Driven. 2026 Ford F-150 Platinum
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Ford’s F-150 is a relatively new addition to the brand’s lineup in Australia. It’s not the first time the local arm of the brand has brought the full-sized utility to our shores though. Those with a couple of greys will remember a time when Policy paddy-wagons and Ambulances deployed the venerable platform as part of these governments fleets.
The reality is that Ford’s F-truck range is built on the back of 80 years providing service to all walks of life Stateside. In the process, it has held the top spot for sales in the country for a staggering 40 years. They’re big numbers, for a big truck, in a big country.
The "F-truck" sits atop a diverse selection of utility options from the brand. It offers size, towing capacity, comfort, and in this range-topping Platinum grade, a seemingly endless list of features.
But its presence hasn’t been without challenge. There has been a small, but noisy cohort of people who go out of their way to discredit this sort of vehicle.
The basis of their hubris lies in a perception that such a vehicle presents increased danger in inner city areas. The concern centres around physical size, with many posing in front of various examples to demonstrate the height in comparison to their personal stature.
These videos come complete with insults towards those who may want to own a vehicle like this… unsurprisingly classy.
Theres no debating that a vehicle of this size will do more damage than say, a Toyota Yaris; that’s primary school science at best. The truth is that vehicles don’t drive themselves in the main, certainly not vehicles of this size. Unless you own a Tesla (at the moment anyway), cars don’t create accidents independent of a driver.
The argument is also short sighted and more than a little entitled, because it presupposes that the safety of one cohort is more important than others. Anyone who has towed, will appreciate the idiom “you don’t want the tail wagging the dog”. A large vehicle towing a large load makes for a far safer and comfortable towing experience.
Whilst not utilising it to tow, my mission over two weeks was to demonstrate that in careful and capable hands, a vehicle like this F-150 is completely safe to use anywhere in Australia.
At almost 6 meters longs, roughly 2 meters wide and a whisker under 2 meters tall, you’re never at risk of losing an F-150 in a parking lot. On that, underground parking takes a little forward thinking.
This wasn’t an issue for me at home; as a previous owner of lifted vehicles, clearance challenges are nothing new to me. When it came to a more unfamiliar Melbourne, research was required to ensure we had options at each location we visited.
Nevertheless, the pearlescent Star White Metallic of our example made for a stark but suitable contrast against gloss black finishes found on the monstrous front grille. It’s flanked by equally huge active LED headlights that will follow a corner, and activate high beam selectively as required.
These were valuable features given the 3am departure to Melbourne, providing confidence during a period where animal strike can be an issue.
It’s a chunky but clean design aesthetic, and the whole thing is offset by gloss black 20-inch wheels wrapped in Hankook all-terrain rubber.
An electronically retractable sidestep presents itself on approach, making ingress easy. It’s a worthwhile addition, as there’s 265mm of clearance underneath this chassis.
Once inside its leather, suede and soft touch finishes everywhere. The dark charcoal pallet is broken only by blue stitching across seats, steering wheel, and a smattering of other surfaces.
Importantly, Ford does not manufacture these vehicles in a right-hook format. Instead, every F-150 is shipped into Australia, where they’re converted by RMA Automotive in Victoria. Despite what is a gargantuan task, any signs of a conversion were imperceivable to my eyes. There was also nothing odd about the way it steers or any of the controls at all; a credit to the team undertaking the work.
12-points of adjustability in the seat, along with electronic adjustability in the steering wheel and pedals, means getting comfortable as a driver in this cabin is a cinch. The seat itself is large and comfortable, with enough bolstering for the intended purpose. The front row is also both heated and ventilated, with a range of massage options which will run until you decide to turn them off.
That may sound like a moot point, but any massaging chairs I’ve sampled in the past turn off after a predetermined period, in what I assume is a mechnical sympathy measure. Nevertheless, it was greatly appreciated given the 11-hour run to Melbourne.
A 12-inch infotainment screen is clear and easy to use, offering wireless and wired apple CarPlay and Android Auto via a range of USB ports. A wireless charger sits further down the console, just past a sensible range of button-ware for vitals like air-conditioning.
A touch of a button hides the gear shifter, while one folds out the centre storage bin lid toward the dashboard. The combination provides a large flat space for work, or play, as required.
