2001 Ford SuperCrew F150...Continued

New body mounts and staggered shock absorbers on the rear suspension contribute to improved ride smoothness with less "freeway hop," and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. The standard four-wheel anti-lock braking system provides an extra measure of control in bad weather or emergency braking conditions. One of the poorest handling vehicles has been an unloaded pickup and 80% usually have empty beds.

We drove the SuperCrew on highways, in city traffic, and up and down windy hills. Even on dirt covered mountain roads, it was both comfortable and well mannered. A far cry from past pickups!

Its 5 1/2-foot box and optional Bed Extender can create a total of seven feet of cargo carrying capacity, with up to about a ton of carrying capability. Larger items such as 4x8 sheets of plywood fit between the wheel houses and can be carried with the tailgate lowered.

Offered in both XLT and Lariat trim levels, the F-150 SuperCrew is the same overall length as the 139-inch wheel base SuperCab, maintaining its advantage when maneuvering in tight spaces or fitting in garages. The SuperCrew has four full-size doors separated by a B-pillar on each side, rather than the tavern style doors on the SuperCab that are hinged front and rear, and have to be opened front first, then rear. Prior to this, the configuration was only available on 1-ton and larger trucks like the Super Duty F-Series trucks.

The 12 inches lost in the bed are transferred to the cab, and it has plenty of rear leg room, even for long trips. A front 40/60 bench seat is standard and Captain's Chairs with a floor-mounted center console are optional. The rear seat is angled back and is especially comfortable, made more so by the bulged rear window that doesn't bump on the passengers' heads.

One consistent gripe about pickups is their lack of secure storage, and there is a large box behind the rear seats that is hidden from view, and a great place for small valuables.

The interior will be available with lots of comfort features to fit its versatility, like an optional power moonroof, as well as a rear seat power point, reading lamps, cup holders and door map pockets. An audio-video entertainment system with VCR is available to expand entertainment possibilities for rear passengers. A standard AM/FM radio with a single in-dash CD player satisfies customer demand for a full-featured sound system. Look for upgraded radios including satellite systems before long and SuperCrews can be ordered with six CD changer systems.

Remote keyless entry for F-150 SuperCrew is standard on Lariat and optional on XLT models. Lariat also includes a keyless entry keypad as standard equipment for further convenience.