I don’t have a ton to say about the 2024 Ford F-150 STX, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing — and it certainly doesn’t mean I didn’t like it.
Quite the opposite, in fact. The F-150 has been a perennial best seller across the industry, and Ford has been extremely cautious about the updates they’ve applied to this facelifted 2024 model. But this STX is unique in that it goes against the grain than what we usually see on press trucks: this tester represents the honest work truck that I’ve not-so-subtly lamented the loss of in previous reviews.
Rather than having massaging leather seats, a fancy pants air suspension setup, blingy wheels, a powered liftgate, an eight-million-watt sound system, and a hybrid drive system to power everything, this STX is just one step up from the super basic XL model, but with all of the hardware you would expect in a truck that’s actually built to work and play. It’s so basic that it still has a conventional key that you have to put into the dashboard and turn to start — which I actually quite like, because I’m a bit of a curmudgeon. It has manual cloth seats, a column shifter rather than a console mounted one, and that’s … kind of it. But despite being as basic as it is, Ford has imbued this truck with enough little thoughtful touches to stop it from feeling too barebones for its own good.
Copper-coloured accents on the dash, doors, and centre console brighten things up just a little bit. The seats are trimmed with houndstooth inserts that also have a subtle copper accent woven into them. Even the hard plastics on the upper dash and door panels are moulded with a textile pattern to look just a little bit less unfancy. It may not be a particularly luxurious space, but everything feels like quality.
Perhaps more than that, though, is that this base-ish F150 is very well thought-out and super practical. There’s a ton of storage space in the centre console, and the absence of the console-mounted shifter opens up another storage bin. It also means the optional fold-out work surface is even easier to use, as you don’t need to wait for the shifter to electronically tuck itself away. There’s plenty of charge ports in the front and back seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and with the back seats folded up, there is as much or more secure cargo space in the F-150 as there is in the back of a lot of SUVs.
Another nice touch for 2024 is the inclusion of a standard 12-inch touchscreen, even on the most work-spec models, which does a meaningful job to help the space feel a little nicer and more modern. It runs an updated version of Ford’s Sync infotainment that will be instantly familiar to any existing F-150 owners, and now runs and looks just a little better. This truck also has built-in navigation and satellite radio — for those of you who, like me, don’t love using your phone for everything. Thankfully the new tech isn’t too fancy, as the F-150 still makes use of physical controls for climate control, as well as good ol’ fashioned volume and tuning knobs.
Things get a little less basic under the skin, as this truck is fitted with the larger 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine, with 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. This tester also benefits from the FX4 off-road package, which adds stiffer front shocks, monotube rear shocks, skid plates, an electronic locking 3.55 rear end, and all-terrain tires wrapped around chunky six spoke wheels. It all adds up to a truck that is surprisingly fun to drive. This work-spec F-150 can scoot from zero to 100km/h in just over five seconds, and it handles itself on- or off-road remarkably well, with driver controls that feel right.
This F-150 looks pretty fun, too. The blacked-out wheels and unpainted bumper go well with the updated front fascia — also finished in black on this STX — which now features standard LED lighting. Finished in what Ford calls Avalanche Grey, this F-150 looks considerably sportier than the loaded Limited trucks we’re used to seeing, especially with the new, slightly more aggressive nose. It’s not all about play: this particular F-150 configuration can tow up 13,000 pounds and has a 2,400-pound payload capacity, making it one of the most capable half-tons on the market.
For all this power and capability, this F-150 STX will set you back $72,160 as-tested. Yes, that seems like a lot for a truck that still requires you to put a key into the ignition, but it’s also a far cry from the six-figure sticker shock — along with the luxury tax — that comes with the top-tier trucks we usually review. The F-150 STX can do everything they can and then some, without worry of scuffing dubs or staining the white leather seats.
The 2024 Ford F-150 STX might not be for everyone, but I know there are a lot of people out there who will appreciate an honest-to-goodness pickup like this. It’s actually willing and able to go out and get it done, regardless of what it is.
