The Ford F-150’s aluminum-alloy body construction is an attention-getter. But there’s much more to this truck than its extensive use of high-strength, military-grade aluminum. A week-long test drive of the F-150 4x4 SuperCab highlighted the truck’s other strengths, including agile handling and a powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 mated to a smooth-shifting automatic transmission. The power-punch was impressive and the 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS slowed/ stopped the truck, but the braking system felt overly pedal-touch sensitive.

F-150 is offered with four engine choices: a 3.5-liter V6, a 5.0-liter V6, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 325 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 375 pounds-feet of torque at 3000 rpm. All engines mate to a 6-speed automatic transmission, but the EcoBoost engines and the V8 mate to a SelectShift 6-speed with progressive range select and tow/haul mode. The test driven 145-inch wheelbase F-150 SuperCab 4x4 XL Series with twin- turbocharged 2.7-liter engine and auto start/stop system collects estimated mpg of 18 city/23 highway and carries a base MSRP of $33,915.