Ford Motor Co.'s new aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup earned the highest possible score in its first government crash test safety rating, beating the score of last year's all-steel truck.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2015 truck's SuperCrew cab — its most-used type — five stars in its New Car Assessment Program, thanks to features including a stronger frame, inflatable rear safety belts, lane control technology and advanced air bags.
The 2014 F-150 earned a four-star crash test safety rating. The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups both earned five-star ratings, while the Ram 1500 earned a four-star rating.
"The F-150's top crash rating validates the design and engineering effort Ford invested to ensure it wouldn't sacrifice safety when switching to a lighter aluminum body," Karl Brauer, senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book, said in a statement.
"Any sign of weakness with regard to crash protection would have raised concerns about the change in material, and it's likely Ford did extensive internal testing to ensure a 5-star rating. It also suggests we'll be seeing an increased use of aluminum in vehicles from Ford and across the industry."