The battery electrical variation of the F-150 pickup truck improves on Ford’s bestseller in the best means: The Lightning has no tailpipe emissions, it has additional storage and cargo house than the F-150, it is really a lot quicker, cleaner, and it can tow up to 10,000 lbs. It embodies the evolution of the complete-size pickup truck, at minimum two several years before any rival total-dimension electric powered truck arrives to industry, nonetheless it retains quite a few of the hallmarks that have created the F-150 America’s bestselling truck for additional than 4 decades. That’s how to remain ahead, and how to be one of 5 finalists for The Car Relationship Very best Vehicle to Invest in 2023 award.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning wasn’t readily available for final year’s award because of to the timing of the 98-kwh regular-assortment battery pack, and given that then Ford has jacked up the value by $12,000 to just about $54,000 on the base Lightning Professional. Ford also enhanced the value on models with the 131-kwh extended-variety battery pack with the 320-mile range, but these products are bought only to fleets that buy at minimum five electrical pickups and are accredited by Ford as a fleet car. This is wherever the Lightning can shock: the most affordable Lightning with the prolonged-assortment battery pack for non-fleet customers is the XLT Large for $81,000.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
These selling price raises virtually disqualified the Ford F-150 Lightning from consideration for our award. Eesh, Ford, let the individuals try to eat cake. But we is not going to presume to know what selection motorists require at what cost threshold. We live in instances that do not mirror the financial tenet of rational purchaser habits. The common cost truck consumers paid out for a full-dimension truck halfway by way of 2022 exceeded $60,000. That’s about the price tag of a well-geared up Lightning XLT with the smaller battery pack.
The quick version? It really is a damn fantastic truck, particularly for folks who you should not tow that generally and you should not need to truck hundreds of miles to come across an additional human. Sorry, Wyoming.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
The Lightning appears to be like an F-150 from the windshield again, with rocker creases, front window ways, a regular crew cab, and a 5-foot-6 mattress that carries more than from the F-150 so owners can transfer components involving fuel and electric vehicles. Up entrance, a solitary light bar spans the entrance like a horseshoe mustache to the bumper due to the fact the hood opens up to the Lightning’s huge EV packaging gain: a front trunk that suppliers 14.1 cubic toes, carries 400 lbs ., and doubles as a cooler or energy supply with four 120-volt retailers and two USB ports. It is really less difficult to load and unload than the bed, and it is really protected.
Rather of an engine bay, a long-lasting magnetic motor drives the front axle and a second motor drives the rear for normal four-wheel generate. Nestled in the wider, reinforced F-150 body are the two battery pack options, with the huge pack aiding the motor make 452 hp and the greater a person at 580 hp. With possibly pack, the motors make 775 lb-ft of torque, great adequate for -60 mph situations in 5. seconds or a lot less. It truly is impressive for a 6,590-pound truck. Even unladen, the impartial rear suspension keeps the truck constant and serene.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
4 drive modes modify the torque shipping, and a locking rear differential as very well as an underbody girded by skid plates allows off-roading and water fording of up to 24 inches. Payload maxes out at 2,235 kilos, and we hauled a plywood load of extra than 2,000 lbs . in the bed without having any bed sag over the axle. Towing tops out at 10,000 lbs with the prolonged-selection battery, but array is impacted by the load a lot more than in a gas truck. In temporary tests of a 9,500-pound trailer, it hardly ever strained uphill or felt like it was getting pushed downhill.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford equips each Lightning with outstanding characteristics aligned with the value. A 12.-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.-inch touchscreen appear regular, as does automatic unexpected emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lively lane handle, and blind-location screens.
Is that more than enough to earn the top rated prize between other contenders? We’re nonetheless debating it. We are going to announce the winner of our Best Vehicle To Acquire 2023 award on Jan. 4, 2023, when we also crown the champs at Motor Authority and Inexperienced Vehicle Stories.
