2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

Overview

Turn the volume up on the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning's audio system and you might well miss that this pickup truck is powered by electricity. With the tunes pounding you wouldn't notice the absence of the gasoline engine's sound. But floor the accelerator and you'll know that the Lightning is not your standard gasoline-powered F-150; the electric motors' instant, massive torque slams you into the seat as if you got run into from behind by a Peterbilt. Otherwise, the Lightning delivers just about everything the regular F-150 does in a package that is close to a mirror image. Inside and out, the Lightning looks like other F-150s—though it's totally different underneath, of course. All models come with two electric motors juiced by either of two battery packs. With the larger Extended-Range battery, the powertrain makes a whopping 580 horsepower, and with it the Lightning blasted to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds at our test track. The EPA-estimated driving range varies between 230 miles with the base battery to 320 miles with the larger one, but towing a trailer quickly depletes the battery and requires frequent stops to charge. That drawback is common among EV pickup trucks, and rivals such as the GMC Hummer EV SUT and the Rivian R1T don't fare any better. But if you're a truck owner who tows infrequently or only for short distances, the F-150 Lightning will serve your needs well. It is an EV workhorse that can be equipped in a variety of ways, all of which require few compromises compared to the standard gas-powered F-150.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Rivian R1T

STARTING AT: $74,800

2

Ford F-150 Lightning

STARTING AT: $57,869

3

GMC Hummer EV SUT

STARTING AT: $87,000

4

Lordstown Endurance

STARTING AT: $65,060

What's New for 2023?

The only thing that's changed on the F-150 Lightning this year is its price, which has shot up by $12,000 for the entry-level Pro model. Pricing revisions for higher-end trims are less drastic, but still dramatic: the loaded Platinum now costs $6000 more, the XLT is up $6500, and the mid-range Lariat has increased by $7000. A representative from Ford told Car and Driver that these price changes are due to "ongoing supply-chain constraints, rising material costs, and other market factors." In other words, more people want Lightnings than there are Lightnings to go around so prices are going way up.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Despite the leap in price over last year's model, we'd still go with the more desirable and better-equipped XLT trim. The Extended-Range battery pack adds a $10,000 lump sum to the bottom line, but if you're planning to drive long distances or use the Lightning to tow, it could be a good investment. Unfortunately, to add that bigger battery to the XLT model, you must also add the expensive 312A High package. Luckily, that package includes a very long list of desirable equipment to justify its price, including adaptive cruise control, Ford's Pro Power Onboard generator feature, heated front seats and steering wheel, a power-operated tailgate, in-dash navigation, and a lot more.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

All F-150 Lightning models come standard with two electric motors and all-wheel drive. With the Standard-Range battery, the motors combine to make 452 horsepower but with the Extended-Range battery the horsepower rating rises to 580; peak torque is an impressive 775 pound-feet with either setup. Performance is impressive for a truck this heavy. The Lightning Platinum we tested reached 60 mph in a scant 4.0 seconds and covered a quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds at 107 mph. Not only were we pleased with the Lightning's, ahem, lightning-quick acceleration but we were also pleasantly surprised that it managed to maintain the normal F-150's refined road manners. If anything, the Lightning's ride-and-handling are slightly more agreeable, thanks to a lower center of gravity that helps keep body roll in check and independent rear suspension in place of the gas model’s solid rear axle.

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Towing and Payload Capacity

Ford staged an event in July 2019 to prove that a prototype of the EV pickup could tow a 1,000,000-pound line of train cars loaded with F-150s. The official maximum towing capacity of the production model is a mere 10,000 pounds, but only trucks with the optional Extended-Range battery are capable of such feats. Standard-Range battery models are limited to a 7700-pound capacity. Payload capacity is as high as 2000 pounds for the Standard-Range model and as low as 1800 pounds for the Extended-Range. During our tow test pulling a 6100-pound double-axle camping trailer, the range of our Lightning Platinum dropped to just 100 miles at 70 mph.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

With the smaller 98.0-kWh battery, Ford claims a driving range of 230 miles per charge; upgrading to the larger 131.0-kWh pack boosts the driving range to 320 miles. During our 75-mph highway range test, the Lightning Platinum managed 230 miles of range. Buyers will be able to charge their F-150 Lightnings at home via 110- and 220-volt outlets but the truck is also capable of juicing at public DC fast-charging stations, and Ford says it can charge from 15 percent to 80 percent of battery capacity in 44 minutes. Ford also engineered the F-150 Lightning to serve as a backup generator and says a fully-charged truck can supply up to three days of electricity for the average household in the event of a power outage.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The EPA has rated the F-150 Lightning Extended-Range for up to 78 MPGe city and 63 MPGe highway; the Standard-Range models are slightly less efficient at 76 MPGe city and 61 MPGe highway. During our time with the Lightning Platinum, we observed just 54 MPGe. For more information about the F-150 Lightning's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Like the truck's exterior, the F-150 Lightning's cabin is much the same as the gasoline-powered F-150 with a few key differences such as an extra-large infotainment display and a voluminous front-trunk cargo bay. The F-150 Lightning is offered only as a crew cab with a 5.5-foot bed. Speaking of roomy, the F-150 Lightning offers a large front trunk (frunk) that utilizes the space where the normal F-150's engine would sit to carry additional cargo weighing up to 400 pounds.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

A 12.0- inch touchscreen infotainment system with Ford's latest Sync 4 software is standard, but Lariat and Platinum models come with an even larger 15.0-inch display. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, in-dash navigation, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, are all standard. Ford will leverage its partnership with Bang & Olufsen to deliver two different optional premium stereo systems, one with eight speakers in the Lariat and one with 18 speakers in the Platinum.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

A host of driver-assistance features are standard, with Ford's new BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving mode offered as an option. For more information about the F-150 Lightning's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving mode

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The F-150 Lightning is protected by Ford's basic warranty package but also includes an eight-year/100,000-mile policy for electric vehicle components. This additional warranty matches that of other EV rivals.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Battery components warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs