2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Review | Daily News Byte

Tesla may have made electric cars viable, but Americans love trucks. This is why the Ford F-150 pickup has been the best-selling model in the US for 45 years. And now, the all-electric F-150 Lightning has the best chance to take that mantle and make EVs mainstream. After all, its traditional aesthetic is more likely to appeal to existing truck owners than the respectively silly and avant-garde designs of the Cybertruck and Rivian’s R1T. But don’t let the small style fool you—this truck packs great performance, cutting-edge technology, and can easily power everything from jobsite tools to an entire home. Ford can’t currently meet demand for this vehicle (in part due to supply chain issues), but the 2023 F-150 Lightning is worth the wait and a clear Editors’ Choice winner.

Lots of Power and Range

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is available in four trims—Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. All have a four-door crew cab, 5.5-foot bed, dual electric motors for four-wheel drive (4WD), and single-speed transmission. Pro, XLT, and Lariat versions come with a 98KWh battery pack that produces 452 horsepower (hp) and 775lb-ft of torque; the EPA estimates that the combination offers a range of 230 miles. The Platinum edition includes a 131KWh extended-range battery pack optional for XLT and Lariat trims; it puts out 580hp (with identical torque) and provides up to 320 miles of range. For comparison, Tesla’s website says the Cybertruck can get “up to 500 miles of range,” while the EPA pegs the Rivian R1T’s range at 314 miles.

Level 1 public DC fast chargers with a minimum capacity of 150KWh, respectively, take 44 and 41 minutes to charge standard- and extended-range batteries from 15% to 80%. Ford also offers a pair of Level 2 240W home chargers(Opens in new window), including an 80-amp Charge Station Pro (included in extended range models) and a 48-amp Connected Charge Station. It takes 10 hours to charge the standard-range battery from 15% to 100% at both 48 and 80 amps, or eight hours for the extended-range battery at 80 amps. If you use a Ford-supplied cord and a standard 30-amp 240W wall outlet, it takes 15 and 20 hours to charge the standard- and extended-range batteries from 15% to 100%.

Featuring Generous and Sensible Styling

The Pro trim starts at $51,974. It has exterior features such as 18-inch machined aluminum wheels with 275/65 R18 all-terrain tires, automatic on/off LED headlamps, four bed tie-downs, two front tow hooks, LED taillights, intermittent wipers, and manual-folding side mirrors. Standard interior features include a 60/40-split rear bench seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated and four-way manually adjustable front seats, manual tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and vinyl seats.

You also get standard tech and convenience features like the 2.4KW Pro Power Onboard generator, FordPass Connect (provides Wi-Fi and app-controlled remote features), Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system (which combines a 12-inch touch screen, AM/ FM stereo, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and connected navigation), keyless entry, and a push-button start option.

(Credit: Doug Newcomb)

Standard driver assistance includes auto high beams, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, front-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, post-collision braking, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, rearview camera, and trailer sway control.

If you upgrade to the XLT trim (which starts at $59,474), you also get a center-console work surface, cloth seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, Ford’s BoxLink bed-tiedown system, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals and LED spotlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, lighted running board, power-adjustable pedals, satellite radio, surround-view camera, and wraparound front lighting.

The Lariat trim, which starts at $74,474, adds a 9.6KW Pro Power Onboard generator, a 10-way power front-passenger seat, a 15.5-inch in-dash touch screen, 20-inch wheels with 275/60 R20 all-terrain tires, and body-colored front bumper, rear bumper, and door handles. It also has Ford’s Intersection Assist system, leather-trimmed seats with front seat memory, LED bed lighting, power-folding side mirrors with LED approach lamps and memory, power-sliding tinted rear window, and a power tailgate with work surface and folding step.

The top-of-the-line Platinum version we tested starts at $96,874. It features an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, 22-inch aluminum wheels with 275/50/22 all-season tires, automated parking, Curve Control, Ford’s suite of towing tech (Smart Hitch, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist , Trailer Reverse Guidance, and an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller), an HD radio, heated rear seats, a high-gloss grille, interior wood accents, an onboard cargo scale, post-crash alert, a twin-panel moonroof, and wireless device charging. Our test truck also had the $595 spray-on bedliner option and a $1,795 destination and delivery charges brought the final sticker price to $99,264.

(Credit: Doug Newcomb)

To the casual observer, the Ford Lightning doesn’t look all that different from its gas-powered siblings. But the differences on the outside such as aerodynamic wheels, Lightning badging, and The wraparound front lights are all subtle upgrades. The interior remains true to the F-150’s typical combination of comfort, luxury, and utility. Of course, the more you spend, the more features and conveniences you get. A major highlight is that the Lightning’s massive 14.1-cubic-foot front trunk can hold up to 400 pounds. For comparison, the Rivian R1T’s front trunk offers slightly less space (11.1 cubic feet).

Portable Power for Days

Like other Ford trucks we’ve tested, the Lightning’s Sync 4 infotainment system is easy to use, though a little slow to respond to inputs. It provides wireless Android Auto and CarPlay via Bluetooth, while Ford’s AppLink platform integrates smartphone apps such as Tidal and Waze. Otherwise, subscription-based FordPass Connect provides in-cabin Wi-Fi, and the FordPass mobile app (available for Android and iOS) lets you remotely start, lock, or -unlock the vehicle. The latter also allows you to check the pickup’s battery level and charging status.

(Credit: Doug Newcomb)

What really separates the Lightning from gas-powered F-150s is its ability to deliver power to everything from appliances, to your home, to another EV. Our Platinum tester had 10 120V outlets—four each in the trunk and front bed, as well as two in the cab. Additionally, the front trunk has two USB plugs (one USB-A and one USB-C), while the bed includes another 240V outlet.

The Lightning provides more than enough power for an afternoon of tailgating, a day at work, or a weekend of camping. In testing, we tried to fully recharge two depleted 6V batteries in a 29-foot RV. When we started, the Lightning battery was at 89%. After charging the RV batteries for more than four hours to capacity, the truck percentage dropped slightly to 88%. Equally impressive is Lightning’s Intelligent Backup Power feature that can power an average-sized home for up to three days. To set up this bidirectional charging feature, however, you need to hire a licensed electrician to install a Ford Charge Station Pro.

(Credit: Doug Newcomb)

Fast as Lightning

The Lightning’s dual electric motors (one on each axle) enable a 4WD system that helps the truck handle offroad surfaces and inclement weather. The vehicle also offers the practical storage and transportation capabilities that make pickups popular with US car buyers, even if you’re stuck with a 5.5-foot (in length) flatbed and crew configuration- cab.

(Credit: Doug Newcomb)

The truck has four drive modes—Normal, Sport, Tow Haul, and Off-Road—but it floats through sharp turns even in Sport mode. However, with the extended-range battery, the EV can rocket from 0 to 60mph in about 4.1 seconds. That’s a bit slower than the Rivian R1T (3.1 seconds) and GMC Hummer EV pickup (3.0 seconds), but still impressive.

The XLT and Lariat versions can tow up to 10,000 pounds, but the Pro (7,700 pounds) and Platinum (8,600 pounds) variants are slightly less capable on that front. Just remember that towing heavy loads over long distances may not be practical: Someone on the Lightning owner’s online forum(Opens in new window) reported that they lost 50% of the battery range while towing a 23-foot Airstream trailer for 30 miles.

Ford’s Electric Future Looks Bright

Despite a few nitpicks, the 2023 F-150 Lightning is the EV that truck-loving Americans have been searching for. It’s the first mass-market EV pickup available, and should win over truck buyers looking for relief at the pump or an environmental alternative to their current gas guzzler. We were especially impressed with the vehicle’s ability to power almost anything you’d find in a workplace or home. All of these aspects help the F-150 Lighting earn our Editors’ Choice award for electric pickups. That said, we haven’t yet tested the Rivian R1T and its 128.9KWh battery pack (we plan to soon) and the Tesla is always a looming threat. Until we have a better idea of ​​how the competitors stack up, though, Ford’s entry stands as the EV truck to beat.