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Our opportunities with a product from the Ford line are somewhat limited so when Bill Snape, general manager of the new Tim Dahle Ford store in Spanish Fork, offered up an F-150, we were anxious to take advantage of the deal with a quick three-day getaway to Logan.

While taking some time when picking up the truck with Kyle Campbell, a product specialist, he showed us how to hook up our phones, use the navigation and control and use other onboard systems with the 8-inch touchscreen. Learning how to use the Apple CarPlay proved to be the most productive lesson, as we used this continually on our trip.

We tend to not make many plans when running away for a few days with a new vehicle; instead, we rely on Siri and what others have done previously to find ways to occupy our time. This always seems to bring about some kind of adventure that we would never have expected.

As was the case this time, we would ask Siri along the way for things to do in the areas we were crossing. On our way, Siri recommended we make a side trip to Porcupine Reservoir southeast of Logan. Getting navigation displayed directly to the screen was a snap and it led us via the back roads to a very beautiful location.

As we neared our destination, the roads went from blacktop to dirt, giving us a chance to engage the four-wheel drive of The F-150 and get a small taste of the truck’s abilities. It handled the hills with ease, and coming out with the hill descent control engaged made it even easier on the steep grades.

Again, not having had any time in an Ecoboost equipped Ford when we started our weekend journey, the truck was telling us we had 573 miles to empty. This seemed an almost unbelievable number. Granted, the Ford we drove was equipped with a 36-gallon tank. However, doing some quick math and going from numbers we have had with other trucks in the 16 to 17 mpg range, it seemed this could definitely be a possibility.

The best way to see if this could indeed happen was to go as far as we could on a single tank of fuel, getting real-world results. We also decided to not do anything different to try and conserve gas along the way. After arriving at our hotel in Logan for the first night, which included the drive up on the freeway and also a couple of side trips, we were very surprised to find we still had 530 miles to empty.

The second day took us all the way to Soda Springs, Idaho, as Siri led us to see a geyser that goes off every hour on the hour. It sounded really cool that Mother Nature could provide such a spectacle, until we read that the geyser had been capped in the past and regulated and released at the top of every hour.

After that, we headed on to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, to see if we could find somewhere to have dinner before we returned to our base in Logan. This quaint, little town was full of tourists that were either running the river on a hot July afternoon or sitting in the many hot springs around town. It also offered some great little eateries for us to choose from.

Even after returning on the second night, the F-150 was still showing close to 250 miles to empty, and we were starting to think it would not be possible to run the gas out before our journey ended. After a jaunt the next day up to Bear Lake and Minnetonka Cave, we were actually able to get down to 80 miles to empty and figured it prudent to fill the tank.

Putting it all on the table, our test ride was equipped with an extended 36 gallon tank. However, after filling it and doing the math by hand, we were still averaging 20.5 mpg — exactly what the new truck indicated. Before our experience with the new Ford, we would have been very skeptical if someone told us the mileage would be that high, as the best we have done in other trucks is right around 18 mpg.

How do they do this with a V6 engine? Well, the engineers have included a twin scroll turbo charger into the mix, something we have seen on some very fast and powerful sedans. They also use a direct fuel injection system that consumes less fuel than its V8 brother. In doing all this they are still able to produce 365 horsepower and 420 ft.-lbs. of torque, numbers that are very similar to all 1500 trucks on the market.

Add to this best towing in the class at 12,200 pounds and a 3,180-pound payload capacity, and it becomes quite a force to be reckoned with. Putting this into perspective, the V8 version of the Ford will only tow 11,100 pounds, and with the V6 being a cheaper option, it is no wonder they sell so well.

Another great feature that was brought to our attention by product specialist Kyle Campbell before the ride was the new 10-speed transmission that has been co-developed with GM. With so many gears to choose from, the truck did an excellent job of keeping us in the right gear all the time. It was so good that sometimes it would skip gears up or down to get the best economy possible. This made for an interesting feeling sometimes when it engaged the gears, but we got used to it, and with this kind of mileage, who wouldn’t?

Inside, the F-150 was all about comfort, technology and usefulness. The 8-inch touchscreen becomes the focal point of the truck. The addition of wood inlays on the trim level made for a very luxurious interior. The control knobs were all oversized to make using them with gloves easy and convenient. By using the voice recognition system, all the controls could be accessed, so keeping the gloves on would not be a problem.

The seats were leather-clad with both heat and ventilation included. The steering wheel was heated also — not that we needed it at the end of July, but come fall and winter it would become a great convenience. The rear seats were also heated for an added touch.

An 8-inch LED screen was also set between the speedometer and tachometer that was user-configurable to give the driver many options as to the content of the display. We toggled between keeping track of our mileage and a digital speedometer.

On the safety side, it came with automated emergency braking and blind spot monitoring, which we found very useful in the large truck. It could even be configured for use with a trailer, which we had to admit would be extremely handy.

We were very impressed with our first long-term outing in the Ford brand, and had a great mini getaway to boot. See the new F-150 at Tim Dahle Ford in Spanish Fork at 2534 N. 200 East, (801) 798-3553.

Base Price: $47,300

Price as Tested: $61,935