daemonic3
Well-known member
- First Name
- Terry
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2020
- Threads
- 22
- Messages
- 1,808
- Reaction score
- 1,758
- Location
- Sacramento, CA
- Vehicles
- 2017 F150 3.5EB
- Occupation
- Engineer
- Thread starter
- #1
I know there have already been a lot of reviews from test drive events, and now lots of owners taking delivery. But I'm out here in lowly California, where no test drive events occurred, and we're basically last to get the Dearborn trucks, and the hybrids don't last more than a day on dealer lots. I have been tracking and refreshing so many hybrids locally so I can finally test one. Well I finally got a chance this weekend and found a Limited Powerboost at Sunnyvale Ford, and showed up before they could even list it on their dealer website! As an added bonus, county covid restrictions meant that the dealer cannot come with me and I could test drive it SOLO
First thing I had to check was the sound of the power running boards. I used the foot button to retract and then extend it, and I did not think it was excessively loud at all. Next up was the Limited interior, as some claimed it was gray and not blue. I noticed that it definitely looks blue in the sun, otherwise it basically looks various shades of gray (my opinion). The interior overall was amazing. Very comfortable! The steering wheel had a unique feel, I don't know how to describe it. Not positive or negative, just a unique feel.
Then I started the truck and of course no engine sound (electric mode) just a slight hiss like a fan noise, just assumed it was maybe a battery fan or something - but a few miles later I realized someone had left the cooled seats on MAX! Turned that off and no more hissing, haha. Anyway, pulling out of the lot with no engine or stereo, the boards retracted and it was louder INSIDE than when I was outside. Like you could hear the motor vibrating the whole chassis. So that may be what the "loud power board" complaints have been.
Anyway, pulling out into traffic the thing JUMPED. I am not a leadfoot in my current XLT but there must be a difference in pedal sensitivity because it has a hair trigger. Coupled with the power, it is insane when the light turns green and I take off. I tried at the first several lights but I could NOT get any electric-only starts, my foot is just too heavy I guess. Then at the last light before getting on the freeway I tried toying with drive modes. It was in TOW/HAUL! So I figured that was why I wasn't getting electric-only starts. Well, decided to try SPORT mode and she shifted to 4WD-Auto . AND I love how the whole instrument cluster changed theme! Check it out:
I loved the red & white "sporty" theme. Getting on the freeway was crazy, I swear I barely pressed the accel and looked down and I was already at 55mph, couldn't believe it. Also just a minor touch that I loved, is that the speed limit is placed RIGHT on your speedometer dial - you don't have to be in NAV or look at a separate area on a screen, its just right where it needs to be (any cops reading this, I uuhhhh, had a friend take this pic).
I noticed my MPG was not going great on the trip so far so I wanted to try ECO mode and made the switch while on the freeway and left it there the rest of the way back. I thought for sure I would get some electric starts but I STILL was too heavy footed. This will be a fun challenge for me when I get my truck! Again it is really minor but these themes really make me happy. The ECO mode has a cool green theme and a ? in the bottom left corner (pic courtesy of my uhhhh, friend again):
Anyway, when I returned it, I had only averaged about 20MPG, and only 1.4 electric miles out of about 15 I put on it. The only time I got electric miles was coasting or braking. I couldn't get those coveted electric-only starts.
Lastly, I was excited to try the active park assist to perpendicular park it back into the spot I pulled out of at the dealership - but some Superduty pulled in an blocked that area! What a bummer. I just pulled in and got caught off guard by the loud power boards being deployed again. Some dude was already lined up waiting to test drive it after me. Sucker! Maybe show up right at opening time like me next time haha.
I also wrote up a separate first impression of the B&O Unleashed system here: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/disappointed-in-b-o-unleashed.1172/post-15554
The sales guy tried to persuade me to give up my King Ranch order and buy this one off his lot. I looked at the MSRP and the sad thing is - it is LESS than my King Ranch that got window stickered after the max tow increase! Once you option a Powerboost as a KR chrome, tow mirrors, max tow, and FX4 (none of which are available on Limited) it puts a King Ranch as the most expensive trim (above Limited and equally equipped Platinum). I'm sticking it out though, I guess I'm a glutton for [wallet] punishment! ?
Look at this beauty tho:
First thing I had to check was the sound of the power running boards. I used the foot button to retract and then extend it, and I did not think it was excessively loud at all. Next up was the Limited interior, as some claimed it was gray and not blue. I noticed that it definitely looks blue in the sun, otherwise it basically looks various shades of gray (my opinion). The interior overall was amazing. Very comfortable! The steering wheel had a unique feel, I don't know how to describe it. Not positive or negative, just a unique feel.
Then I started the truck and of course no engine sound (electric mode) just a slight hiss like a fan noise, just assumed it was maybe a battery fan or something - but a few miles later I realized someone had left the cooled seats on MAX! Turned that off and no more hissing, haha. Anyway, pulling out of the lot with no engine or stereo, the boards retracted and it was louder INSIDE than when I was outside. Like you could hear the motor vibrating the whole chassis. So that may be what the "loud power board" complaints have been.
Anyway, pulling out into traffic the thing JUMPED. I am not a leadfoot in my current XLT but there must be a difference in pedal sensitivity because it has a hair trigger. Coupled with the power, it is insane when the light turns green and I take off. I tried at the first several lights but I could NOT get any electric-only starts, my foot is just too heavy I guess. Then at the last light before getting on the freeway I tried toying with drive modes. It was in TOW/HAUL! So I figured that was why I wasn't getting electric-only starts. Well, decided to try SPORT mode and she shifted to 4WD-Auto . AND I love how the whole instrument cluster changed theme! Check it out:
I loved the red & white "sporty" theme. Getting on the freeway was crazy, I swear I barely pressed the accel and looked down and I was already at 55mph, couldn't believe it. Also just a minor touch that I loved, is that the speed limit is placed RIGHT on your speedometer dial - you don't have to be in NAV or look at a separate area on a screen, its just right where it needs to be (any cops reading this, I uuhhhh, had a friend take this pic).
I noticed my MPG was not going great on the trip so far so I wanted to try ECO mode and made the switch while on the freeway and left it there the rest of the way back. I thought for sure I would get some electric starts but I STILL was too heavy footed. This will be a fun challenge for me when I get my truck! Again it is really minor but these themes really make me happy. The ECO mode has a cool green theme and a ? in the bottom left corner (pic courtesy of my uhhhh, friend again):
Anyway, when I returned it, I had only averaged about 20MPG, and only 1.4 electric miles out of about 15 I put on it. The only time I got electric miles was coasting or braking. I couldn't get those coveted electric-only starts.
Lastly, I was excited to try the active park assist to perpendicular park it back into the spot I pulled out of at the dealership - but some Superduty pulled in an blocked that area! What a bummer. I just pulled in and got caught off guard by the loud power boards being deployed again. Some dude was already lined up waiting to test drive it after me. Sucker! Maybe show up right at opening time like me next time haha.
I also wrote up a separate first impression of the B&O Unleashed system here: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/disappointed-in-b-o-unleashed.1172/post-15554
The sales guy tried to persuade me to give up my King Ranch order and buy this one off his lot. I looked at the MSRP and the sad thing is - it is LESS than my King Ranch that got window stickered after the max tow increase! Once you option a Powerboost as a KR chrome, tow mirrors, max tow, and FX4 (none of which are available on Limited) it puts a King Ranch as the most expensive trim (above Limited and equally equipped Platinum). I'm sticking it out though, I guess I'm a glutton for [wallet] punishment! ?
Look at this beauty tho:
Sponsored