Best Used Luxury Car 2013: The Car Connection's Picks
Luxury cars offer a little more—of what matters to nearly everyone but the most dedicated... Read More
- #3LEADERBOARD RANK
- 2653ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 108COMMENTS POSTED
Around The Web
'Good,' frontal offset; 'good,' side impact
Not yet tested; five stars in frontal and side impact for 2010, under former ratings method
Visibility is generally good in SuperCab and SuperCrew models, but the regular cab, which forfeits its former access door, has huge rear pillars that block a lot to the back corners.
SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
'Good,' frontal offset; 'good,' side impact
IIHS
Not yet tested; five stars in frontal and side impact for 2010, under former ratings method
NHTSA
Visibility is generally good in SuperCab and SuperCrew models, but the regular cab, which forfeits its former access door, has huge rear pillars that block a lot to the back corners.
ConsumerGuide
The 2011 Ford F-150 provides no reason for deter those concerned about safety. Top 'good' results in frontal and side impact tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicate good occupant protection, although the F-150 hasn't yet been tested in the new IIHS roof crush (rollover) category.
The F-150 has earned perfect five-star ratings from the NHTSA in every impact category and in all of its varied body configurations last year, but for 2011 the ratings—along with the side test—have been revised to be tougher and no results are yet available.
Overall, the F-150 lineup is bristling with protective technology, and the list of safety features rivals that of any other pickup on the road—including side-curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control with Roll Stability Control. There's also Trailer Sway Control, which can take control of both braking effort and engine speed to help stay stable, while the F-150 SVT Raptor also gets Ford's first-ever Hill Descent Control, for safe descents down slippery slopes.
One of the problems with driving large trucks is poor visibility, but Ford has taken steps to improve sightlines from the driver's seat of the F-150. Some reviewers have pointed to the huge rear pillars, especially in Regular Cab models, as an issue.
Conclusion
Although the 2011 Ford F-150 lacks a full set of up-to-date crash-test scores, plenty of standard safety equipment and good test results in the past make it promising.
