USED: Goodbye Sedan. Hello Family Pickup Truck. Why the 2018 F-150 Power Stroke Diesel Will Replace Your Family Car.

2018 F-150 Diesel Family Pickup Truck
2018 Ford F-150 Powerstroke Diesel Family Pickup Truck. Photo: Erica Mueller

30MPG. In a pickup truck. With room for everything. ????

Our family recently got to spend a week with the brand new 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke Diesel Platinum Supercrew edition pickup. We didn’t have any big plans the week of the loan, so we decided to just use it as we would if it were ours… as a family pickup truck. We took it everywhere! From taekwondo practice to grocery shopping, errands around town, work commutes and a night out to watch a fireworks show… you name it, we did it! And guess what? It was a really great week cause we got to see how this truck would work for our family.

Considering a truck is next on our list of big purchases, this was a really good thing for us. Neither my husband or I are fans of minivans or sedans. We like large SUVs and pickup trucks. We’ve decided our next purchase is a family pickup truck!

The F-150 Family Pickup Truck
4 Doors. All the cargo space. Ultimate luxury truck. Photo: Erica Mueller

A few months ago I got to drive the 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke Diesel truck at Ford’s introduction event in Denver, Colorado. I was super impressed with the truck’s fuel economy, but I knew that my time with it was short and I was excited to come home and have the chance to really get to know it, on my own time.

It did not disappoint!

Who This Truck is For

  • Families who need a truck! Those with two or three kids and even a dog or two will be comfortable
  • Pick up truck buyers who regularly have back seat passengers
  • Buyers whose truck does double duty as a family car
  • Truck buyers who want a nicely, or fully, loaded truck; the Power Stroke is available in the F-150’s higher grades
  • Weekend heroes who haul, build or off-road with their families
  • Truck fans who just need a truck and need their kids, too

What This Truck Costs

The Power Stroke Diesel is available in three models: the Lariat, the Platinum and the King Ranch.

  • The Lariat starts at $45,015 and is nicely equipped with leather seats and lots of features
  • The King Ranch adds more luxuries including premium audio and pricing starts at $54,930
  • The Platinum edition we drove is the top of the line, featuring elegant details and all the luxuries; pricing starts at $57,485
  • Price of the Platinum model we drove: $67,080

Not sure a pick up truck is right for you? We also put the Ford Expedition to the test.

So Spacious! My Personal Pick for Family Pickup Truck of the Year: The 2018 F-150

We have two growing boys. And I have two adult brothers living with us. So every vehicle we drive gets put to the test. From booster seats to 6’ 2” tall men in the back seat, the F-150 passed all our tests with flying colors. And I love that when the rear seats fold up, you get mega cargo space with a flat floor to easily load things like coolers, gym bags, groceries and more. It’s seriously impressive.

It’s also very comfortable for everyone. Gone are the days when sitting in the backseat of a truck meant sitting on a hard bench. These trucks now have comfortable back seats with a 40-60 split and a fold-down center console. They also have climate controls in the back, plenty of drink holders, and charging ports for all your gadgets.

Have a ponytail that’s always in the way of the headrest? Ford has a treat for you with their adjustable headrests!

All the Safety Technology You’d Find in a Sedan or SUV

Think only sedans and SUVs are designed to protect your family? Think again! Truck makers are starting to offer all of the amazing safety technology like pre-collision assist, lane keeping sensors, backup cameras, park assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, brake assist, and more on their pickups! The 2018 F-150 offers most of these, plus blind spot information system, and cross traffic alert making it a safe choice for everyone.

The F-150 Diesel Truck Gives You the Fuel Economy You Need for a Family Car

Let’s face it. Automakers have been in a race for the top awards for fuel economy with their sedans for decades. But trucks and SUVs have been ignored when it comes to improvements in this area, and all the marketing for them has focused on their safety features, passenger space, cargo space, and load and tow capacity. The fact that these larger vehicles were gas hogs was expected and ignored.

Until now.

With the rising fuel prices, customers are demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles across the spectrum. Families need big SUVs and don’t feel they should have to sacrifice fuel economy or environmentally friendly features just to get their loved ones around town.

So, we’ve started to see an improvement in the fuel economy of crossovers and SUVs, as well as some hybrid versions, in the past few years.

Then Ford left them all in the dust with the new F-150 Powerstroke Diesel pickup.

Suddenly a Family of 4 or 5 Can Call a Pickup Truck Their Family Car!

With an average of 30 miles per gallon on the highway, this pickup puts a lot of larger SUVs to shame. Granted it doesn’t have a third row, but if your reason for needing a larger SUV is cargo space for sports gear, luggage, groceries, and DIY projects, a bed cover is a great option. And your budget will thank you.

Tailgating In The 2018 F-150
My kids waiting for it to get dark enough to see the fireworks show. Tailgating in the 2018 F-150 is FUN! Photo: Erica Mueller

When we drove this truck for a week, we averaged 27 miles per gallon, which is way above the estimated average for the 4-wheel drive model. We live way out in the country and Texas speed limits are pretty decent on these wide open roads. So, I’d say that’s pretty good. Better than any large SUV I’ve ever driven. When we drove the 2-wheel drive version in Denver and we were out on the highway, my drive partner got 34 miles to the gallon. So, if you don’t need the 4-wheel drive, you could do even better!

Need More Convincing?

The 2018 Ford F-150 won the Texas Truck of the Year at the Texas Auto Writers associations 2017 Truck Rodeo. The truck was judged by over 75 journalists on performance, capability, technology, comfort, price, and personal appeal. It’s my favorite pick right now for a family pickup truck.

And, it’s made in the USA.

Don’t think you’d like a truck? See what my girlfriends have to say about their trucks and why they love them!

Looking For A Family Pickup Truck? The New Ford F-150 Diesel Is An Excellent Choice... A Perfect Blend Of Size, Safety, And Fuel Efficiency!

While I had this truck I had to deliver some things to my husband who was helping to set up a fireworks show. When I drove out onto the field all the guys stopped what they were doing and came to check out the truck. I got a big kick out of watching them drool over “my” truck, especially when most of them have brand new pickups of their own… one is even driving a truck he fell in love with when I had it for a review a few years ago!

When a bunch of guys are asking about your truck, it helps to have all the nitty-gritty details… which are on the Monroney sticker attached to every new car. All these stats are great for guys who love to comb through the numbers, but what it all really adds up to is a truck that hits all the needs of a family, truck fans or business owners who need a solid truck with solid MPG.

2018 F-150 Platinum Powerstroke Diesel Pickup Monroney
Click to enlarge.

What We Loved

  • 2019 F-150 Platinum 4×4 Supercrew seating
  • 3.0L V6 Power Stroke Diesel Engine
  • Electronic 10-Speed Automatic Transmission
  • 250 horsepower at 5,000 RPM
  • Exterior Color: White Platinum Metallic
  • Interior Color: Black with Dark Marsala leather

What You Need to Know 

  • Requires diesel fuel
  • Seating for 5 but more comfortable for 4
  • Towing Capacity: 10,700 lbs
  • Payload Capacity: 1,392 lbs
  • Fuel Economy: 22/30/25 MPG (city/highway/combined)
  • Power Stroke engine only available on higher level trims

Disclosure: Ford provided the F-150 Power Stroke Diesel Platinum for this review. All opinions are my own.

Erica Mueller
Erica Mueller

A web developer, digital marketing consultant, auto journalist, truck expert, photographer and lover of gadgets, Erica is a textbook geek. On her days off she loves to travel, garden, hike and camp, and play her guitar. You can find Erica on Instagram at @EricaDrives. Erica is a board member and a journalist member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.

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