2005 Ford F-150 XL, STX and XLT | Review | Buying Guide
The 2005 Ford F-150 may have had a complete redesign last year, and won more than 30 awards since then, but that doesn’t mean they are sitting on their laurels. The Ford designers have made some significant changes to the F-150 offering for 2005, changes that will appeal to those looking for plain workmanlike choices, changes for those looking for new safety innovation and changes for those looking for upscale luxury.
Ford has both improved the truck and broadened the range, from the minimalist Work Truck Group package through to the newly added King Ranch edition. Oh, and did I mention the new engine? An available 4.2-liter V6 means that people with lower powertrain requirements have a fuel-use and cost reducing alternative.
The new model F-150 introduced last year have roomier cabs and fresh new styling. All cabs now have four doors and are six inches longer and four inches taller. Regular cabs and extended cabs have rear-hinged back doors; crew cabs have four full doors. Beds of 5.5-ft, 6.5-ft and 8-ft are available. The XL, STX and XLT models are the entry-level vehicles of the F-150’s 2005 lineup, which also happens to be the most diverse out there.
Under the Hood
The F-150 offers three engine choices for 2005. The new 4.2-liter V-6 engine (available for the Regular Cab XL STX and XLT models) produces 202 horsepower at 4,350 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm and is offered with a manual transmission.
At the other end of the power scale, the 5.4-liter, Triton V-8 engine is designed with three valves per cylinder, variable cam timing and the result is 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm.
Mid-powered models come equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 engine. It creates 231 horsepower at 4750 rpm and 293 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. It is mated to a slip-free 4-speed automatic transmission.
All these engines come as standard or optional extras depending on whether you choose to buy a 4x4 or not and depending on your cab and bed size choices. When purchasing, make sure you get the engine and truck configuration that suits your needs. With more choices than any other truck make on the market, the Ford F-150 you want is out there.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
Everything about the new F-150 centers around functionality, convenience and comfort. The half doors on extended cabs can be fitted with roll-down windows, unique among full-size pickups. 2005 F-150s also feature tailgates helper springs designed to make them easier to close.
Each of the trims for 2005 has its own personality, so much so that Ford designed three different instrument-panel designs. XL models are the workhorses, with a newly standard tilt steering wheel and a center display system in the instrument panel. This year a new Work Truck Group package has been introduced for entry-level, commercial applications.
STX models are sportier, featuring body-color bumpers and 17-inch sporty cast aluminum wheels. Mainstream XLT F-150 models are quite versatile, using premium cloth and a chrome instrument panel. Occupant Position Sensing technology for the first-row passenger has been introduced to improve safety.
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