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When considering a Ford F-150, you probably think about performance, payload, and towing. Children’s safety is probably not the most important thing when test driving a pickup truck. But it is an important consideration. And one Ford F-150 trim stands out in Consumer Reports’ rear-seat safety tests.
How Consumer Reports testers rate rear seat safety
In 2021, Consumer Reports developed a comprehensive methodology to determine which vehicles perform best when it comes to rear seat safety. Since then, CR testers have rated cars, SUVs and trucks to create a rear seat safety score. This score includes not only infants and toddlers in car seats, but also teenagers and adults in the back seat.
To get this score, Consumer Reports rated vehicles in six categories:
- improved rear safety seats
- booster seat is suitable
- suitable for the car seat
- rear passenger warning
- rear seat reminders
- rear head restraints
They help CR testers assess whether the vehicles they are evaluating are optimally designed to save lives in a crash.
Consumer Reports applied this scoring methodology to 54 2022 models and four 2023 models. And of the five Ford models that CR rated, one F-150 — the XLT — is in the top ten.
Ford 150 XLT placement in list
None of the 58 models tested achieved a perfect score. In fact, only eight got the next score. Four 2022 Ford models received this rating, including the Mustang Mach-E, Bronco four-door, Bronco Sport and F-150 XLT.
And while the F-150 XLT’s accompanying numerical score placed it eighth overall, given that 50 other vehicles fared much worse, the XLT’s placement is significant. According to reviewers, the XLT performed exceptionally well in the categories of child seat fit, booster use, seat belt reminder and head restraints.
Subsequent F-150 models could use some improvements in terms of rear seat alert and advanced safety systems. However, potential XLT buyers and owners should be happy that their backseat occupants are better protected than in low-scoring vehicles, as long as the occupants wear the seat correctly.
In addition, Consumer Reports explains that just because a model scores poorly in these tests doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. “The message from our new rear seat safety test isn’t that lower-scoring vehicles aren’t safe, but that they don’t offer the same amount of protection as vehicles that earn higher scores,” says Emily A. Thomas of Auto Industry. CR Safety Engineer.
Learn more about the Ford F-150 XLT
Besides great rear seat protection, there’s a lot more to like about the 2022 Ford F-150 XLT. The 2022 F-150 XLT, a Car & Driver Editor’s Choice, starts at $40,960. The base 3.3-liter Ti VCT V6 engine producing 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque is mated to an electronic 10-speed automatic transmission. If that’s not enough, buyers can choose from four other powertrain options, including a hybrid.
Additionally, the XLT offers a choice of bed lengths: 5.5, 6.5, and 8.0 feet. This trim can tow 8,200 pounds and tow 1,985 pounds. If that’s not enough, the XLT equipped with the Max Trailing package and 3.5L EcoBoost V6 can tow 14,000 pounds and tow 3,250 pounds. Those are competitive numbers in a segment with plenty of other powerful full-size pickups like the Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500.
In addition, the 2022 Ford F-150 XLT is available in several configurations, including Regular Cab, Super Cab, and SuperCrew. Choosing one of the latter two ensures a safe rear seat, noted by Consumer Reports. Additionally, the XLT has automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alerts and a rearview camera. Buyers can pay for additional advanced safety features in the optional Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 package.
If you’re a budget-conscious shopper, you might consider the base model Ford F-150, which is about $6,000 less than the XLT. But given that the XLT offers better rear seat protection, especially for kids, you might want to think twice.
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