December 12, 2006

Test Drive: 2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

Review and photos by Haney Louka
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Photo Gallery: 2007 Ford F-series

I'm all for finding out about new technology - especially when that technology holds a promise for a cleaner future with less dependence on a non-renewable resource. There are now plenty of hybrid vehicles to choose from, ranging from the Honda Civic Hybrid to the luxurious Lexus GS to the workhorse GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. But Ford is taking a different route.

Enter E85. It's an automotive fuel consisting of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent good ol' gasoline. As you probably guessed, the ethanol is the clean-burning part. It's produced from the fermentation and distillation of various renewable resources such as corn in the U.S. and sugar cane in Brazil.

The 2007 F-150 is available with an ethanol “flex-fuel” V-8 that can operate on pure gasoline or E85 or anything in between. It’s a good thing, too, because as far as we know, there isn’t a single E85 station that is accessible to the Canadian public. There is, of course, the Stony Mountain federal institution north of Winnipeg, along with 12 others across the country, but they cater only to government fleet vehicles. So in a nutshell, for you and me, E85 is nowhere to be found. It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario, with the eligible vehicles showing up on the streets before the infrastructure is in place. The problem is, it appears we’re moving backwards: there was one in Ottawa that was accessible to the public, but it closed two months ago.

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

But while companies like Ford are lobbying the government to get our E85 infrastructure in place, it's good to know that the technology is available and out there to be used once the stations are in place. In fact, if you order an F-150 with the 5.4-litre V8 after the end of this calendar year, it will automatically be a flex-fuel model. Right now the flex-fuel option costs between $1,150 and $1,900 on these trucks, so we can expect a base price increase for 5.4-litre models once this change takes effect.

So even though I didn't get a chance to fill the tank with E85 during my week with the truck, I can tell you this: you can expect a little more horsepower along with slightly higher fuel consumption when you drive on E85, with the real benefit being that you're burning fuel made from a renewable resource. Sounds great: I just hope we can try it out soon.

Now, on to the truck. When I found out it was an F-150, I thought it would feel small compared to the F-250 King Ranch I tried a couple of years back, but not so. Our tester was a Super Crew, with four full doors and a regular six-foot six-inch-long box. Overall length measures 5,989 mm: that's four inches shy of 20 feet, folks. It sits high on its 20-inch wheels and weighs in at 2,555 kg: in a word, immense.

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

The King Ranch picks up where the top-line Lariat 4x4 leaves off. The Lariat is no slouch in the luxury department though: at $45,399 it includes such niceties as a 5.4-litre V-8, automatic climate control and leather upholstery with a heated and split front bench.

The King Ranch edition starts at $49,399 and adds 7-spoke, 18-inch wheels; two-tone paint, and some of the nicest leather this side of a Billy Cook saddle. It truly has to be seen to be appreciated, and gives the F-150 interior a ruggedly upscale feel.

Out tester was also fitted with miscellaneous stand-alone options including the aforementioned 20-inch wheels (or 'dubs' if you're into the chrome spinner scene), a limited slip rear axle, skid plates, power adjustable pedals, a moonroof, reverse parking assist, a towing package, a high-end MP3 audio system, and a navigation system, which is new for 2007. The total as-tested price came to $56,579 plus freight.

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

I was surprised to find out that this premium pickup is not available with any sort of automatic setting for the four-wheel drive system. It's the good old-fashioned turn-the-knob system to switch between 2 HI, 4 HI, and 4 LO. I guess I shouldn't complain: at least I didn't need to resort to getting out of the truck and manually locking the front hubs. The Harley-Davidson edition is the only F-150 to get all-wheel drive.

Towing capacity for the truck as our tester was configured is 4,127 kg or 9,100 lb, which makes it a great vehicle for those with a trailer or smaller fifth wheel.

The 5.4-litre engine is the largest available in the light-duty F-150 line. It's a single overhead cam unit with three valves per cylinder. The underhood horse count is 300, galloping at a rate of 4,750 rpm, with 365 ft-lb of torque available at 3,750 revs. As is expected, hauling its own weight yields less than impressive fuel economy figures: 17.1 L/100 km in the city and 12.3 on the highway. During my time with the truck it consumed an even 20 L/100 km in city driving. Ouch. No worries, though, because its 135-litre fuel capacity will allow you to keep driving at least until next payday.

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

The truck's navigation system is of the touch-screen variety, of which I'm a big fan. I have yet to see a competitive system allow its user to navigate through functions as quickly or intuitively.

My daily commute involves busy streets and downtown navigation. There's no question that a large truck such as this King Ranch is not well suited to the daily commute. The fuel consumption, height, length, and turning circle all conspire against urban activities, especially those involving underground parking.

But there were some functions that improved the truck's driveability, especially the rear parking assist sensors mounted on the bumper. From the driver's seat, the only part of a small car that is visible in the rearview mirror is the roof, so the audible warnings are appreciated.

2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch E85. Click image to enlarge

On the open road the F-150 comes into its own, with a decent ride and plenty of oomph when needed - hallmarks of the F-150.

But the single best thing about truck is its King Ranch interior. It's not some luxury appliqué over a mediocre foundation. The F-150, like most new Fords, actually makes use of high quality materials and provides good fit-and-finish to make this truly feel like a luxury truck. For those looking for a comfortable and luxurious way for the whole family to get their trailer to the campground, the King Ranch is a worthy prospect.

And the E85 part of it? Kudos to Ford for making this alternative fuel vehicle available to the public; and even more kudos because it's capable of using current fuels while we wait for the E85 infrastructure to play catch-up.

Pricing

• Base price: $49,399
• Options: $7,180 (Limited slip rear axle, carpet, $60; power folding heated mirrors, skid plates, $120; power adjustable pedals, power moonroof, $1,020; reverse sensing, $435; running boards, $205; towing package, power sliding rear window, $165; MP3 audiophile system, navigation system, $2,630; 20-inch wheels, $795)
• Freight: $1,250
• A/C tax: $100
• Price as tested: $57,929 Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives

Specifications

• Click here for complete specifications

Related stories on CanadianDriver

• CTC Review: Ford F150 4x4 Lariat

Competitors

• Buyers' Guide: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado
• Buyer's Guide: 2007 GMC Sierra
• Buyer's Guide: 2007 Nissan Titan

Crash test results

• www.safercar.gov, www.hwysafety.org

Manufacturer's web site

• Ford of Canada

Haney Louka is a Professional Engineer, a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and a long time automotive enthusiast.