Five Things Prospective F-150 Owners Should Know Before Buying
From engine options to how much to expect spend, Roadshow has all the info on the F-150 in this short video guide.
For all of the new readers of F150online, we welcome you to the fold. You’re likely here because you’re considering an F-150 of your own, and are doing your research. We certainly have more than enough articles to get you started on learning more about the best-selling truck in the world (which also happens to be the best-selling vehicle in North America), plus a community who’s more than willing to answer any questions you may have.
In fact, we happened upon a brief overview of the F-150 the other day by Roadshow‘s Emme Hall, which should be handy on your journey to come.
“Under the hood, I’ve got a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6,” Hall said. “That’s right: just 2.7 liters. But it’s good for 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Now, that’s not the most power that you can get in an F-150, but it doesn’t feel slow, and there is plenty of pull.”
The 2.7-liter isn’t the only option available for your F-150 of choice. There’s also a 3.3-liter V6, a big 5.0-liter V8, a 3.0-liter turbo diesel, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. A handful of the engines are available on any given trim, from the base XL, to the luxurious Limited.
When it comes to payload and towing, your engines, transmissions, and wheelbases will all determine your F-150’s capabilities. For example, Hall says her XLT trim can pull 7,600 pounds, and hold 2,000 pounds in the bed. With the right setup, though, your new truck can haul up to 13,000 pounds of whatever you have in mind, plus take on up to 3,000 pounds behind the cabin.
“I’m driving a low-spec XLT,” said Hall, “and if you want things like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, you’re gonna have to go up to at least the Lariat trim.”
Her XLT isn’t lacking for other handy driving assistants, though. For starters, there’s blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist to help guard against potential accidents on the road. And if you’ve never moved a trailer around before, the trailer-backup assist will make you look like a towing pro, whether at the boat dock, or down on the farm.
Hall’s F-150 has some added off-road skills via the FX4 package, which includes an electronic locking rear diff, skid plates to protect your powertrain from the rocky trails, and shocks good enough to absorb the bumpiest paths. Throw in the truck’s cushy seats, and you’ll feel like you’re floating on a cloud.
“The base F-150 starts at about $28,000,” said Hall, “but this XLT with the ginormous Super Crew cab and four-wheel drive, you’re looking at starting closer to $44,000.”
Other trim levels, like the Raptor and the Platinum, can reach the mid- to high $50,000 range, if not a bit above. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Limited can easily reach around $75,000 for the ultimate in luxury pickup dreams.
We hope this helps you on your F-150 future. And if you need more help, we’re right here waiting for you.
