Ford Falcon Ute 2015 Review

Ford Australia has started the final chapter of a story that began in 1933.

This week in Albury, it launched the last ever locally made Ford ute, the FG X, which will be produced until mid-2016 when Ford shuts its Australian factories for good.

The locally made sedan-based ute has a special place in Australian automotive history, given it was invented by young Ford designer Lew Bandt.

His creation came after a letter had arrived at company headquarters requesting a dual-purpose vehicle that was smart enough to drive to church, but practical enough to cart livestock to market.

Back then, when delivery trucks had basic half-door cabins (or no doors at all), its passenger car cabin must have seemed luxurious.

In terms of ride quality, it is superior to the imports

Australia’s obsession with utility vehicles grew even stronger when the Falcon-based ute, an Australian version of Ford’s American Ranchero, was launched in 1961.

It outlived both the long-wheelbase Fairlane and the Falcon wagon. More recently, vastly improved workhorse utes (including crew cabs) from Thailand such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have eroded its market share — and that of the rival Commodore ute — dramatically.

Lower sales have meant less money to invest in new models and that is reflected in the lack of significant change in the latest model.

The FG X ute doesn’t get all the upgrades that come with the sedan, which is perhaps why Ford didn’t include it in the official launch drive.

Luckily, it brought an EcoLPI XR6 Ute along to haul spare wheels and this column leapt in to commandeer it.

The ute looks the same from the rear but it gets the new Ford family front end, including its aggressive narrow headlights and daytime running lights. There are no aluminium body parts but the bonnet is made from super high-tensile steel that is lighter but also stronger than before.

New wide blade automatic windscreen wipers have also been fitted.

There are no changes to the ute’s engine line-up, which comprises a regular 195kW petrol six-cylinder, the 270kW XR6 Turbo and the 198kW EcoLPI. There is no four-cylinder or V8 option.

The petrol and gas non-turbo six-cylinder models get a converter that is able to save fuel without affectingrque refinement.

Ford has rejigged pricing and the range runs from the base ute at $39,390 through to the red-hot XR6 Turbo at $39,810.

Our XR6 gas-powered EcoLPI Ute is normally $35,140 but was fitted with the $4350 Luxury Pack that includes sports leather seats, satnav and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The last ever Falcon is a handy work tool that also happens to comfortable and fun to drive

It is a smart-looking ute, especially thanks to the LED running lights that flash on when you flick the key in the ignition.

The seats are more supportive than before and the leather trim looks classy. The interior still looks dated but it is still far more refined than any of the imported workhorse utes.

In terms of ride quality, it is superior to the imports.

The EcoLPI engine is an absolute beauty. It is well worth the $2500 premium and is noticeably more potent than the already pokey petrol six-cylinder (it has 18Nm more torque).

Even better, the LPG tanks don’t intrude into the cargo area and there is still enough room for a spare wheel under the tray (this is not the case with the Holden LPG Ute).

With a payload of up to a tonne and maximum tow rating of 2300kg, the last ever Falcon is a handy work tool that also happens to comfortable and fun to drive.

It’s a concept that will be missed.