Ford has announced two new additions to its ever-popular F-150 pickup truck line for the 2014 model year: the STX SuperCrew (four-door) and the STX Sport Package. Given that sales of full-size pickup trucks are up 23% through July of this year, thereby outpacing the 8% growth of the auto industry at large to become the fastest-growing segment, the timing of the announcement is very fitting.
STX Trim Level
The STX trim level is positioned between the XL and XLT models and, in short, offers upgraded exterior and interior features, including:
- Body-color front bumper fascia, grille surrounds, and front and rear step bumpers
- Power Equipment Group, which includes power door locks, integrated keyhead transmitter remotes, power one-touch up/down windows and sideview mirrors, Illuminated Entry System and perimeter alarm
- 17-inch machined aluminum wheels
- Audio input jack
- Cruise control
- Customer information display
- MyKey, a programmable feature that allows fleet owners and parents to limit top speed and audio volume, and set speed-alert chimes to encourage safer driving
- Outside temperature display
- Front-row 40/20/40 premium cloth bench seat
- Driver manual lumbar adjust
- Air conditioning
- AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
- Tilt steering wheel
- AM/FM stereo with single CD player
As standard equipment, the F-150 STX cradles Ford’s 3.7 liter V6 engine making 302 horsepower, 278 lb.-ft. of torque while delivering an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Ford’s highly-praised 5.0 liter V8 ‘Coyote’ engine, which is rated at 360 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque, is also available, enabling STX SuperCrew to tow up to 9,500 pounds (when properly equipped). Adding to those two powerplants is the fact that the Ford F-150 also offers the only available compressed natural gas prep package in the half-ton segment.
Ford says that the F-150 STX SuperCrew “meets the needs of first-time and returning value-conscious pickup truck customers, especially those who need to transport a crew to a job site or take the family on a trip”, allowing the automaker to take full advantage of the impressive truck sale growth so far this year.
So, how much will the STX goodness cost? The F-150 STX model range starts under $30,000, with the MSRP for the STX SuperCrew starting at $33,145 (4×2 with the 3.7-liter V6) and $37,570 (4×4 with 5.0-liter V8).
STX Sport Package
Those looking for extra style and personalization will be interested in the STX Sport Package. The appearance package is available in all cab configurations and adds:
- 20-inch machined aluminum painted wheels with P275/55R20 tires
- Black billet grille with body-color surround
- Black tubular running boards
- Black and Gray Piston cloth front seats (40/console/40 on SuperCab and SuperCrew, 40/20/40 on Regular Cab)
- Color-coordinated carpet
- Unique box decals
The Motrolix Take
There’s a reason that the Ford F-Series is America’s best-selling vehicle for 31 consecutive years and America’s best-selling truck for 36 consecutive years. One of the undisputed advantages that Ford enjoys in the full-size pickup truck segment is the extensive breadth of trim levels, which currently totals a whopping ten, thereby ensuring that the F-150 line offers something that appeals to pretty much everyone in the market for such a vehicle. Expanding the STX trim level with the SuperCrew cab and Sport Package builds on that already-successful and proven strategy.
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