After a week of exhaustive evaluation that included full performance testing, laden and the non-laden, torcher testing on approving ground durability roads, and driving on real world roads like two lane black tops, and freeways. The judges have voted the Ford F150 Motor Trend's 2009 truck of the year. Completely redesigned for 2009, the Ford F150 impress the judges against all three criteria superiority, significance, and value.

In terms of superiority the judges were impressed with the F150's redesigned exterior its whole new interior, and its tough new frame. In terms of significance the 2009 F150 is a through rework of highly successful package, returning the attributes that's made this truck America's best selling vehicle for decades. And finally in terms of value the 2009 F150 has a truck for every budget, ranging from the bargain-priced work truck with a standard V8 engine all the way up to the luxurious King Ranch and platinum editions with a Limousine like interiors.

Four new trucks were eligible for this year's award. That included the Suzuki Equator, the Hummer H3T, and the all new Dodge Ram. The inclusion of the Ram in this year's competition would be one of the closest on record. In order to better evaluate the capability of each truck we tested two versions. In the case of the 2009 F150 they included the value priced $27,000 two wheel drive Supercab STX, and the $38,000 Supercrew Lariat. The truck that Ford expects will be one of the volume sellers of the new F150 range. The STX was powered by the 248 hp, 4.6 liter V8 and drove through a four-speed automatic transmission. The Lariat was powered by the 5.4 liter 310 hp V8, and had a six speed automatic transmission.

The Pickup truck market has been hit hard first by $4 a gallon gas and then by the meltdown on Wall Street and then consequent collapse in consumer confidence. But the Pickup truck is not going to go away. It will remain an integral tart of the American automotive landscape. It is still the backbone of America used by small business construction workers, farmers and customers who have an active lifestyle. The 2009 Ford F150 built on a highly successful formula, this made its predecessors the best selling vehicle in America. It's more refined then its design better finished inside and out and has more capability, or all those reasons its Motor Trends 2009 Truck of the year.