- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.5TT, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
298kW, 678Nm
- Fuel
Petrol 12.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB review
Aussies seem to love most things American, from cheeseburgers to the Kardashians, so should we also fall in love with the US’s best-selling car, the Ford F-150?
- Generous interior space
- Gutsy twin-turbo V6 engine
- Quality right-hand-drive conversion
- Double the price of the smaller Ranger
- Tray size isn’t that much bigger than Ranger
- Won't go through a drive-through easily
2024 Ford F-150 Lariat
The 2024 Ford F-150 is a big beast. So big, in fact, you might be wondering if an oversized yank tank like this is just too much for Australian roads – something I’ve been wondering since Ford announced it was bringing this model in.
At nearly six metres long and two metres wide, the F-150’s on-road presence is undeniable, plus a twin-turbo petrol V6 gives it plenty of grunt for those that need to haul, but is there more to this Ford’s appeal aside from outright size?
I’ve been trying to live with this 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat short wheelbase for a week to help with the school run, go grocery shopping, and more to see why this is America’s best-selling model, and, spoiler alert, I’ve become a bit of a convert.
How much is a Ford F-150?
This is one of Ford Australia’s largest and most expensive model to date, blowing away the tiny-by-comparison Ranger and Everest, as well as the cutting-edge Mustang Mach-E by a country mile.
Prices kick off from $106,950 before on-road costs for the XLT short wheelbase, but the Lariat version that I have on test sits at the top of the tree wearing a massive price tag of $139,950.
Long wheelbase versions are also available, adding $995 to the price tag.
In fact, it’s even pricier than heavyweight equivalent rivals like the Chevrolet Silverado ($130,500 for the LTZ Premium) and newer-generation Ram 1500 ($137,950 for the Laramie Crew Cab) – both of which have proven plenty popular with local buyers.
But consider this, this F-150 is priced around a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara ($139,276), and one of them – not the Toyota – certainly commands more attention when out on the road.
For your spend, there is also a very long list of equipment, even on the 'base model' XLT, with 20-inch chrome wheels, spray-in bedliner, underbody skidplates, power-adjustable front seats, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, and a rear tray large enough to accommodate a full-sized Australian pallet.
Moving up to the Lariat also adds a number of nice-to-have features such as chrome exterior highlights, LED headlights, leather interior, a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, power-sliding rear window, heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a larger 12-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charger, and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster.
But it’s the front parking sensors and surround-view monitor that might be the most useful additions to the Lariat that buyers might want to take note of, given they will help immensely manoeuvring this oversized behemoth.
The Lariat also adds adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and lane centring on top of the standard autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert found in the base XLT.
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You certainly want for nothing in terms of equipment in this top-spec F-150, and you’d hope so given the $140,000 asking price, but – and this is just being nitpicky – there’s no heated steering wheel that would be perfect for cold mornings, because chances are you aren’t getting this thing into a garage.
Key details | 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB |
Price | $139,950 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Antimatter Blue |
Options | Prestige paint – $700 |
Price as tested | $140,650 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $150,533 (Vic) |
Rivals | Toyota LandCruiser | Chevrolet Silverado | Ram 1500 |
How big is a Ford F-150?
One big benefit of such gargantuan proportions is that the interior space is unlike anything else available from a mainstream brand.
In the front, it’s more spacious than even a Toyota LandCruiser, and features a level of in-cabin technology not seen anywhere else on the market.
At six-feet (183cm) in height, I have an unbelievable amount of head and leg room in the driver’s seat, and the F-150 is so wide I can’t even reach over to open the passenger door.
Those more vertically challenged than me, though, will take comfort in the fact that the seats and steering column have a high degree of adjustability, and the pedals in all F-150s are also electronically adjustable, so you can get the ergonomics just right for you.
The last time Ford offered such a feature, it was on home-grown models wearing the Falcon and Territory badge.
