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2019 Ford F-150 Limited

2 Things Car and Driver Hated About the Ford F-150

There are many trucks to choose from on the current market, but one of the most popular options is the Ford F-series. Ford has made a lot of improvements and innovation in its lineup since the Model T, which some consider the greatest Ford truck of all time. The latest truck in its lineup is …

There are many trucks to choose from on the current market, but one of the most popular options is the Ford F-series. Ford has made a lot of improvements and innovation in its lineup since the Model T, which some consider the greatest Ford truck of all time. The latest truck in its lineup is the 2019 Ford F-150.

The F-150 comes in many trims and colors, including the Raptor and Limited models. However, even the most popular truck isn’t completely perfect. Here are some things that Ford didn’t get quite right on its new truck, according to Car and Driver.

Laggy infotainment

While many automakers offer the center touchscreen in the car’s standard equipment, the F-150’s infotainment setup is still only available as an upgrade. It’s 8 inches and comes programmed with Ford’s SYNC 3 system. Some features included are Bluetooth, voice-activation, built-in navigation, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Buyers can choose to upgrade to more safety features as well, all of which can be accessed from the touchscreen.

The interface is very user-friendly, so even those who are technologically challenged should have no problems getting acclimated to the system. However, it’s slow to recognize user inputs. SYNC 3 can automatically update when connected to Wi-Fi, so perhaps Ford will fix this hardware issue in the future.

Unresponsive transmission

The base engine of the F-150 is the V6 3.3-liter capable of 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. It’s the only one of the six available engines that’s paired with the six-speed automatic transmission. The rest of the engines are paired with the ten-speed transmission.

That includes the turbocharged V6, which gives drivers the best performance with 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, C/D reported that this engine’s transmission wasn’t up to par with the six-speed. In regards to acceleration, it reached 0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds, which was a little below average compared to the other engines.

Chevy Silverado

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2.7L Turbo
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2.7L Turbo | Chevrolet

In contrast, the 2019 Silverado was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds with the V8 6.2-liter engine. This engine is also paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The smaller 5.3-liter V8, which also uses the ten-speed, as still faster than the F-150’s gearbox at 6.1 seconds.

Additionally, its fuel economy ratings are slightly better than the F-150’s. The infotainment setup is standard for the Silverado and includes a 7-inch screen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and a USB port. Many other infotainment upgrades are available, but some drivers reported that the controls were hard to reach from their seats.

Ram 1500

Ram’s popular pickup truck has a healthy mix of physical and touchscreen controls in its infotainment setup. However, its screen is smaller than the Silverado’s at only 5 inches. Drivers have the option to upgrade to an 8 or 12-inch screen. Unlike the F-150, the Ram’s engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

GMC Sierra

GM’s full-size pickup offering comes with an infotainment touchscreen in the base model, with most of the same features as the Silverado. It offers five different engine options, but only two of these are paired with a ten-speed automatic, and even its most powerful engine can’t surpass the F-150’s turbo V6.

If you want to get a truck with more tech features in the base model, the F-150’s rivals definitely pick up the pace in that department. However, most of them can’t offer all the powertrain options of the F-150.