Tray Chic
Late to the new-model party, Ford has arrived with an impressive ute that leaves the rest for dead, says Isaac Bober.
While Ford likes to beat its chest about its performance models, the world knows it’ll only sell a handful of them. For the blokes who matter most, the one-tonners – the workhorses, not show ponies – are the ones to froth over.
And in the new FG Falcon Ute line-up there’s plenty to get excited about. This is easily the company’s best-looking, most comfortable and practical ute since the 1930s.
Like the Falcon sedan, it cops all-new front suspension and an improved steering rack, so it turns in and offers more steering feel than ever. And the new six-speed manual is a gem, as is the five-speed auto. These gearboxes mate beautifully to the range of engines which include the 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder, the 4.0 turbocharged six (270kW and 533Nm) and the 5.4L V8 (290kW and 520Nm). If it was my money we were throwing around, I’d be going for the basic 4.0-litre mill which feels much stronger than its raw numbers suggest.
Around the back, the Ute runs the same medieval cart-sprung set-up it has from the start. Sure, Ford’s boffins have tweaked it to ride and handle better, but you still need to be careful because unless your name starts with Craig and ends with Lowndes, you’ll never catch the bugger if it breaks. Stability control is coming shortly and I’d definitely be ticking that box.
Inside, the driver is confronted with a chunky steering wheel that suits the nature of the beast, and while the seats are clearly designed for bigger-boned blokes, they’re pretty good. Indeed, the whole interior is miles ahead of its competitors with a fit and finish that a lot of Japanese car makers would be proud of.
There’s no doubting the new Falcon Ute is the best it’s ever been, but what sets it apart from its competitors (and the thing that’ll have tradies going weak at the knees) is the new flush-fitting tonneau cover.
The Swiss Army knife of tonneau covers, this thing is utter genius. Go and visit a Ford dealer just to play with it.
So the base Utes (Falcon Ute, R6 and XR6 models) might not be as glamorous as their sports-oriented siblings (XR6 T and XR8) but they raise the bar in what one should expect from a workaday Ute. And that’s definitely something to make your dog smile about.
