The 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor Is a Excellent Truck No person Will Purchase: Evaluate

Lukewarm take: The facelifted Ford F-150 Tremor is the best-looking full-size truck in the marketplace, helped alongside by the competitors; Ram’s providing is good-looking if not barely disproportionate, and the Silverado with its bizarre notched headlights is visually off-putting. The GMC Sierra is sweet-sufficient, so long as you don’t thoughts vans that smile. And the Toyota Tundra’s hilariously giant grille appears like one thing the Street Runner would paint on a wall to trick Wile E. Coyote.

The F-150 Tremor additionally has one thing none of these vans have: symmetry. The headlight housings are proportionately sized to the entrance of the truck, bracketed neatly in an oblong grille with a visually thrilling mesh sample. If the Tremor’s appearance had been ascribed to a Venn diagram, it’d be smack within the middle of conservative, macho, and extreme. And the Tremor drives pretty much as well as it appears.

Sadly, there’s an issue with the Tremor. There are 81,000 of them.

Earlier than we get to that costly elephant in the room, let’s take a more in-depth look at this explicit F-150 Tremor. It wears a coat of Iconic Silver paint that, frankly, could be boring without the orange hues and black wheels from this trim’s off-road upfit.

Talking as somebody so very uninterested in grey and silver automobiles, this is perhaps my most popular spec for the beefy pickup. And it’s beefy, due virtually solely to the 33-inch Normal Grabbers on 18-inch wheels that contribute to its barely greater journey top. Ford additionally provides the Tremor with its personal entrance knuckles, management arms, tie-rods, and dampers. On the again, you’ll discover upgraded leaf springs.

Add the optionally available Tremor Excessive Gear Group and the truck will get a Torsen differential up entrance. It’s additionally the one solution to get the Raptor’s switch case with the auto 4×4 setting. And in the event you just like the cool modular entrance bumper, you’ll have to test this selection field. Not only does it look acceptable on the Tremor, but it surely provides the truck with a 27.6-degree method angle for off-road obstacles. Solely the Raptor provides higher method clearance within the F-150 household, and Tremor’s 24.3-degree departure angle beats the Raptor.

Professionals: Rockstar Appears to be like, Glorious On Or Off-Street, Professional Entry Tailgate Is Easy And Efficient

I didn’t encounter something past some small hills and significantly rutted trails in my off-road adventures, however at no level did I ever really feel in the least involved about getting caught. Even without the Torsen entrance locker, I wrestle to see the conditions of the place where the Tremor will get significantly hung up. The truck feels assured and deliberate over obstacles, whilst its suspension stretches out over uneven terrain. Until you’re crawling over logs or rocky cliffs, the upgraded mechanicals aren’t a giant deal. Sadly, getting different Tremor options requires the optionally available gear group.

However what about on-road efficiency? The Tremor’s knobby tires didn’t carry extreme noise to the cabin. Nor was the Tremor’s upgraded suspension harsh on the bottom. It does exhibit a bit extra firmness versus a normal F-150, however, that doesn’t translate to a flinty journey.

As an alternative, the Tremor feels extra poised on pavement, one thing that grabbed my consideration by way of a pair of 35-mph corners on my weekly journey to the grocery retailer. Word to self: stow the groceries within the again seat subsequent time.

None of this needs to be stunning, although. The mechanical bits for the 2024 Tremor are identical to those earlier, proper down to the selection of a 5.0-liter V-8 or 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. Each engine makes 400 horsepower, however, you’ll get an additional 100 pound-feet of torque with the turbo six. My truck had the six, although gas mileage was extra like a V-8. I averaged simply 17.2 miles per gallon, and that was largely on rural highways. Earlier this 12 months, I managed 19.2 mpg from a Ram 1500 Restricted with the 540-hp twin-turbo inline-six. Ford must do higher right here.

Ford has carried out higher with a higher number of new options on the 2024 F-150. The Professional Entry Tailgate isn’t as handy as Ram’s Multifunction tailgate, which might open all the best way even with a trailer connected. However Ford’s setup has detents that hold the middle door from hitting a trailer jack, and it opens sufficient for entry to the mattress. Furthermore, its visible symmetry makes the Ford’s tailgate extra aesthetically pleasing when a trailer isn’t related.

Cons: Drinks Gasoline Like It’s Comfortable Hour, Clunky Transmission, Raptor Worth Tag

The symmetry is mirrored in the Tremor by a brand new standard-issue 12.0-inch digital driver matching the 12.0-inch middle display screen. The driving force show is configurable relying on the drive mode you’re in, however, every setting presents primary data clearly and effectively and appears implausible doing it. Switching to off-road mode swaps the tachometer for a big compass including pitch and roll gauges. Within the center, you get a view of the Tremor’s drivetrain with data on the steering angle and differential locks. Very cool.

The airplane nerd in me needs the inclinometer readouts out there for all drive modes, and fortuitously, you’ll be able to configure the show to indicate them. You too can plug them into the new-for-2024 heads-up show. When I discovered myself in a herd of deer on a very late evening in rural Michigan, I used to be notably grateful for the HUD—to not point out the F-150’sbeneficialt suite of driver-help methods. I’m blissful to say no deer had been harmed throughout this overview.

My tenure with the Tremor wasn’t solely trouble-free, although. The headlights fogged up like an early November storm after a go-to to the automotive wash. That is regular because of the housings being vented. The fog dissipated within a half-hour, but it surely’s annoying to see the headlights in your costly new truck crammed with moisture.

On quite a lot of events, the 10-speed transmission thumped exhausting on upshifts. To be truthful, it is a media car that’s probably seen some hefty off-road trials. However, I’m additionally conscious that Ford is among the many most-recalled manufacturers in America.

These points didn’t stop me from loving the Tremor. It’s an excellent all-around pickup, however,r alas, it’s time to speak about these 81,000 issues. With all the things added in, this well-equipped Tremor prices $81,865. For the document, that’s $1,330 greater than a zero-option Raptor, which nonetheless will get you an expensive leather-based inside with options galore and 50 extra horsepower. Nevertheless, it will get worse. The identical $81,000 will get you a properly optioned Ram 1500 RHO with extra off-road prowess, easy on-road manners, and 540 hp beneath the hood.

You would purchase a Tremor at its $66,145 beginning worth, however, Ford bundles are probably the most fascinating options in the $11,710 Tremor Excessive Gear Group. Other than the entrance diff and computerized 4×4 engagement, it’s the one solution to get the heads-up show and the modular entrance bumper—two must-haves. Luxurious objects like heated/cooled reminiscence seats and the 14-speaker B&O stereo are in there, as is the 360-degree digital camera. Different packages just like the Mattress Utility, Cellular Workplace, and Tow/Haul teams—which can be found as standalone choices—are bundled in there too. Frankly, it’s a ridiculous quantity of compelled options simply to get a pair you need, and it sours the entire Tremor expertise for me.

As cool as the Tremor is, it’s a troublesome promotion even at its $66,145 beginning worth. The Ram 1500 RHO begins simply over $70,000, and I’d solely select the Ford if I might get it with the HUD, the entrance bumper, the 360-degree digital camera, and the Professional Entry Tailgate. Even then, I’m not so positive the F-150’s symmetrical styling would win me over. Now that the RHO is on sale, I think many consumers will come to an identical conclusion.

Till Ford reels within the pricing, the Tremor will largely sit on dealership tons as a halo car as an alternative to getting enjoyable because the reasonably priced Raptor is different it was designed to be.