What's the difference?
The Ford F-150 Platinum – the new top-shelf variant in the company’s F Series truck range – has arrived in Australia as part of the a refreshed line-up.
This full-sized dual-cab ute has a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, myriad drive modes and 4500kg towing capacity and, as such, is regarded as a rival for the likes of the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra.
But with a price-tag tickling $164,000 before on-road costs and at a smidge under six metres long, is this big rig simply too big and too expensive?
We’re testing the short wheelbase (SWB) version this time, so let’s get into it.
I’m just going to cut to the chase here. This Honda Civic hybrid is a good car. A great one, even.
But for some reason, nobody is really buying it. And it’s not just because it’s not an SUV – it has been outsold in its segment this year by the the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, the MG4 EV, and the VW Golf. Premium and non-premium alike, they’ve all got the little Honda licked.
So, what’s going on? A CarsGuide investigation is required. Stick around and we’ll try to figure this out together.
The Ford F-150 Platinum SWB is good but not great.
It has plenty of standard features onboard and some handy touches, it’s nice to drive on-road, and is adequately capable off-road but it lacks the overall plushness its price-tag promises.
The F-150’s smaller sibling, the Ranger Super Duty, does all of this F Truck’s jobs better, has more general appeal and all-round driveability, and it costs much less than the F-150.
Yet I can still see the appeal of the Ford F-150 Platinum SWB. As a potential purchase, it might make a lot more sense to you than me.
Talk about your new-car unsung heroes – I can't believe Honda's not selling more of these. So, if you can get over the price, and you worry it might be too small for you, I encourage you to check the Civic out. The back seat and boot are both bigger than you might expect, and the drive experience leaves most SUVs in the rear view mirror.