Ford F 150
source: ShutterStock
The most popular pickup truck in the world, the Ford F-150, easily takes its rightful place on the throne of the 20 best off-road vehicles. It’s only fitting we start this list off with the legendary F-series – it is, after all, a vehicle only outsold by the pedestrian Toyota Corolla. Perhaps the F-150’s greatest penchant among buyers is its nearly unparalleled off-road prowess and the reliability and toughness that complements it.
The F-150 has seen action across the globe in rally sports, hot-as-Hell sand dunes, colder-‘n-Hell drilling operations, and even as a park patrol and emergency response vehicle. Part of the F-150’s success stems from the vehicle being built upon an already wildly successful foundation: The F-series of Ford trucks. Introduced in 1948, the F-Series came standard with relatively high-torque and -horsepower motors and available all-wheel-drive from the same company that made tanks and Jeeps tackle rough terrain in WWII.
source: ShutterStock
In 1975, Ford took that formula and applied it to the F-150, the first generation of what would become the most popular pickup ever. The F-150 received plenty of continuous upgrades designed for muddy trails and dirt roads, including a 5.8L Windsor diesel motor in 1984, electronic fuel injection for better low-end performance in 1985, and a new, 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive in 1987.
But raw power is only half the equation when it comes to off-road performance, so Ford optioned the tenth-generation F-150 with fully independent front suspension and a new chassis that was lighter and stronger. Continuous improvement is the name of that game, and the truck market is getting lighter in weight.
The latest F-150 boasts an all-aluminum body which saves 700 pounds off the total payload. Some nay-sayers (mostly competitors) said that an aluminum truck couldn’t be done, but Ford flew in the face of doubt and crafted an amazing innovation. Couple this relative featherweight of a legend with the newly announced 3.0L turbocharged V6 diesel that’ll give the F-150 440 lb.-ft. of torque, and it’s easy to see why the F-150 will continue to be one of the world’s best-selling pickups for many years and generations to come.
But owning one of the best off-road vehicles doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice some creature comforts or even elements of luxury. The F-150’s top trim, the King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited all boast beautifully double-stitched leather interiors, fine wood grains, and all the tech and connectivity any Millennial could ever ask for.