The glasshouse is also expansive, and small things like a door-card dip and an expansive sunroof just make the cabin feel lighter and more airy than you’d expect.
The expansive dashboard also houses a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, complete with all the mod cons like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite navigation, and digital radio.
And in a hatchback or SUV, this size of screen might look big and expansive, but it feels right at home here in an F-150.
Similarly, the 12-inch all-digital instrument cluster is also a good one, offering enough customisation to get the information you want on hand after only a few button presses, and all the dials and readouts are clear and easily legible.
Storage options, of course, are plentiful, including massive door pockets that will fit a bottle and more, a wireless smartphone charger that will accommodate even the biggest of iPhones, cupholders to fit even large Macca's cokes, and a TARDIS-like underarm storage cubby.
However, my favourite feature in the cabin has to be a fold-out table housed between the front passengers.
Once the F-150 is in park, you can hit a button to fold flat the shifter, letting you fold open the armrest to reveal a table – perfect for lunch on the go or a stable base for your laptop.
And if you had concerns that all local F-150s are right-hand-drive remanufactured, don’t be worried because Ford has done an excellent conversion job.
After being shipped from the factory in left-hand-drive form, Ford and RMA Group then remove the dashboard and steering wheel, fit bespoke parts, and move everything over to the other side.
And honestly, if I didn’t know that, I’d probably not be able to tell it has been right-hand-drive remanufactured.
The whole dashboard feels solid, and there aren’t any squeaks or rattles you would usually associate with a car that has had all its innards pulled out and put back together. Big thumbs-up to Ford here.
Moving to the rear seats, space is again on another level.
All three positions will easily accommodate a full-sized adult with plenty of head, shoulder and leg room, while amenities extend to air vents, cupholders in the door, massive door pockets, and back-seat map pockets.
And once everyone has exited the second row, there’s even lockable under-seat storage that is perfect for your work tools.
Families should also take note here, because there are also ISOFIX points on the outboard seats, and with the amount of space on offer, child seats have no problem slotting in.
And because the F-150 is so damn tall, it means helping get your kids in and out is a breeze because you don’t have to bend down to get to them! They are at the perfect height to just slot in.
But you don’t buy a full-sized pick-up like this just for the interior ambience, you do it because you need a tray in the rear for tools, surfboards, Iea furniture, and maybe even livestock.
With a tray measuring 1705mm at the floor and 1656mm wide from wall to wall, it’s easy enough to fit whatever you need in the bed, including a bed, but Ford has been clever about what you can do with the tray.
For starters, this massive tailgate is powered, meaning it’s a breeze to open if you have your hands full, and even a fold-out step in the rear lid to make clambering in and out of the tray a bit more graceful.
There are also inner tie-down points in the bed to secure your load, and an in-built tailgate ruler, plus this top-spec Lariat scores a 12-volt socket and tray lighting so you can keep working on after the sun has set.
Compared to the smaller dual-cab Ranger Sport, the F-150 Lariat LWB is 514mm longer and 112mm wider overall, but when stacking up the tray size, the full-sized pick-up is 'only' 241mm longer and 136mm wider.
So don’t go expecting a huge step-up in useable tray space when opting for the F-150, as its increased exterior dimensions are largely to accommodate a more capacious cabin, though the cargo space gets a small bump up too.
2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB | |
Seats | Five |
Tub volume | 17005mm long (at floor) 1656mm wide 543mm high |
Length | 5884mm |
Width | 2030mm |
Height | 1995mm |
Wheelbase | 3694mm |
Does the Ford F-150 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The F-150 XLT features an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the top-spec Lariat increases the screen size to 12 inches – both featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Using Ford’s Sync 4 software, the infotainment system feels fast and responsive, while the Android Auto integration works well for a 12-inch screen.
In my time with the car, I only experienced occasional drop-outs when travelling through one of Melbourne’s CityLink toll points, though the system reconnected very quickly.
