![]()
Motor Trend has announced the recipient of its 2009 Truck of the Year award and this year the redesigned 2009 Ford F150 receives the award.
This year there were only 4 contenders for the award, the Ford F150, also redesigned Dodge Ram, Suzuki Equator and HUMMER H3T. Basically the choice for Motor Trend's editors was between the F150 and Ram since the Equator is basically a rebadged Nissan Frontier and well the H3T is....you fill in the blank.
Editors praised the new F150 for having low noise levels and high interior quality materials. Other standouts were the new features like the Tailgate Step, Box Side Step, and a stowable bed-extender helped the F150 receive the award.
PRESS RELEASE:
MOTOR TREND NAMES FORD F-150 2009 TRUCK OF THE YEAR
- Editors call 2009 the closest vote in Truck of the Year history -
LOS ANGELES, CA (December 18, 2008) - Motor Trend (www.motortrend.com), the leading automotive authority and part of Source Interlink Media, LLC, a subsidiary of media and marketing services company Source Interlink Companies, Inc (NASDAQ: SORC), today announced the selection of the all-new Ford F-150 as its 2009 Truck of the Yearâ„¢. The complete report on Motor Trend's 2009 Truck of the Year is available online and will be published in the magazine's February issue, available on newsstands January 6, 2009.
"The stakes were high and the field of contenders was among the best yet for this year's voting," said Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend. "Despite the downturn in the economy, the pickup truck remains the automotive backbone of America, providing a tough, durable workhorse for business and recreational users alike. No matter what shape the American auto industry emerges from the current crisis, the pickup truck will remain a key part of the American automotive landscape.
"It was a tough call, but ultimately the F-150 prevailed for the third time in its production history," said MacKenzie. During judging, editors praised the low noise levels and interior materials quality. Handy features like the Tailgate Step, Box Side Step, a stowable bed-extender, and rear seats that fold up with one hand to reveal a broad, flat load floor helped tally a strong superiority score.
To achieve high payload and towing numbers, Ford retained traditional leaf-springs on the rear axle but made them longer to smooth the ride and wider with new mounting hardware to improve lateral rigidity and roll control. The chassis engineers tuned the steering for pleasing heft and remarkable accuracy that had many judges lauding the F-150 for feeling smaller and nimbler than the competition.
Ford claims it sells more of its half-ton pickups to work and commercial customers than its competitors, and the company predicts this segment will grow to 45 percent of F-150 sales. To that end, the truck's fully boxed chassis is further fortified to provide best-in-class rigidity, payload capacity (up to 3030 pounds), and tow ratings (up to 11,300 pounds). As such, the new F-150 is well positioned to capture contractors migrating down-market out of Super-Dutys to save money and gas with a new six-speed automatic, a lighter, more aerodynamic cab, and other tweaks to boost fuel economy by 12 percent with the 5.4-liter engine.
MacKenzie continued, "In the end, we do believe work trucks will come to dominate this segment and we happily give the golden calipers to the highly capable, broad-reaching Ford in the closest vote in Truck of the Year history."
The 2009 Field of Contenders
The Ford F-150 was one of four trucks eligible for the Truck of the Year title. The other contenders were the Dodge Ram 1500, Suzuki Equator and the Hummer H3T.
To be eligible for Truck of the Year, a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned, and released in the 12 months prior to January 1, 2009 (cars with modifications such as new engines or that are variants of existing models are not eligible).
About the Testing and Evaluation Process
Motor Trend subjected all Truck of the Year contenders to a series of rigorous on- and off-road testing at the Yucca, Arizona proving grounds. Editors tested two versions of each contender, with different engines, transmissions and body configurations to better evaluate the breadth of capabilities in such diverse areas as towing power, dirt and gravel road handling and stop and go traffic.
Each year, the editorial staff of Motor Trend has evaluated eligible vehicles for its "Truck of the Year" based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority and Value. Significance refers to innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of vehicle dynamics and performance, build quality and execution, and how well the vehicle performs its intended function. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?"
High-resolution images of the winner are available upon request and at www.motortrend.com/media. Multimedia coverage of the testing and selection process will be broadcast on Motor Trend Radio, hosted by Bob Long.
About MOTOR TREND
MOTOR TREND, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC was founded in 1949 and has a circulation of 1.1 million and a total readership of 7.1 million. Internationally recognized as one of the leading brands in automotive publishing, MOTOR TREND comprises Motor Trend Magazine; the award-winning website motortrend.com; Motor Trend Radio; Truck Trend; Motor Trend International Auto Shows; Motor Trend en Espanol; and the renowned Motor Trend Car, Sport/Utility and Truck of the Year Awards program.

