I've developed a bit of a soft spot for the modern truck. The demand for creature comforts has turned these once-utilitarian beasts into high-riding havens of upscale features previously reserved for sedans and SUVs. I'd been waiting for the right opportunity to test out Ford's latest big-gun, the F-350 King Ranch: testing a one-ton truck in the streets of Vancouver makes no sense, but a winter trip to Winnipeg with its sub-zero weather and healthy dusting of snow was the perfect venue. (Overall score: 6.9)
Walkaround
There is a somewhat rugged, yet utility-driven, feel to the KR's design, and thanks to Ford not going completely overboard with faux-chrome as many truck manufacturers tend to, the F-350 doesn't look painfully tacky either. In terms of visual changes, there isn't really much to note in comparison to the 2014 model, but given Ford's recent update of the F-150, I wouldn't be surprised if the F-350 saw a facelift in the next couple of years. (Score: 6.1)
Interior
The King Ranch has always sported one of Ford's nicer interior packages, and this remains true for 2015. I'm seldom a fan of brown interiors, so I was a little put-off by the Mesa Brown leather with contrasting orange stitching and King Ranch logo inlays. I can't argue with the fact that the leather was nice and soft, and the fit and finish of it all was very well-executed: if you like brown, you'll be happy. In crew cab configuration, there's an ample amount of space for rear-seat passengers. I had the joy of climbing into the back seats a few times during our testing, and even at 6-foot-one, I had room to spare. (Score: 7.5)
Tech
I've had more than a half-dozen encounters with Ford's SYNC infotainment system and MyFord Touch, but that level of familiarity has yet to help me overlook some of the system's less-endearing qualities. Navigating the audio controls is relatively painless, as is inputting navigation destinations. Ford's voice-activated controls are also fairly seamless when compared to many other systems on the market. What remains ever-frustrating (among other things) is the ability to navigate the system from its home screen and into one of the four infotainment "quadrants". Why I need to poke at the narrow sliver of the quadrant for audio or climate control rather that just tapping that vast expanse of space around it still makes no sense to me. In terms of other tech equipment Ford was smart to include a back-up camera as standard on the King Ranch, and its upgraded Sony audio system that comes as standard is more than reasonable. (Score: 6.2)
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Driving
At the wheel, it quickly becomes evident that this thing was built to work. From its high driving position, overall visibility is quite impressive, and thanks to its massive side-view mirrors the truck has little in the way of blind spots unless something the size of a Lotus Elise skirts up beside you. Firing up its 6.7-litre Power Stroke turbo diesel V-8, the truck emits a low rumble that only a big, bad diesel can muster. Ford has bumped up power output, bringing horsepower up to 440, and torque to an astounding 860 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm. In this configuration, the King Ranch is capable of towing upwards of 14,000lbs, or 16,400lbs if a gooseneck trailer kit is installed.
When it comes to trailer hauling this thing is ready to do business. The trade that comes along with the deal is that the KR is jittery over bumpy roads when empty. Rear springs need to be firm to take on a heavy load, so when they're not loaded it makes for an interesting ride experience. If you're buying a truck as an all-purpose vehicle, I wouldn't recommend jumping up to one this serious unless you can really justify its hauling capabilities.
You can't really expect frugal consumption from a vehicle capable of ripping a house down in one pass. My five-day test netted an average of 18L/100kms in an 80 per cent highway/20 per cent city split. Natural Resources Canada doesn't require heavy duty trucks to be tested for fuel consumption. (Score: 6.1)
Value
The high value score may seem odd considering our test truck came in at over $70,000. I'm not scoring it on value when compared to its competition, as this segment is a very tight one; where I'm looking at value is within Ford's own model range. There's no arguing that bigger, heavier, and more costly components go into building a one-ton truck when compared to the more daily-driver-ready F-150, and yet the cost increase between the King Ranch and a fully decked out F-150 Harley-Davidson model is less than $10,000 which, when you think about it, is a very narrow gap. (Score: 8.5)
Conclusion
In the case of the F-350 King Ranch I need to stress that as nice as this truck is, it is designed for a very specific market and purpose. This is not the weekender-throw-your-quad-in-the-back, or carry-the-occasional-2×4 truck of choice, and I must dissuade those with more money than brains from buying this truck just because they can.
If you own a 27-foot Airstream trailer, or are in a construction trade that requires serious hauling, the F-350, in King Ranch trim or otherwise, is definitely worth your consideration.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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