2018 Ford F-150 NH

Upgraded for the New Model Year

It's no secret that the Ford F-150 is one of the most capable and award-winning trucks in the world - but that doesn't mean the blue oval brand is going to sit back and wait for the competition to catch up. For the powerful pickup's 2018 model year, Ford stepped up its game and delivered an upgraded version like never before.

Starting where it most counts, Ford engineers designed a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body that comes up 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing generation. While it doesn't always shake out this way - in the Ford F-150's case, lighter definitely means stronger. Beneath the military-grade, heat-treated aluminum alloy body, sits a fully boxed frame composed of 78-percent high-strength steel. Simply put: The 2018 F-150 is not only the lightest version of the iconic pickup, it's also the strongest. When properly equipped, the newest F-150 is able to tow more than any other pickup in its class. Add to that best-in-class payload, and the competition doesn't stand a chance.

The 2018 F-150 is without a doubt, the most powerful pickup in terms of strength, but the newest generation truck has plenty of brains to go with its brawn. The addition of intuitive features ensures that you only work as hard as you have to, while your truck picks up the rest of the slack. An available tailgate step is integrated into the truck, along with deployable box steps to make loading and unloading easier than ever. Also available, is a 360-degree camera, affording you a bird's-eye-view of your surroundings as you maneuver the job site and other tricky situations from behind the wheel.

Speaking of productivity, the 2018 Ford F-150 offers an 8-inch LCD screen made for productivity on-the-go. Drivers can create a customized home screen with various menu options including important information regarding your truck's performance. FordPass is an app that has been made available for the first time ever on the F-150. Offering convenient features like find parking, compare fuel prices, lock / unlock and start your vehicle remotely, FordPass promotes productivity and convenience for drivers, from anywhere.

Platinum or Limited: Which High-End Trim is Right for You?

The top of the 2018 F-150 premium food chain, sits two very worthy contenders - Limited and Platinum. Each trim level offers an impressive list of standard performance and convenience features, but it can be difficult to decide which is right for you.

Take a look at these two trucks side by side, and determine which one is best suited for your particular needs.

• Engine: The Platinum model comes standard with the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine, while the Limited trim features the 3.5L EcoBoost under its hood. Both are paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission, and deliver exceptional power and capability overall.


• Convenience Features: The Platinum and Limited models of the 2018 F-150 feature plenty of premium amenities - but the Limited trim ups the ante with a few more standard features, that are only an option on the Platinum. The 360-degree camera with split-view display, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology, and Lane-Keep Assist are all examples of what you will find on the F-150 Limited, but not on the Platinum.


• Exterior: The exterior of the Limited is distinguished from the Platinum F-150 by its own distinct Satin Chrome two-bar style grille design, complete with mesh inserts. Other differentiators include chrome colored side mirrors, and body colored bezel door handles with a chrome strap.


• Price: The 2018 F-150 Limited starts at the higher end, with an MSRP of $60,520. A small dip in price, the 2018 F-150 Platinum has a starting MSRP of $54,155.

The difference between these two models are subtle, and choosing between them comes down to personal preference, and budget. While the price difference isn't too extreme, it may be enough to give some buyers pause. Either way, both of these powerful pickups are exceptional options.