Comments (11)
And the truck bashing starts in 3...2...
Posted by 426Hemi | December 16, 2008 8:27 PM
Posted on December 16, 2008 20:27
No bashing other than I would like to see Ford make a significant investment in the Ranger and do a much better job of it than GM did with the S-10/Colorado.
Posted by Tim | December 16, 2008 9:03 PM
Posted on December 16, 2008 21:03
This was expected. The only truck to really challenge it thuis year was the new Dodge Ram, but it was no match for the new F-150 in the end. Unlike the new dodge Ram the new F-150 was vastly changed in just about every aspect.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | December 16, 2008 11:07 PM
Posted on December 16, 2008 23:07
You know, theres no mention of the new power from the old 5.4l v8. The last time I checked the F150 was being left in the dust by everybody. Ford needed a new engine to give life back to its trucks. The only people who stuck with Ford was the die hard fans. I don't mind the styling and the interior is great, but try to merge on the highway or while towing something. The only F150 I could live with is the Harley Edition which is supercharged. Otherwise give me the new Tundra. It may be uglier, but atleast you'll only see its tailgate.
Posted by NoDos | December 17, 2008 5:29 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 05:29
If you have problems towing something then you have the wrong class truck. That is why they make a F150, F250, F350, etc...
Posted by Sandman | December 17, 2008 6:26 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 06:26
NOTE: The F-150 gets 10 extra hp.
Hopefully, their somewhat fuel efficient Ranger will get refreshed.
Posted by Saheed | December 17, 2008 6:38 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 06:38
SteelCity1981:
"This was expected. The only truck to really challenge it thuis year was the new Dodge Ram, but it was no match for the new F-150 in the end. Unlike the new dodge Ram the new F-150 was vastly changed in just about every aspect."
The 09 Ram had equally as much new about it as the F150. If Dodge had stayed with leaf springs versus coil over, you would potentially be seeing the Ram as the #1 truck. It's tow ratings are what is limiting it's full potential thanks to them ditching the leaf springs.
Posted by Dan | December 17, 2008 7:43 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 07:43
How do leaf spring increast tow rating? Or do you mean tongue weight that was making the difference?
Posted by teldar | December 17, 2008 4:32 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 16:32
Dan ithe Ram was vastly improved in areas but it wasn't completely redone like the F-150. Too bad Dodge might be getting the axe soon, which will play a big part in the buyer beware of the Ram.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | December 17, 2008 11:29 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 23:29
I do a lot of towing and I've tried different trucks because each of my friends drive a different brand. Don't believe the max tow ratings. Whats more important is how they tow. Not even at max ratings but at 5k or less. Anything more than 5k, you should be using a diesel. My conclusion is that domestic trucks biggest drawback is in the tranny and power curve. Its always hunting for the right gear, which causes lots of wear. Torque is important in trucks but I also want some HP in the upper revs for highway. I've only seen one truck so far that can satisfy me, the new tundra tows like theres nothing behind it. Now if only toyota can fix the way it looks.
I checked the stats for the new F150. It has a new 5sp tranny, but it really needs a new motor. And I heard there was one in the works. Just take a look at all the half ton trucks and the F150 is left in the dust. Now you might wonder why acceleration matters, it does. because the faster it goes, the better it will perform when you hookup a 5k lb boat to it.
If I could have it my way, put the toyota 5.7l and tranny inside the body of the last model Dodge Ram Big Horn Edition. Done!
Posted by NoDos | December 18, 2008 6:28 AM
Posted on December 18, 2008 06:28
Yeah ok, GMC Sierra 6.2L, Allison Transmission. Done!
Hell the 5.7L does the job too. Higher payload, Tows more, higher GVWR, better warranty, more axle ratio options. Not to mention it does it with 66 less HP and 15/20 vs 13/17 mpg.
Anyway, like I said before... US trucks have multitudes of performance levels. If the 1500/F150 isn't right theres always 2500/F250, 3500/F350. If you can't tow it correctly you have chosen the wrong category.
Tundra is its own worst enemy. All the competitors 5.7L's are already surpassing it within a year of its inception. And of course that pushed Ford to put a diesel into the F150 and that is going to destroy all the current categories. Tundra will be taking the role of the Titan in no time.
Posted by Sandman | December 18, 2008 9:41 PM
Posted on December 18, 2008 21:41