INDIANAPOLIS — Last year, I drove the Ford Maverick Tremor and thought it was very cool with its gold accents, black wheels, and enhanced off-road capability. But, let’s be honest, the Maverick is essentially a compact crossover with a bed that’s better suited to light lawn duty than heavy hauling. For that, we step up to the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor that’s just as stylish, but far more capable.
Off-Road Chic
Like a lot of these stylish all-roaders that have come to vogue – vehicles like Subaru’s Wilderness, Chevrolet’s ACTIV, Toyota’s TRD, and Kia’s X-Line – the F-150 Tremor bridges the trail between city life and taming Baja. Let’s call it “off-road chic.” Check gold accents across the black grille, gold tow hooks, and gold accents on its flanks. TREMOR badges on the bed and 18” black wheels shod in off-road tires glam its broadsides. Around back, look for exposed tow hooks, integrated trailer hitch, and electrical connections. For work or play, notice spray-in bedliner, tie-down hooks, and two household outlets for running power tools or camp lighting.
Place a foot on the step plate and pop inside. Gold accents continue to the dash, console stitching, and perforations in the heated and ventilated leather seats. Front and center are a 12” touchscreen and flatscreen gauges. Dual-zone automatic climate control, B&O audio, and wireless charging add their own delights. Check the power opening rear window and dual-pane sunroof too. Should work haunt you, the center console flips open for desk space next to an in-dash household outlet. Connect to wi-fi to stay in touch wherever you roam.
Keeping everybody safe in the roomy crew cab is a full suite of safety tech, centered around Ford’s Co-pilot 360 2.0 system. Automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and blind spot warning are a good start. Add to that rear cross path detection and trailer sway control to stay in the green zone.
Big V8 Performance
I’m a big fan of Ford’s twin-turbo V6, but am warming up to the 5.0-liter V8 in our Tremor. It puts out a romping 400 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque, all sent to the four-wheel-drive system through a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. While bed for off-roading, the thick tires and enhanced shocks provide a calmer ride on pavement. Keeping in mind this is a large and capable pickup, fuel economy rated 15/20-MPG city/highway isn’t terrible.
So, what’s not to like? Given all of the technology stuffed inside the F-150 Tremor, it would be even better with a head-up display and heated steering wheel. While the F-150 Lightning EV has an independent rear suspension to improve handling, the gas-version goes without. Handling is tight and ride is smooth for a full-size pickup, but could be even better. And then, there’s the window sticker.
The F-150 Tremor is a pretty cool truck that adds some fashion to the worksite. Of course, all of that comes at a price. While a base F-150 starts at $34,585, our Tremor – all in – is considerably more expensive at $74,040. Competitors include the Chevy Silverado Trail Boss, GMC Sierra AT4, Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and Ram 1500 Rebel.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.
Likes
- Stylish exterior
- Luxurious cabin
- V8 power
Dislikes
- No head-up display
- Solid rear axle
- Hefty price
2024 Ford F-150 Tremor
Five-passenger, 4WD Pickup
Powertrain: 5.0-liter V8, 10-spd trans
Output: 400hp/410 lb.-ft. torque
Suspension f/r: Ind/Solid Axle
Wheels f/r: 18”/18” alloy
Brakes f/r: disc/disc
Fuel economy: 15/20-mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Dearborn, MI
Base/as-tested price: $34,585/74,040
