with settings for Tow/Haul, Snow/Wet, EcoSelect (maximizes fuel economy), and, perhaps weirdly, Sport (holds the shift points at a higher rpms for more spirited driving).
Along with plenty of grunt, the Power Stroke鈥檚 fuel consumption in the rear-wheel-drive F-150 is rated at 10.8 l/100 km in city driving, 8.0 on the highway and 9.5 combined.
In any case, the numbers blow away the gasoline-engine choices by a wide margin, particularly on the highway. The four-wheel-drive option increases the city/highway and combined numbers only slightly.
The auto stop/start program (which automatically turns the engine off and then back on after a stop) no doubt aids in some fuel conservation.
And the competitors? FCA plans to introduce its latest diesel Ram in 2019, while similar versions of General Motors鈥� Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups are arriving very soon. How they will stack up against the Ford is anyone鈥檚 guess at this point, but expect a close race.
The Power Stroke option will limit you to extended-length SuperCabs fitted with 6.5-foot beds or four-door SuperCrew models with either the 5.5- or 6.5-foot-long beds.
The Power Stroke option is also limited to Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels, which means that, except for fleet customers, the engine isn鈥檛 available with the more basic XL and XLT trims.
Ordering a Power Stroke Lariat will cost you $59,350, including destination charges. That鈥檚 about $7,000 more than the standard 2.7-litre-twin-turbocharged-V-6-gasoline model, which has 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
Included with the Lariat SuperCab are leather-trimmed seats (power-operated in front), dual-zone climate control, eight-inch touchscreen and a power-locking tailgate.
The King Ranch SuperCrew rings in at $76,100 and includes voice-activated navigation, premium audio, heated-and-ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, power-sliding rear window and 20-inch wheels (18-inchers are standard).
The range-topping F-150 Platinum with the Power Stroke turbodiesel will set you back $78,350, but it comes with body-coloured bumpers and wheel-lip mouldings, 22-inch wheels and power running boards.
Buyers of the Ford F-150 Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum Power Stroke models are likely to be hitching their pickups to mega-size travel trailers and equally large watercraft, but entrepreneurial types such as farmers, ranchers and builders are also in that mix.
Considering the Power Stroke鈥檚 capabilities and thrifty nature, they likely won鈥檛 be disappointed.