Complementing the wireless smartphone mirroring is a wireless smartphone charger in the top-spec Lariat, while the infotainment system also has functions for satellite navigation across all F-150 grades for those that don’t want to chew through their mobile data.
There’s also digital radio on offer across both variants, while the Lariat scores an up-rated 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
All versions of the F-150 also come with FordPass connectivity, letting owners pair their car with a smartphone application to remotely monitor the vehicle and check on location data.
Is the Ford F-150 a safe car?
Ford’s 2024 F-150 has not been tested by ANCAP, and therefore does not wear an official Australian crash-test rating.
Likewise, the latest F-150 has not been assessed by Euro NCAP, but the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the model a maximum five-star rating.
Keep in mind crash-safety assessment standards differ around the world, so an American five-star score might not translate to a five-star ANCAP score.
2024 Ford F-150 Lariat LWB | |
ANCAP rating | Untested |
What safety technology does the Ford F-150 have?
Though the 2024 Ford F-150 does not have an official Australian crash-test rating, it does come fitted with a wide assortment of standard safety equipment.
In the cabin, there are six airbags littered throughout, though the second row only features side curtain protection.
In terms of active safety systems, there is autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, hill-start assist, lane-keep assist, trailer sway control, and tyre pressure monitoring across the F-150 range.
Stepping up to the Lariat adds adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, evasive steering assist, intersection assist, traffic sign recognition, and a surround-view monitor.
In my time with the car, none of the safety systems displayed any intrusive or overly sensitive tendencies.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | Vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection w/ intersection intervention |
Adaptive Cruise Control | Yes | Includes stop-and-go |
Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Alert only |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist functions |
Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist |
Road Sign Recognition | Yes | With speed limit assist |
Driver Attention Warning | No | |
Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, surround-view monitor |
How much does the Ford F-150 cost to run?
Despite being right-hand-drive remanufactured, all new F-150s sold through Ford are backed by a full five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. The same as fully factory-built models sold in Australia.
Though this trails the market-leading seven- and 10-year assurance periods offered by Kia and Mitsubishi respectively, it exceeds the three-year/100,000km warranty offered on the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.
Scheduled servicing for the Ford F-150 is every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first, with the first five years of ownership totalling $2081.
The breakdown of service pricing according to Ford's service calculator is $429 each for the first four visits, and $365 for the fifth maintenance period.
While it is hard to ascertain servicing costs for a Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, service intervals on both models are every 12 months or 10,000km.
To insure the hefty Ford F-150 Lariat, it will cost you a hefty $2973 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
This is more affordable than a comparable spec Ram 1500 ($3685), but more expensive than a Chevrolet Silverado ($2402).
At a glance | 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1287 (3 years) $2081 (5 years) |
Is the Ford F-150 fuel-efficient?
A big engine and a big car mean big fuel bills, right?
Well, yeah, fuel economy isn’t the F-150’s forte with an official combined rating of 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres, which can swell to a massive 16.8L/100km when driving in the city.
In my time with this car, I averaged 17.8L/100km with a mix of inner-city and freeway driving, but you can probably do much better with a more diligent right foot.
Keep in mind that loaded, or towing, fuel consumption will only go north, but at least the massive 136-litre fuel tank affords a theoretical driving range of about 1000km – enough to drive from Melbourne to Sydney!
Fuel efficiency | 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 12.5L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 17.8L/100km |
Fuel type | 91-octane unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 136L |
What is the Ford F-150 like to drive?
Okay, the first thing you have to contend with when driving a truck like this F-150 is the sheer size of the thing.
At about six metres long and two metres wide, this thing is an absolute tank, but from the driver’s seat, you might be surprised at how easy it is to manoeuvre.
And that’s because visibility is very good.
The big side mirrors let you know exactly what’s going on either side of you, and the tall, commanding driving position puts you in just the right place to know where the front corners are at all times.
In my time with this car, I never found a situation where I couldn’t stay between the road lines. Even when overtaking in four-lane roads, the F-150 was comfortably between the lines.
