You might be surprised to learn that the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. isn’t a car, but a truck. Now, avoiding any comment about the nature of the American buying public, there are several reasons that the Ford F series holds that title. First, pulling capacity has always been tied to reliability and the huge array of styles and options available makes the F series a truck for all people and for all seasons. The cornerstone of this whole line is the F-150.

However, good sales figures don’t indicate perfection – there are some small issues that Ford has addressed in the new 2009 model year. But that’s another reason that Ford isn’t in the same dire straits as other auto manufacturers. They listen and they act.

For starters, they’ve extended the SuperCrew cab an additional six inches. This allows for a roomier feel when hauling people and more room to haul those things you don’t want to get wet. And if you’re the type to drag race your truck against other trucks, you’ll be pleased to know that the performance of the engine has been stepped up and paired with a six speed automatic transmission. This winning combination gives you better low speed acceleration and more efficient cruising. Any feeling of lethargy is gone. Of course, there are still other trucks out there, most notably the Toyota Tundra, that can beat the Ford off the line, but if that’s your primary concern, is a truck really what you’re after?

It should also be noted that there’s a new Platinum trim level that adds to the near inexhaustible number of options that you can get on the F-150. And that may be another secret behind the success of the line. You want a luxury ride with all the functionality of a truck? The F-150 fits the bill. Want a basic, reliable fleet type truck and need ten of them right now? The F-150 can handle that as well.

But these changes aren’t just bells and whistles – they’re actually useful options, including a cap-less fuel filler, a series of steps that deploy to improve bed access, Ford’s multimedia voice activated command system, Sync (which provides weather, current gas prices, sports scores and even movie times from a Sirius Travel Link) and a fully integrated trailer-brake controller. Additionally, there are other features that make hauling much easier, including a cargo management system with a rearview camera.

Since, at its heart, this is a truck’s truck, you can pick two wheel drive or four wheel drive on any trim package. This option really underscores the fact that this is a truck that isn’t shy about working. You can tow up to 11,300 pounds if you choose the 5.4 liter V8 for your F-150, which will also give you a load capacity of 3,000 pounds.

However, don’t forget that this is a truck – you can’t expect to get superior gas mileage in addition to all these features. Still, though, the SuperCrew 2WD gets 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway if you choose the superior fuel economy or SFE package. On the other end of the spectrum, the SuperCrew with 4WD and a V8, 5.4-liter engine has mileage estimates of 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway – not ideal, but certainly not the worst on the market.