Upon first glance, the enhancements to the revamped 2024 Ford F-150 may appear minor, yet they cumulate into substantial refinements throughout the model series. A pivot point added to the tailgate design emerges as the most visible modification, providing a distinct advantage during towing scenarios, setting it apart from GM’s versatile yet distinct 6-way power tailgate. A larger default touchscreen is among the cabin upgrades, and the F-150 Hybrid also enjoys advancements.
This discussion covers the aforementioned updates, and sheds light on the reasons why the F-150 Tremor could be deemed the most well-rounded incarnation of the top-selling vehicle. Curious about the Raptor R? Our examination of this formidable beast occurs at Motor Authority during our initial test drive of the 2024 F-150 Raptor R across the desert landscape of the King of the Hammers.
2024 Ford F-150: What’s new?
Each iteration of the 2024 Ford F-150 now boasts a 12.0-inch digital instrument panel and an equivalent-size touchscreen. Mercifully, Ford continues to implement sizable knobs for sound volume, tuning, temperature control, drive modes, and the exceptional trailering assistant knob for Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Aid.
All F-150 non-hybrid versions with a bed length of 5.5- or 6.5-feet now feature a 36-gallon fuel reservoir to prolong intervals between refueling, and include a Class IV trailer hitch by default.
The exterior alterations are subtle yet mentionable. A newly shaped wrap-around grille flows into the fenders and accommodates marginally altered C-shaped LED headlamps. Beneath, a modular bumper provides lodging for an optional winch installed at the factory, a Rigid LED illumination bar, along with various attachments. It features end segments that unveil more of the tires—the Tremor is equipped with 33-inch Grabber A/TX tires (275/70R18) set upon dark 18-inch rims.
The revamped taillight design assumes an elbow-like shape and now extends across a larger fender area, leaving less on the tailgate. This accounts for Ford’s accessible Pro Access dual-function tailgate, which includes a centrally-located door that opens towards the right side.
What’s the deal with this 2024 Ford F-150 Pro Access tailgate?
The tailgate operates manually or electronically as customary, but now, Ford introduces a door within the tailgate that hinges open at angles of 100-, 70-, or 37-degrees, the last configuration simplifying bed accessibility with a hitched trailer. This mitigates one of the challenges posed by GM’s multifaceted power tailgate, despite GM’s version being more adjustable for transporting long cargo securely, and its integrated tailgate speaker for entertainment.
Resembling Ram’s 60:40 barn door split gate, Ford presents a pivot potential at about the central one-third section. Bed ingress is aided by a grab bar and a retractable step, alongside a lengthened and broadened center bumper step, permitting Ford to eliminate the retractable handle helper. It results in a neater, more pragmatic design that facilitates the stowing and retrieving of cargo significantly. After off-roading in a Tremor, stretching the compressor hoses to re-inflate the tires proved more accessible.
The Pro Access tailgate is an optional feature on Lariat, Tremor, and Raptor versions, and a standard on King Ranch, Platinum, and Platinum Plus models. It’s not available for the Raptor R.
Is the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor thought of as a budget-friendly Raptor?
Labeling a truck priced at $66,145 as budget-friendly seems far-fetched, yet the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor embodies a comprehensive configuration for truck aficionados who rarely traverse paved routes during their daily commutes. While extreme terrains may not be their objective, they indulge in virtually any other endeavor, from pulling weights up to 13,500 pounds to maneuvering tree stands far into hunting territories. In comparison to the Raptor, it’s significantly slimmer by over half a foot, more agile given its 18-inch stance, and it boasts a greater towing capacity (the Raptor has an 8,300-pound limit, and the R version reaches up to 8,700 pounds).
Standard on the Tremor is the vigorous 400-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine, though my examination involved the turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 that matched the V-8’s power but delivered an impressive 500 lb-ft of torque rather than 410, for a nominal $90 additional charge. I verified this figure several times.
