10 Reasons the 2017 Ford F-150 Wins Autobytel Buyer's Choice Truck of the Year Award

2017 Ford F 150 ・ Photo by Ford

The 2017 Autobytel Buyer's Choice Award for Best Truck isn’t merely a popularity contest: The 2017 Ford F-150 won for lots of reasons, some of which are detailed below. But remember, the Blue Oval’s full-size pickup does represent the best-selling vehicle in the country, as it has for the past 39 in a row—and counting.

#10: A CNG/Propane Package

Some buyers prefer pickups that can run on compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas—whether for cost or environmental reasons—so the 2017 Ford F-150 can be ordered as a “Gaseous Engine Prep Package.” This modifies the truck’s 5.0-liter V8 engine so that it can run on those fuels or conventional gasoline.

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#9: Luxury Features - Platinum Edition

The Blue Oval provides plenty of premium luxuries for the 2017 Ford F-150 as well. For instance, the Platinum edition pickup serves up multi-contour leather-trimmed bucket seats, with a heated and ventilated front row, heated rear seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. LED headlamps highlight the exterior.

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#8: Extensive Camera Coverage

The 2017 Ford F-150 also goes beyond a tailgate camera for its trailer-assistance and rear-visibility functions. The truck has a camera mounted in the grille, too, and one in each of the side view mirrors. They all work together to digitally create a 360-degree view of the area surrounding the F-150.

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#7: Incredible Infotainment

The latest SYNC 3 infotainment system is available for the 2017 Ford F-150, complete with improved voice recognition, a touchscreen that recognizes smartphone-style “swipe” gestures and enhanced processing power. To cater to audiophiles, the F-150 also can be ordered with a 700-watt sound system from Sony, with 10 speakers.

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#6: Impressive Hauling Capacities

Serious capability is a hallmark of the 2017 Ford F-150, which boasts a best-in-class payload rating of 3,270 lbs. with its most powerful EcoBoost engine. However, even the truck’s smallest EcoBoost powerplant can deliver a 2,200-lb. payload. For towing, the F-150 can pull a full six tons—that’s 12,000 lbs.

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#5: Cutting-Edge Driver-Assistance Technology

Backed by a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA, the 2017 Ford F-150 also showcases a variety of high-tech safety measures that includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with brake support, active parking assistance, and the automaker’s Blind Spot Information System with rear cross-traffic alert.

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#4: The Raptor

For the hardest of the hardcore off-road enthusiasts, the 2017 Ford F-150 features the Raptor model. The Raptor revs up a 450-horsepower EcoBoost engine, rides on FOX Racing Shox shock absorbers for more than a foot of suspension travel and grips the ground with a brand-new four-wheel-drive system.

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#3: A New Powertrain

The 2017 Ford F-150 now offers a second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 for the new model year. Matched with an also-new 10-speed automatic transmission, the engine produces 375 horsepower (a 10-horsepower increase) and a best-in-class 470 lb.-ft. of torque (a boost of 50 lb.-ft.).

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#2: Top Towing Technology

The 2017 Ford F-150 makes towing simple with a dynamic video display for hitching a trailer and the Pro Trailer Backup Assist for once you’re connected. This technology also relies on a rear-facing video display, along with a steering knob that you point in the direction you want the trailer to take.

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#1: A Box That Rocks

The cargo bed for the 2017 Ford F-150 will no doubt cause sleepless nights for its rivals. That’s because it brings benefits like stowable loading ramps, a remote-release tailgate with built-in assistance step, deployable box side steps, LED illumination, and the comprehensive BoxLink cargo-management system.

Read about the 17 Most Wanted Vehicles of 2016 for the full list of the 2017 Autobytel Car Buyer's Choice Award recipients.

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