It may be lighter and feature an aluminum body, but Ford's new pickup passed a major test of its ability to protect passengers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the SuperCrew edition of the F-Series a five-star safety rating – the highest safety designation that it awards. NHTSA conducted crash tests of the SuperCrew edition of the F-Series in February.
Following a series of collisions NHTSA awarded the F-Series a five-star rating overall and for front, side-impact and pole crashes. The pick-up was given a four-star rating for rollover crash worthiness. The previous F-Series, which is heavier and features body panels made of high-strength steel has a four-star safety rating, according NHTSA.
Ford hopes these crash tests will further silence critics of the lighter F-series which is built with high-strength aluminum panels. For months, skeptics questioned if the lighter truck would be able to measure up to previous editions. This year, F-Series sales, which include a mix of the new aluminum versions and the old steel panel editions, are up 2.3 percent.
