Ford has all bases covered inside the F-150, with plenty of patterns, textures and finishes, including at least three different gauges clusters, and the choice of a 40/20/40 split-bench front seat or captain's chairs in many models. On those trucks with a bench seat, the central dash area is not designed for better middle-passenger legroom.

Mindful that you can't have everything for $18,000, the basic XL is quite respectable and a good value given a single option tab on a bigger pickup can be nearly half the XL's purchase price. Generous fleet owners will pop for AC for their employees but in typical field work plain is preferred.

At the other end of the spectrum the King Ranch chairs may look like a fine saddle (and require the same maintenance in some climes) but you want to ensure the jeans are clean and spurs off before you climb into this cowboy clubhouse. Virtually everything you might need is either standard or available, and much the same degree of luxury in a more subdued style can be found in Lariats, which follow a more eclectic approach to decor and make one wonder if eight colors and surface textures might be one or two too many.

The front bench is still split three ways: The center section flips down to reveal a console with storage and cup holders. The console is flat, so you can put a clipboard on top of it and it won't slide off until you stop, start or change direction quickly. Captain's chairs on FX and Lariat models, especially with power adjustment and the optional adjustable pedals, provide good driver positioning for virtually everyone. Finding it may take some time because the backrest angle adjustment is manual and the power controls are on the side of the seat with the door very close. The seat bottoms lacked thigh support on the Harley-Davidson model we drove, which could become tiring on long drives.

Controls are simple, lacking arcane icons or any hint of a universal controller, so everyone from 8 to 80 can find their favorite music or change the temperature instantly. Displays are easily read in polarized shades or at night; full instrumentation is typical but the secondary gauges (oil pressure, volts, etc.) are not numbered and rather lethargic. Ford's black temperature controls are not the most attractive (and they look better in silver as found in the Lincoln Navigator). Most gadgets will remain powered until you open a door, even if the key has been removed. Bench seat models use a column-mounted shift lever, while some bucket seat models use a substantial floor shift lever; both work well although we'd often prefer overdrive as a shifter position and not a thumb-button press.

The navigation system works really well. It's easy to program destinations and features like context-sensitive volume make learning how to use it relatively intuitive. We'd say it's better than most. The screen is a bit small, however.

Pickups without space are pointless and the F-150 won't disappoint. The Regular Cab is roomy enough to fit three adults across and has plenty of space for the miscellaneous debris and detritus that tends to accumulate in trucks. SuperCabs have a full-width back seat best-suited to kids and short rides for bigger adults since legroom is the squeeze point; it's similar in size and intent to the Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra extended cab or the Titan King Cab. For larger families or routine four-passenger service, the SuperCrew's extra six inches of rear legroom and regular back doors will be welcome in a space slightly larger than a Ram Quad Cab or Tundra Double Cab.