The rear row is a true 3-adult affair; providing ample shoulder and knee room. It wasn’t to be an issue for us, given the pre-teenage ladies in tow. However, my wife passed comment on the lounge-like dimensions of the space, when she was relegated back there by the same.
The outboard seats enjoy heating and ventilation too, along with a range of charging ports, a separate air-conditioning zone and a large full-roof sunroof. All occupants enjoyed the clarity and volume available from the 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Whilst storage is more than adequate throughout the cabin, it’s the tray that really defines a commercial vehicle.
Access is through an electric drop-down tailgate, but is also available via a separate swinging section of the tailgate. You do need to drop the tailgate to fold up the cover that sits atop the cargo space thought.
I must admit I was initially disappointed at the manual nature of the cover. Upon reflection, I recalled challenges I’d had with electric arrangements on other vehicles, and once I’d used it a few times I found that it wasn’t as onerous as I’d thought.
Ultimately, it made for a watertight and lockable space for a range of items including luggage.
Firing up the Twin-Turbocharged V6 mill for the first time results in a heightened warmup cycle which quickly settles to a quiet and imperceivable idle. Developing 298kw and 678Nm, it’s a refined unit that can fade into the background on the open road.
This is due in part to the 10 available gear ratios, but it will also break traction on launch with heavy throttle applications, where two-wheel-drive is selected.
The default setting is 4A, with low range is also available, along with a rear locking diff and selection of different driving modes. What surprised the most was fuel consumption, landing on an overall average of 11.9L/100km, and as low as 10.9L/100km on the open road.
For a body-on-frame vehicle the ride was also surprising. It exhibits none of the oft-characteristic disconnection of commercial vehicles with similar setups. In fact, the F-150 provided a prudent blend of comfort and control that was completely unexpected.
Around town there is no mistaking the size of the F-150. Much like the height challenge noted earlier, the width and length mean this isn’t the kind of vehicle that you can drive without thinking.
Despite that, the design and attributes of the F-150 provide everything you need to pilot this vehicle safely anywhere. It starts with massive glasshouse and large rear-view mirrors, which are complimented by a comprehensive suite of cameras and sensors.
The top-down camera was particularly useful when navigating into spots far tighter than I thought I’d be able to get into.
But it’s on the open road where the F-150 made the most sense. I reflect on time over in the US a couple of years back, where turning out of any residential street felt like entering a 6-lane freeway.
That memory helped make sense of the ease and comfort with which I undertook the drive to meet the family in Melbourne.
With a “Platinum” (that’s not a typo) ANCAP safety rating, and a complete suite of safety features, it was to get us there and back safely too. For what it’s worth, The F-150 possessed the best calibrated (and least hyperactive) driver monitoring system I’ve experienced in a late model Ford too.
The F-150 is simply a superb way to travel. In our case, the total payload was 4 humans and more bags than should be necessary for that headcount. But given that a trailer will often settle suspension down further, I can see how this would be an excellent option for those who take their home-away-from-home along with them.
Choice is good, especially where it allows a level of utility not available elsewhere, let alone the improved safety in said circumstance. Ford’s F-150 is one such choice to the market. It brings comfort and amenity to a segment of the market the needs its capabilities.
At $169,950 before on roads, it does come at a premium. At this price you’re in Lexus LX or even Defender HSE territory. But neither are close enough in attributes to be a fitting comparison.
Whilst I don’t have a need for one, I’d have one in a heartbeat.
Like – Interior space and comfort, Punchy but frugal drivetrain for the size, Feel like you’re on the set of Yellowstone every time you drive it
Dislike – I wouldn’t choose it in this colour combination, not a fan of the wheel design, a little exxy for what it is
Car Guy Rating – 9
Part of me just wanted to champion the shit out of this car in spite of the arrogance exhibited by naysayers, but lying has never been a strong point of mine. The reality is I didn’t need to bend the truth at all. I loved the F-150 Platinum and would have one in the heartbeat. We love road tripping as a family, and whilst there will be more luxurious options out there; the size and resulting comfort, effortless powertrain and the pure emotional contagion behind the wheel is a very special thing indeed. Would Buy
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