Why the Ford F-150 Continues to Be America’s Best-Selling Truck

If we told you that the best-selling passenger vehicle in America in 2023 is the Ford F-150, we bet you wouldn’t be shocked. That’s because the F-Series has been the best-selling truck in the USA for 46 straight years, with the Ford pickup truck being the best-selling vehicle for the last 41 years. You may wonder how Ford has managed to keep this excellence in quality for almost half a century. Well, there are two reasons. First, Americans love their trucks. From workers who need the utility of a pickup to family drivers who love a truck’s versatility, there is a huge market in America for pickup trucks.

No other passenger vehicle gives you the ruggedness, capability, and capacity of a truck. This is also why so many top automakers build at least one pickup truck model; these can be midsize, full-size, or heavy-duty. But no other automaker can match the Ford F-150 for its versatility. This is one full-size pickup that allows you to find or build one with all the specifications to suit your needs. That’s why if you’re looking for a used Ford F-150 for sale, you are sure to be presented with a vast array of options. At Ruge’s Ford, we carry a vast inventory of pre-owned Ford trucks, including the iconic F-150. Come in today and let us help you get behind the wheel of your next Ford F-150. For now, let's take a closer look at what makes this truck so special.

A Legacy of Versatility

Ford has been building trucks for over a century, introducing the F-Series in the years right after World War II. The F-Series came from Ford's expertise in building trucks for the American military effort, applying the lessons the company learned to a pickup truck designed for civilian purposes. While those first F-Series were practical in design, purpose-built for workers and farmers, non-commercial drivers soon fell in love with the Ford F-Series trucks. It is one of the longest automobile love affairs in history, continuing to this day.

In 1975, Ford took a big step with the F-Series, introducing the F-150. Bigger than the F-100 and easier to handle than the F-250, the F-150 proved to be an instant hit with drivers who wanted a more versatile truck. This was the sixth generation of the Ford F-Series trucks, and today Ford is proud to have fourteen generations of these exceptional pickups. The fourteenth generation F-150 was introduced in 2021, but if you are looking for great value in a used Ford truck, you can also look at the twelfth generation from 2009 to 2014 and the thirteenth generation F-150 from 2015 to 2020. No matter which you choose, you will get a rugged truck built Ford tough to last and to do the best jobs for you.

An Array of Cab Designs

Ford is one of the only truck brands that gives you three different choices of cab styles. No matter which generation of the F-150 you buy, you can choose one with a cab that works best for you. This is not a one-size-fits-all vehicle. Instead, you can figure out the cab style you need since this will affect other things about your truck. If you are looking to use your F-150 for strictly commercial purposes, you probably want to be able to maximize towing and hauling. This can be done by reducing gross vehicle weight by choosing a Regular Cab. This model of the F-150 has two full-size doors and one row of seats, usually a bench built to accommodate up to three passengers.

At the other end of the spectrum, if you plan to use your truck for the most part as a family vehicle, you will need to get the most passenger space available. This is why you should consider an F-150 with a SuperCrew Cab. This truck has four full-size doors and two rows of seats. Depending on the type of front-row seats, you can fit five passengers if you have bucket seats and six if you have a front-row bench. The F-150 with the SuperCrew Cab will give you an amazing amount of legroom in the second row, which will be sure to keep those passengers happy.

The final cab style is the Super Cab, with two full-size and two half-size doors. This is a bit of a compromise, as it gives you the second row like the SuperCrew Cab, but with less legroom. At the same time, it is slightly heavier than the Regular Cab, so you should get better towing and hauling than on a SuperCrew Cab F-150 model. The Super Cab is perfect if you plan to use your truck for a balance between commercial and passenger purposes.

Rear-Wheel Drive or Four-Wheel Drive, the Choice Is Yours Some folks need a truck with rear-wheel drive, while others prefer one with four-wheel drive. The key difference is that you will get better fuel economy and more towing and hauling capability in a rear-wheel drive truck, while four-wheel drive delivers better traction. Unless you choose an off-road dedicated trim on your F-150, Ford gives you a choice of drivetrain on your truck. This is just one more option to help put you in the driver’s seat of your F-150. Depending on what you're looking for, you'll be sure to find a plethora of both options on the used market. The F-150 has multiple engine options for you

No matter which year you are looking at, you can be sure that Ford gives you a number of great choices when choosing an engine for your F-150. For example, if you are looking at the 2015 F-150 from the thirteenth generation, you can choose four different engines. The base 3.5-liter V6 gas engine is efficient, while you can also get more power and acceleration from a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6, a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and a 5.0-liter V8 on your F-150. By the 2020 model, Ford was offering six different engines on the F-150, each paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

When you are looking to buy a used Ford F-150, it is good to know that you have these engine options. If you do your homework, you can see which engine will suit you best. Some are more fuel-efficient, which is great if you want to save a few dollars. Others will help you maximize your towing and hauling capacity. For those who love speed, you can always find a Ford F-150 with a high-performance engine. The best thing is the choice is all yours.

A Variety of Strengths and Capabilities

One major reason for the popularity of the F-150 is Ford’s ability to deliver capabilities on its trucks. If you look at the recent history of the F-150, you will see a full-size pickup truck that is often at or near the top of its class when it comes to towing and hauling. For example, the 2020 F-150, with the available 5.0-liter V8, can tow up to a best-in-class 13,200 lbs among all full-size trucks built that year. Similarly, the 2021 F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost Turbo V6 can haul up to 3,250 lbs in the truck’s payload bed.

In addition, Ford always gives you a choice of three different-sized payload beds on the F-150. Some folks prefer a short bed, especially those planning to use their F-150 for off-roading. Others want a long bed because they are going to use their F-150 for work. Meanwhile, the standard bed on the F-150 always has plenty of room for everything you need to haul. This is another example of how diversity plays a crucial role in how the F-150 has been one of the most celebrated trucks on the market for decades.

Many Trim Levels to Explore

Like the cab styles, engine options, and payload bed sizes, Ford gives you many choices on the trim level for your F-150 truck. Some are designed for drivers who want to use their trucks for commercial purposes, while others are dedicated to off-roading, like the Tremor and Raptor. Meanwhile, family drivers can look for the Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited models with their expanded comfort and convenience features. The folks at Ford understand that each driver wants to make their F-150 their own, so choices are key.

Come See What Makes This Truck So Iconic

The Ford F-150 continues to be the most popular passenger vehicle in America because it is a rare truck that can be something different for each driver. This is what is meant by versatility. With all the options and choices, Ford allows drivers to find an F-150 that is right for them. Come into Ruge's Ford today and experience this versatility for yourself by exploring our vast selection of pre-owned Ford F-150 trucks. Just get behind the wheel of one of these models, and you'll be sure to understand why the F-150 is America's best-selling truck.