In both engine scenarios, the 2024 Tremor is priced under a Lariat and costs $14,180 less compared to a Raptor. It may not match the full spectrum of Raptor capabilities, nonetheless, it may just be the most consummate F-150 on the current market. The new rendition was put through its paces on a winding mountain path, its ascent and descent over rough, rocky tracks and unwelcoming terrain normally not suitable for vehicles like Subarus or milder off-roaders. The performance was impressive enough to solidify my endorsement as the preferred F-150 purchase.
The available crew cab with the shorter bed includes a lockable rear differential, hill descent regulation, and Trail Turn aid that confines the interior rear wheel to create tighter cornering that in essence shortens the wheelbase. It traverses atop 33-inch General Grabber A/TX tires wrapped around pitch-black 18-inch wheels, benefits from a width expansion thanks to Tremor-specific control arms and steering knuckles, and is supported by monotube shocks up front and twin-tube shocks in the rear. The clearance from the ground is heightened to 9.8 inches (a 1.6-inch increase over the typical F-150) and it features improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. All of this contributes to effortless off-roading. The blend of safety and style is enhanced by orange highlights, quad tow hooks, and default running boards.
Further augmenting its appearance is an opt-in modular bumper coated in black, ready to accommodate a dealer-fitted Warn winch with a 12,000-pound capacity. When traversing the wilderness in Off-road mode, the fog lamps flanking the bumper react to the steering wheel’s direction, so veering right triggers only the fog lamp on the right to illuminate.
The F-150 Tremor is equipped to manage just about any off-road terrain you may encounter, except you pursue the utmost.
In what manner did the 2024 Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid become enhanced?
Modifications to the initial F-150 hybrid are modest yet impactful. Ford discarded the belt-driven starter generator and has stopped offering the hybrid with just rear-wheel drive. Exclusively, it’s available as a four-wheel-drive hybrid, beginning with XLT models as a crew cab with the shorter bed, starting at around $58,500 (XL hybrids are exclusively for fleet accounts).
During a short duration of testing on the highways in the desert outskirts of Palm Springs, Calif., the PowerBoost hybrid demonstrated more seamless transitions between motor and engine power at lower velocities.
The testing phase also provided an opportunity to evaluate the BlueCruise 1.2, Ford’s restricted hands-free motoring system. It’s competent, yet doesn’t quite match up to GM’s Super Cruise system.
When the hybrid drivetrain was introduced with the 2021 model, it could seem hesitant in the lower gears, as though the system struggled to decide whether to utilize the engine power, motor power, or a combination thereof. Presently, on pathways leading to the freeway, it was perceived as more silent, mellow, and predominantly less detectable, which is my preference for a hybrid drivetrain.
At the helm, the transformation was noticeable yet downplayed, and it wasn’t highlighted prominently during the media conference. However, technicians confirmed that considerable improvements in the software were implemented, allowing Ford to remove the belt starter.
The 12-volt battery still initiates the starter attached to the flywheel upon ignition, as with other traditional combustion engine cars, but over 300 software enhancement to the hybrid motor rendered the additional starter on the accessory belt drive unnecessary, per Ford. Thus, the 35-kw motor activates the engine through the 10-speed automatic gearbox. Otherwise, it remains mechanically identical, with the motor receiving power from a modest 1.5-kwh battery pack and the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 providing the majority of the propulsion, churning out 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.
It continues to feature the 2.4-kw onboard generator, offering 85 hours of operation on a full tank (30 gallons for hybrids) of petrol. The more potent 7.2-kw generator is still available for an additional $750.
The all-wheel-drive F-150 Hybrid maintains a combined 23 mpg, but this year, the urban rating has decreased by 1 mpg to 22, while the interstate rating has improved by the same amount to 24 mpg.
When considering all these minor adjustments, it becomes apparent how the Ford F-150 continues to dominate the pickup truck market in America.
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