F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost Combines Power, Capability & Efficiency

Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost is called the best of the F-150 engines by a member of the Popular Mechanics staff.

The engine lineup for the modern Ford F-150 is pretty impressive, offering more power, more capabilities and more miles-per-gallon than any past generation. The current engine lineup includes a naturally aspirated V6, a naturally aspirated V8, a turbocharged diesel V6 and a pair of turbocharged gas V6s, all of which offers their own unique advantages.

The “problem” with the modern F-150 having so many great engines to choose from is that some consumers might not know which is right for them. According to Ezra Dyer of Popular Mechanics, the best engine for the price is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, which offers the most torque, the highest towing capabilities and excellent fuel economy without a massive price increase.

F-150 Engines in Brief Detail

In Dyer’s piece where he declares the 3.5-liter EcoBoost to be the best modern F-150 engine, he starts by looking at the power levels relative to pricing. In his case, he is talking specifically about the Lariat trim level, in which case the 2.7-liter EcoBoost is the base engine. In the XL and XLT models, the naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 is standard, but since the higher-priced trim levels are far more popular, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost makes for a better comparison starting point.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost offers 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque while also being the most fuel-friendly gasoline engine in the lineup. In the Lariat, the 5.0-liter V8 costs $1,000 for 395 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, but it is nowhere near as fuel efficient as the small EcoBoost, so unless you want the V8 horsepower, the 5.0 is a hard sell here. The 3.0-liter PowerStroke diesel offers 250 horsepower, 440 lb-ft of torque and better miles per gallon, but it also costs $4,000 more in the F-150 Lariat.

Meanwhile, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost with 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque costs just $1,600 in the F-150 Lariat, offering similar fuel economy to the smaller EcoBoost and lineup-leading towing numbers. Also, if you step up to the King Ranch or Platinum trim levels, the 5.0-liter V8 is standard and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost is just a $600 option. At $600, it is a no-brainer, leaving little question as to why we see so many EcoBoost-powered F-150s on the street.

More than Just Numbers

Based on power, capabilities, fuel economy and price, it makes sense for Dyer to declare the 3.5-liter EcoBoost the best engine in the F-150 lineup, but he goes into more detail as to why he is so impressed with this power plant. He explains that his 2010 Lincoln MKT has the early variation of this engine and he recently drove the new Ford GT supercar, which has the newest, highest-performance version of the engine. Of course, the twin turbo V6 also has a special version in use in the F-150 Raptor, offering 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.

In addition to being the strongest engine in the F-150 lineup today and in the previous generation, Dyer points out how well the 3.5-liter EcoBoost has grown over the years, powering many of the most popular Ford and Lincoln cars and SUVs.

So, if you are looking at buying a new Ford F-150 or if you are shopping for a used model from the past half-dozen model years, you will want to buy a truck with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 if you really want to get the most bang for your buck.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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