2023 Ford F-150 Performance

The new Ford F-150's performance ranges from adequate to truly brisk for a large truck. Making the least power in the lineup is the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 250 horsepower, but this is countered by a useful 440 lb-ft of torque. There are three other gas-powered V6 engines on offer, with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 providing the F-150's best towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, which is 800 lbs more than the outgoing F-150 could tow. However, the most impressive outputs are reserved for the hybridized 3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 which generates 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque, making it the most torque-rich F-150 ever. In independent testing, this engine was able to power a four-wheel-drive variant of the F-150 pickup to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, and it can tow up to 12,700 lbs. At the other end of the Ford F-150 towing capacity spectrum, the 3.3-liter V6 can only haul 5,000 lbs in certain configurations. There's also a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque or a 5.0-liter V8 producing 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. Of course, rear-wheel-drive versions of the F-150 are offered as well. The hybrid is one of the quickest large trucks you can buy, but the ballistic Ram 1500 TRX is the one to get if all you care about is straight-line speed.

There are six different engines on offer throughout the Ford F-150 pickup truck, starting with the base 3.3-liter naturally-aspirated Ti-VCT V6 that makes 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. There are two gas-powered EcoBoost units to choose from, starting with the 2.7-liter V6 that makes 325 hp and 400 lb-ft, while the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 impresses with 400 hp and 500 lb-ft. If you still believe that there is no replacement for displacement, there is a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 that makes 400 hp and 410 lb-ft. The only diesel in the lineup is the 3.0-liter Power Stroke with 250 hp and 440 lb-ft. However, the king of the current F-150 range is the new 3.5-liter PowerBoost full hybrid V6 with 430 hp and 570 lb-ft.

Regardless of the model you choose, every F-150 engine is paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. Besides the base 3.3-liter, every other engine provides strong torque and smooth, easy acceleration, but the hybrid is the star of the show here. The 47-hp electric motor has been integrated into the transmission and helps to provide plenty of grunt. This powertrain includes a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that can silently motivate the F-150 for short spurts.

The Ford F-150 gas mileage you attain will depend largely on the engine you choose and the work you subject it to. Considering how quick it is off the mark, the Ford F-150 hybrid's EPA-rated gas mileage figures of 24/24/24 miles per gallon city/highway/combined in 4WD guise are certainly impressive, and with 2WD, it'll return 25/26/25 mpg. Sadly, we struggled to average just 22 mpg in our 4WD tester, and in the pickup truck world, a few mpg makes a big difference. While the PowerBoost is the most efficient model in the range, a quick review of the numbers reveals that it's not the most efficient truck in the segment; for instance, the Ram 1500 2WD with the diesel engine returns 22/32/26 mpg. However, the hybrid F-150 is clearly a winner in city driving. The next most efficient F-150 is the diesel at 20/27/23 mpg, followed by the 2.7-liter EcoBoost in 2WD guise that returns 20/26/22 mpg. Running on regular gas, the 3.3-liter V6 with 2WD manages 20/24/21 mpg. Both this model and the 2.7-liter lose about one mpg on average with 4WD. However, with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, the F-150 returns a combined 20 mpg whether you choose 2WD or 4WD.

Predictably, the 5.0-liter V8 is the heaviest on gas with the worst figures of 11/17/13 mpg when equipped with 4WD and running on E85 gas. The F-150 mpg figures you'll see with the V8 improves to 17/24/20 mpg in 2WD guise and when running on regular gas.

The gas tank size varies across the range, with Regular Cab and SuperCab variants employing a 23-gallon tank and the SuperCrew able to carry 26 gallons of fuel. However, an extended-range 36-gallon gas tank is available on all body styles but isn't compatible with the 122-inch wheelbase, the diesel engine, or the hybrid. Instead, the hybrid gets its own 30.6-gallon gas tank and, therefore, can achieve a range of 765 miles in 2WD guise. With the 36-gallon tank and the 2.7-liter engine, the F-150 will be able to traverse 792 miles.