Lukewarm take: The facelifted Ford F-150 Tremor is the best-looking full-size truck on the market, helped along by the competition; Ram’s offering is handsome if not slightly disproportionate, and the Silverado with its weird notched headlights is visually off-putting. The GMC Sierra is nice enough, as long as you don’t mind trucks that smile. And the Toyota Tundra’s hilariously large grille looks like something the Road Runner would paint on a wall to trick Wile E. Coyote.
The F-150 Tremor also has something none of those trucks have: symmetry. The headlight housings are proportionately sized to the front of the truck, bracketed neatly in a rectangular grille with a visually exciting mesh pattern. If the Tremor’s looks were ascribed to a Venn diagram, it’d be smack in the center of conservative, macho, and excessive. And the Tremor drives as good as it looks.
Unfortunately, there’s a problem with the Tremor. Actually, there are 81,000 of them.
| Quick Specs | 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor |
| Engine | Twin-Turbocharged 3.5-Liter V-6 |
| Output | 400 Horsepower / 510 Pound-Feet |
| Fuel Economy | 16 City / 21 City / 18 Combined |
| Ground Clearance | 9.4 Inches |
| Base Price / As-Tested | $66,145 / $81,865 |
Before we get to that expensive elephant in the room, let’s take a closer look at this particular F-150 Tremor. It wears a coat of Iconic Silver paint that, frankly, would be boring without the orange hues and black wheels from this trim’s off-road upfit.
Speaking as someone so very tired of gray and silver cars, this might be my preferred spec for the beefy pickup. And it’s certainly beefy, due almost entirely to the 33-inch General Grabbers on 18-inch wheels that contribute to its slightly higher ride height. Ford also gives the Tremor its own front knuckles, control arms, tie-rods, and dampers. At the back, you’ll find upgraded leaf springs.
Add the optional Tremor High Equipment Group and the truck gets a Torsen differential up front. It’s also the only way to get the Raptor’s transfer case with the auto 4x4 setting. And if you like the cool modular front bumper, you’ll need to check this option box. Not only does it look appropriate on the Tremor, but it gives the truck a 27.6-degree approach angle for off-road obstacles. Only the Raptor offers better approach clearance in the F-150 family, and Tremor’s 24.3-degree departure angle actually beats the Raptor.
Pros: Rockstar Looks, Excellent On Or Off-Road, Pro Access Tailgate Is Simple And Effective
I didn’t encounter anything beyond some small hills and seriously rutted trails in my off-road adventures, but at no point did I ever feel the least bit concerned about getting stuck. Even without the Torsen front locker, I struggle to see situations where the Tremor will get seriously hung up. The truck feels confident and deliberate over obstacles, even as its suspension stretches out over uneven terrain. Unless you’re crawling over logs or rocky cliffs, the upgraded mechanicals aren’t a big deal. Unfortunately, getting other Tremor features requires the optional equipment group.
But what about on-road performance? The Tremor’s knobby tires didn’t bring excessive noise to the cabin. Nor was the Tremor’s upgraded suspension harsh on the backside. It does exhibit a bit more firmness versus a standard F-150, but that doesn’t translate to a flinty ride.
Instead, the Tremor feels more poised on pavement, something that grabbed my attention through a pair of 35-mph corners on my weekly trip to the grocery store. Note to self: stow the groceries in the back seat next time.
None of this should be surprising, though. The mechanical bits for the 2024 Tremor are the same as before, right down to the choice of a 5.0-liter V-8 or 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. Both engines make 400 horsepower, but you’ll get an extra 100 pound-feet of torque with the turbo six. My truck had the six, though fuel mileage was more like a V-8. I averaged just 17.2 miles per gallon, and that was largely on rural highways. Earlier this year, I managed 19.2 mpg from a Ram 1500 Limited with the 540-hp twin-turbo inline-six. Ford needs to do better here.
Ford has done better with some of the new features on the 2024 F-150. The Pro Access Tailgate isn’t as convenient as Ram’s Multifunction tailgate, which can open all the way even with a trailer hooked up. But Ford’s setup has detents that keep the center door from hitting a trailer jack, and it opens enough for access to the bed. Moreover, its visual symmetry makes the Ford’s tailgate more aesthetically pleasing when a trailer isn’t connected.
Cons: Drinks Gas Like It’s Happy Hour, Clunky Transmission, Raptor Price Tag
The symmetry is mirrored inside the Tremor by a new standard-issue 12.0-inch digital driver display matching the 12.0-inch center screen. The driver display is configurable depending on the drive mode you’re in, but each setting presents basic information clearly and efficiently and looks fantastic doing it. Switching to off-road mode swaps the tachometer for a large compass while adding pitch and roll gauges. In the middle you get a view of the Tremor’s drivetrain with information on the steering angle and differential locks. Very cool.
The airplane nerd in me wants the inclinometer readouts available for all drive modes, and fortunately, you can configure the display to show them. You can also plug them into the new-for-2024 heads-up display. When I found myself in a herd of deer on a particularly late night in rural Michigan, I was particularly grateful for the HUD—not to mention the F-150’s generous suite of driver assist systems. I’m happy to say no deer were harmed during this review.
My tenure with the Tremor wasn’t entirely trouble-free, though. The headlights fogged up like an early November storm after a visit to the car wash. Apparently this is normal due to the housings being vented. The fog dissipated within a half-hour, but it’s annoying to see the headlights on your expensive new truck filled with moisture.
On more than a few occasions, the 10-speed transmission thumped hard on upshifts. To be fair, this is a media vehicle that’s likely seen some hefty off-road trials. But I’m also aware that Ford is among the most-recalled brands in America.
Those issues didn’t prevent me from loving the Tremor. It’s a superb all-around pickup, but alas, it’s time to talk about those 81,000 problems. With everything added in, this well-equipped Tremor costs $81,865. For the record, that’s $1,330 more than a zero-option Raptor, which still gets you a luxurious leather interior with features galore and 50 more horsepower. But it gets worse. The same $81,000 gets you a nicely optioned Ram 1500 RHO with more off-road prowess, smooth on-road manners, and 540 hp under the hood.
You could buy a Tremor at its $66,145 starting price, but Ford bundles the most desirable features into the $11,710 Tremor High Equipment Group. Aside from the front diff and automatic 4x4 engagement, it’s the only way to get the heads-up display and the modular front bumper—two must-haves. Luxury items like heated/cooled memory seats and the 14-speaker B&O stereo are in there, as is the 360-degree camera. Other packages like the Bed Utility, Mobile Office, and Tow/Haul groups—which are available as standalone options—are bundled in there too. Frankly, it’s a ridiculous amount of forced features just to get a couple you really want, and it sours the whole Tremor experience for me.
As cool as the Tremor is, it’s a tough sell even at its $66,145 starting price. The Ram 1500 RHO starts just over $70,000, and I’d only choose the Ford if I could get it with the HUD, the front bumper, the 360-degree camera, and the Pro Access Tailgate. Even then, I’m not so sure the F-150’s symmetrical styling would win me over. Now that the RHO is on sale, I suspect many buyers will come to the same conclusion.
Until Ford reels in the pricing, the Tremor will largely sit on dealership lots as a halo vehicle instead of having fun as the affordable Raptor alternative it was designed to be.
Gallery: 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor Review
Competitors:
2024 Ford F-150 Tremor
