The 2024 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck Got a Makeover — and a Bevy of New Benefits
New features, like more tailgate function, more tech, like over the air updates, and better capability, including enhanced trailering, add to the updated look of the Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Scotty Reiss
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“What Can’t this Truck Do?” The List is Shorter than Ever.
If you’d asked me if the Ford F-150 needed a makeover, I’d have said no. Sort of like Oprah, this uber-popular truck seems to get smarter and stronger every year without ever looking dated or tired.
But staying ahead of the ‘dated’ curve is the key to success. So, as with Oprah’s newest look, book club selection, or favorite things list, Ford is adding to the F-150 all the wish list items its customers and designers are pining for and then making many of them standard.
Related: Alana Strager: The Woman Behind, In Front Of, And In, The Ford F-150
The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor. Photo: Liv Leigh
A Fitting Detroit Debut
Ford kicked off the Detroit Auto Show with a first look at this best-selling pickup truck. Show-goers got a look at the new, more rugged face of the F-150 framed by signature headlights and taillights, the workbench-like tailgate, and a “favorite things” list of new ownership benefits.
For 2024, the F-150 has a new look front and rear. The front end has a more rugged grille framed by the F-150’s iconic headlights; the tailgate is framed by new tail lights that sort of swoop downward, sort of an homage to the headlights.
The biggest news — in our opinion— is the stepped-up commitment to “PowerBoost,” Ford’s hybrid engine. The company wants to double the sales of this more powerful yet more efficient engine, so they’ve priced it the same as the EcoBoost: That’s a $1,760 savings for about 2 more MPG (22 in the EcoBoost vs. 24 in the PowerBoost) and 30 more HP (400 in the EcoBoost vs 430 in the PowerBoost). And that is just one of 7 engine choices that start with the economical 2.7L EcoBoost and power up to the supercharged V8 in the Raptor.
Related: Ford Is Getting Serious About Off-Roading With the Bronco Raptor
A Ford engineer shows all the functions of the Ford F-150 rear lift gate. Photo: Liv Leigh
More Pro Features, Including a Smart Tailgate
Ford rolled out a lot of innovations in the F-150 Lightning that we’ll now see in the gas-powered F-150. It starts with the ProAccess tailgate.
This whole end of the truck has been continually retooled to do more, and now, it’s like having a built-in work bench; Ford even shows a workman using a power saw on the tailgate in the introduction video.
The tailgate has a power station with up to 7.2kW of power (2.4kW is standard in the PowerBoost models), and the outlets are right at the outer right corner of the truck bed, so they are easy to reach. The tailgate itself folds down or swings out for easy access, and there is an in-bed storage box tucked into the bed wall to hold all your power cords. There is also a pull-out step for better access when climbing into the truck bed.
All this is in addition to the on-board scales that allow you to know just how much weight you’re carrying in the truck bed. While most of these features aren’t new, they’ve been updated and coordinated for better function.
Related: Why Girls Love Trucks and How the Best Trucks Make Us Feel
The F-150 Platinum’s front seats are finished in quilted leather. Photo: Tanya Gazdik
Trailering Made Better
With up to 13,500 lbs. of tow capacity, Ford has also improved its Pro Trailer backup assistance system. Using cameras and radars to align the hitch with the trailer, similar to park assist, a single button helps you to easily connect the trailer to the trailer hitch without guessing. You’ll also get a sharp view of this on the trailer view camera.
Ford’s trailering system can also measure the trailer’s tongue weight to reduce trailer sway, and the onboard scales can help drivers to accurately figure out the payload.
2024 F150 Lariat. Photo: Tanya Gazdik
A Tech-Forward, Smart Truck
Ford has added Blue Cruise, Ford’s hands-free driving system for use on mapped, limited access highways, as an option, as well as head-up display. This is the first time Ford’s added HUD to the F-150. But this might be the smartest feature: owners can now track a stolen F-150 using data from the truck. All these together, along with the trailering abilities, make long drives, and with a heavy trailer, to unfamiliar locations a much more secure and comfortable trip.
A Raptor Easter Egg! Look closely: V8 is embossed on the armrest. Photo: Tanya Gazdik
More for Ford’s Most Popular Models: Tremor and Raptor
Maybe Ford was listening to what Tremor and Raptor owners had to say in the owner’s forums and surveys, or maybe they’ve seen how owners modify their trucks, but it was clear that more and more owners wanted more off-road capability. So Ford obliged with updates to the Tremor, redesigned with the added features they need: A unique front grille, a front light bar for better visibility, space, and capability for a 12,000-lbs. winch (this is a dealer-installed option), and a front brush guard.
Raptor was upgraded with new Fox shocks, terrain management system with 7 drive modes, a new “rebound control” system which means drivers should be able to drive faster on desert off-road courses, 37” tires, standard front tow hooks, trail control — cruise control for low-speed off-roading— and one pedal drive.
The view from the driver’s seat in the Ford F-150. Photo: Liv Leigh
If Only Ford Could Offer Just a Little More…
Ah, but there is! Ford is increasing the number of standard safety features in the F-150, including a trailer hitch, a larger gas tank, and safety features like pre-collision assist with automatic braking, lane keep assist, blind spot information, and cross-traffic alert.
There will be automatic software updates for better connectivity, including FordPass, Sync4 function, and navigation.
All of this will be simpler to order; Ford has streamlined much of the build and order process so buyers can more easily get the updated, smarter, and stronger Ford F-150 when it hits dealerships in early 2024.
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