Looking at This Last Decade of the Ford F-150

When you first start shopping for a used vehicle, even if you’ve narrowed down your options to a particular style, like a full-size truck, the sheer size of the market available to you can feel overwhelming. That’s when it helps to narrow down your options even more, for example deciding on the Ford F-150 as your pickup of choice. Even then, however, you still need to make some decisions before you start searching “used car dealership near me” on Google.

Although the Ford F-150 has been around in one form or another for many, many (many!) decades, if you try to compare and consider 50 years’ worth of trucks, you’re in for a rough time. It helps to look at these models in narrower terms, often by just contemplating the models within a particular generation and seeing how they stack up. That’s what we’re going to do today; in particular, we’re going to look at the 12th and 13th generation for the F-150, which covers models from 2009 to now.
Let’s dive in!

The Ford F-150 – 12th Generation

The 12th generation of the F-150 kicked off in 2009, so when you’re looking at models at used car dealerships near you, that’s a great year to start with. Since it had been the bestselling full-size truck in the US for a long time prior to 2009, Ford didn’t make any revolutionary changes to it in the 12th generation, but solid improvements were made throughout its exterior, interior, and mechanical systems.

A great deal of attention was paid to the exterior of the 2009 F-150, which was given a more powerful overall look and stance, informed by the larger Super Duty models. More luxurious and high-quality materials were used on the interior of the 2009 model, especially at higher trim levels. Speaking of which, the 2009 model started with the XL trim, then went to the STX, XLT, FX4, Lariat, King Ranch, and finally, the Platinum. That’s a lot of different trims to watch for, so keep those in mind when looking at different used F-150s.

2009 models were available with three different V8 engines to choose from, starting with a 4.6L that offered 248 hp and 294 lb-ft of torque, then a high-output 4.6L that produced 292 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, and finally, a 5.4L engine that provided up to 320 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The starting engine came with a 4-speed automatic transmission, while the other two were paired with 6-speed automatics.

As you’re looking at 12th-generation models from 2009, watch for the FX4 trim if you’re interested in going off-road. This was the off-road trim for the F-150 for much of the 12th generation; in 2009, it had skid plates, heavy-duty shocks, and an off-road tuned suspension. Overall, 2009 models are a great place to start with the 12th generation, though there are more years to watch for too.

In 2010, Ford introduced the SVT Raptor trim for the F-150, which came with the 5.4L engine as standard, but in 2011 also had an available 6.2L V8 engine that delivered up to 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque. If you want the most power and performance possible in the 12th generation, then an SVT Raptor model from 2010 or later is the way to go.

2011 was actually a big year for the F-150, with an entirely updated engine lineup that lasted throughout the rest of the generation. The three new engines were a 3.7L V6 that produced up to 302 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, a 5.0L V8 that offered 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that provided 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. As you can see, these are quite a bit more powerful than the engines in 2009 and 2010 models, so a 2011 or later 12th-generation F-150 is a fantastic pick.

There were not a lot of huge changes for 2012 models, with minor technical improvements making up most of them. Similarly, the improvements on 2013 models were fairly minor, though they did include some newer safety features, like hill-descent control, and an improved infotainment system. As 2014 closed out the 12th generation for the Ford F-150, there were not many tremendous changes. If you’re interested in a 12th generation model, then one from 2013 or 2014 is a great pick that can have a lot of modern features.

The Ford F-150 13th Generation

Starting with 2015 models, the 13th generation of this truck continued everything great about the previous generation, while making numerous improvements throughout. One of the biggest changes was an increased use of aluminum in the body of the pickup, while significantly increasing the amount of high-strength steel used in its frame. This gives 13th generation models a lighter overall design while still keeping the frame very strong.

Some years from the 12th generation had as many as ten different trim levels to choose from, which was streamlined on the 2015 model to just five, making it easier to get what you wanted. These started with the XL, then the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and finally, the Platinum. Four engines were available starting on 2015 models: a 3.5L V6 that offered 283 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, a 2.7L Turbocharged V6 that provided 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, a 5.0L V8 that delivered 385 hp and 397 lb-ft of torque, and finally a 3.5L Turbocharged V6 that provided 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

A number of modern advanced safety features are available on the 2015 models of this used truck, including rearview and 360-degree multi-view cameras, rear parking sensors, a lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. The interior also received a bit of a makeover, with numerous improvements and refined details throughout, including an available 8-inch productivity display for the driver. This is the current generation, after all, so even with a 2015 model, you can find amazing features and options––depending on what the original buyer picked.

Although 2016 did not see huge changes, it did mark the addition of a luxurious “Limited” trim, as well as improvements to the infotainment system. The fantastic Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature was also introduced in 2016 and is essential if you do a lot of towing. 2017 marked the return of the Raptor trim, designed with an off-road focus and a 3.5L Twin Turbo EcoBoost V6 engine that came with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Of particular note, in 2018 there was a mid-cycle update and refresh on the Ford F-150, with improvements made to most of its engines and numerous upgrades inside and out. That means that 2018 and 2019 used models have the latest and most impressive features, often delivering things you won’t find on earlier models, particularly those from the 12th generation. As you’re looking at different F-150s at used car dealerships near you, keep an eye out for these. They’ll probably be a bit more expensive, but you can find amazing Certified Pre-Owned models from these years for unbeatable performance and reliability.

Want to Know More?

Now that you have a really good sense of what the 12th and 13th generations for the Ford F-150 had to offer, you’re ready to do some shopping. Contact us at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, GA, and one of our friendly, knowledgeable salespeople will help you find your next truck.