Cars
FORD F-150 ECOBOOST 4X4
By choosing this particular model-within-a-model to be a Good 12 member, it may seem as though the desire for specificity has gone haywire. But hold on a second. Naming only EcoBoost four-wheel drive F-150s to The Good 12 doesn't restrict this recommendation to just one truck.
The Ford F-150 is available in three different cab styles and a multitude of trim levels. Not every bodystyle and trim level can be paired with the 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, but there are enough options to keep truly picky pickup lovers happy.
There's no hiding the fact that the North American new vehicle market remains truck-hungry. Fortunately, the EcoBoost F-150 is slightly less hungry for fuel than Ford's less powerful pickup engines. Fuel savings alone won't cut it in The Good 12, however. There must be other noticeable attributes.
For that, we look to the V6's acceleration figures. The EcoBoost is a rocketship in utilitarian clothing. Well, not that utilitarian - the F-150 is a handsome truck, perhaps even more attractive inside than out.
Trucks aren't as easy as they once were. Gaining access to the bed has grown more difficult with the high sides. Overall width is becoming painful to manage on city streets. And "improved" fuel efficiency does not translate to "great" fuel efficiency. The F-150 EcoBoost, particularly in winter-friendly 4x4 guise, nevertheless manages to make truck ownership less painful in the areas where truck ownership stings and more pleasant in the areas where truck ownership delights. Besides, who doesn't like saying their truck has twin turbochargers?
Engines: 365 horsepower; 420 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $29,830 / $37,399
City Fuel Economy: 15 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: The EcoBoost V6 is applied to perfection in the F-150, but is a 5.0L V8 so bad? For those who require rumble with their absurd levels of horsepower, the 5.0L V8 is down by only five horsepower, one city mpg, and two mpg on the highway. The torque loss is more significant - Ford's twin-turbo V6 generates 40 lb-ft more twist. The 5.0L V8's other advantage is price. In Canada, it can be up to $1200 less than the rather pricey EcoBoost V6.
Sales Stats: The Ford F-150, as the big player in the Ford F-Series range, is America's best-selling truck and the best-selling vehicle overall, month after month. In Canada, the F-Series accounts for more than 5% of the total new vehicle market. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the whole F-Series range can be viewed here.
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Cars
2012's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4
FORD F-150 ECOBOOST 4X4
There's no hiding the fact that the North American new vehicle market remains truck-hungry. Fortunately, the EcoBoost F-150 is slightly less hungry for fuel than Ford's less powerful pickup engines. Fuel savings alone won't cut it in The Good 12, however. There must be other noticeable attributes.
For that, we look to the V6's acceleration figures. The EcoBoost is a rocketship in utilitarian clothing. Well, not that utilitarian - the F-150 is a handsome truck, perhaps even more attractive inside than out.
Trucks aren't as easy as they once were. Gaining access to the bed has grown more difficult with the high sides. Overall width is becoming painful to manage on city streets. And "improved" fuel efficiency does not translate to "great" fuel efficiency. The F-150 EcoBoost, particularly in winter-friendly 4x4 guise, nevertheless manages to make truck ownership less painful in the areas where truck ownership stings and more pleasant in the areas where truck ownership delights. Besides, who doesn't like saying their truck has twin turbochargers?
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Engines: 365 horsepower; 420 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $29,830 / $37,399
City Fuel Economy: 15 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: The EcoBoost V6 is applied to perfection in the F-150, but is a 5.0L V8 so bad? For those who require rumble with their absurd levels of horsepower, the 5.0L V8 is down by only five horsepower, one city mpg, and two mpg on the highway. The torque loss is more significant - Ford's twin-turbo V6 generates 40 lb-ft more twist. The 5.0L V8's other advantage is price. In Canada, it can be up to $1200 less than the rather pricey EcoBoost V6.
Sales Stats: The Ford F-150, as the big player in the Ford F-Series range, is America's best-selling truck and the best-selling vehicle overall, month after month. In Canada, the F-Series accounts for more than 5% of the total new vehicle market. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the whole F-Series range can be viewed here.
The Good 12
BMW 3-Series - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon - Chevrolet Suburban
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder - Volkswagen GTI
The Bad 8
The Bad 8
Acura RL - Chrysler 200 Convertible - Ford Explorer EcoBoost
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
The Good 12 Rules
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RAM 1500 There are probably about 1951 different Ram permutations that end up with a price somewhere between $30,000 and $35,000. One important new version is the V6-powered 2013 Ram 1500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab. Relatively efficient, suitable for work and family...
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Lincoln Mks
LINCOLN MKS There are faces only a mother could love, and then there are faces even a mother couldn't love. The Lincoln MKS's face fits into the latter category. Oddly, Lincoln has chosen to make their big sedan's nose even more offensive...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE There's no doubt the Range Rover Evoque has already won more prestigious awards. Top Gear named it the magazine's car of the year, for example. The Evoque is not a very powerful vehicle. It's not especially...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Bmw 3-series Sedan
BMW 3-SERIES Few cars own so sterling a reputation or so indelible a connection with moderately priced elitism. BMW's new 3-Series sedan, the sixth-generation F30, is a little longer, wider, taller, and more spacious than the outgoing E90 3-Series....