The Lariat's heated, power leather captain seats are large and supportive. These aren't the space saving, thin as cardboard sort found in many vehicles that suffer from miserly interior dimensions, but the Barcaloungers of automotive seating. Infinitely adjustable, the captain chairs mimic those found in the business class sections of better airlines. My only criticism pertains to a lack of side bolstering, which becomes evident during hard cornering. Did I say "hard cornering?" This is of course a 5000-plus pound behemoth; not exactly something you would expect to toss about

The captain chairs of the F150 mimic those found in the business class sections of better airlines. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

on a serpentine backroad, but fun to do never-the-less. Rear bench seats in crew cab pickups have nasty reputations for being inhospitable and inhabitable, often due to a sharply angled seatback that offers as much padding as a rail bed. Commendably the F150 has shattered that reputation with a bench seat that has plenty of cushioning and a moderately angled seatback. The best-in-class interior volume (in any 2004 F150 cab configuration) results in plenty of rear seat legroom to add to the comfort of rear seat confinement.

Shattering the usual truck stereotype, the F150's backseats are comfortable and roomy. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Whether seated in the front or rear, long distance traveling can be greatly improved with a high quality sound system. Ford understands this principle and has ensured the F150 could be equipped with an optional, Audiophile audio system. My tester featured this upgrade which produced excellent sound quality through the radio and the 6-disc in dash CD stacker. Definitely the best sound system I have experienced in a pickup truck to date. Audio buttons are conveniently mounted on the steering wheel in the Lariat model, but unfortunately not available in lower trim levels.