Honestly, it’s no more intimidating driving this F-150 than it is a Ranger or HiLux, which are only slightly narrower.
There are a few times you really do notice how long this thing is, though, one of which is when you are parking – it’s definitely going to stick out by some margin in most carparks.
But this can be alleviated somewhat by finding the right parking space. Just reverse in and let the tray hang out over the kerb and you should be able to tuck the nose most of the way behind the white line.
Another thing to be mindful of is navigating a drive-through – it’s just too stressful to get the F-150 through a tight, twisty takeaway window, believe me, I’ve tried, so it's best to just park up and walk in to order.
Finally, you’ve always got to be mindful of the height.
At just under two metres – 1995mm to be precise – the F-150 will clear most undercover car parks, but always keep this figure in mind lest you have a Montague Street bridge moment of your own.
Aside from that, the F-150 is a remarkably comfortable and cushy cruiser.
The engine up front might not be a V8, but the twin-turbo V6 still delivers its power and torque in that lazy, laidback manner of big-block bent eights of yesteryear.
Don’t be fooled by Ranger Raptor-beating 298kW/678Nm outputs, though, the F-150 weighs more than two-and-a-half tonnes, and certainly feels it behind the wheel.
The 10-speed transmission is also a good one, shifting smoothly and seamlessly in both directions without much interference of the driving experience.
Performance is just adequate rather than outright fast, but it’s in keeping with the F-150’s workman-like theme – it doesn’t get the job done quickly, but it gets it done right.
Likewise, the steering and suspension are up to task, with the former communicating enough to feel engaging, but being light enough to not induce a heavy forearm workout, and the latter confidently soaking up the bumps and ruts of the road.
Backing all this up is a selectable four-wheel-drive mode with settings for high and low-range, as well as a handy four-wheel auto mode that lets the system just sort itself out.
As expected, the F-150 handles itself supremely well in light off-roading situations, but for more hardcore off-roading and tow testing, I’ll leave that to resident all-terrain expert Sam Purcell to cover off in a future review.
Key details | 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat SWB |
Engine | 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 |
Power | 298kW @ 6000rpm |
Torque | 678Nm @ 3100rpm |
Drive type | Four-wheel drive, Low-range transfer case |
Transmission | 10-speed torque converter automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 116.6kW/t |
Weight (tare) | 2555kg |
Spare tyre type | Temporary use |
Payload | 794kg |
Tow rating | 4500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
How much weight can a Ford F-150 tow?
The Ford F-150 can literally tow tonnes, 4.5 tonnes to be exact. That's its maximum braked towing capacity, but unbraked it can manage 750kg.
This means the F-150 can handle some of the biggest loads in the rear, so if you've got a caravan, large boat, or horse carrier, this Ford will haul it.
With 678Nm on tap, the F-150 shouldn't have a problem getting going, or pulling things up a hill, and with the standard inclusion of trailer sway control, a trailer hitch light, integrated trailer brake controller, and specific Tow driving mode, Ford knows its target market for this car.
Should I buy a Ford F-150?
The Ford F-150, and by extension the full-sized American pick-up, isn’t going to be for everyone.
It is very large and very expensive compared to the usual dual-cab ute fare, but for those who need a bigger tray, the F-150 certainly has its charms.
Putting the Herculean towing capability aside, the F-150 offers a supremely comfortable and capacious interior that would suit even the snobbiest of buyers.
As a colleague described it, the F-150 is like the farmer’s Mercedes S-Class, and I can’t think of a more apt description.
How do I buy a Ford F-150? The next steps.
Before committing to buying a Ford F-150, we definitely recommend you test-drive one before putting down a deposit.
You need to first ascertain whether you are comfortable driving such a large car, and also plan ahead with where you will be parking the F-150 overnight and on trips to the city.
To find your nearest Ford dealership, you can head to this link here, while to check out what Ford models are on the market, head to the Drive Marketplace here.
And to stay up to date with all the latest Ford news, you'll find that here.