One truck to rule them all
Execs: No gasoline; blistering acceleration; comparatively agile dealing with; entrance trunk and different modern options
Cons: Restricted physique model and trim variations; much less vary than ICE vehicles; availability
Is that this the way forward for the pickup truck? The Ford F-150 Lightning is a shocking achievement that proves that an electrical pickup isn’t solely attainable, it’s truly higher in most respects. True, bladder-busting street journeys, particularly whereas towing, shall be tougher (although definitely not inconceivable) and people with off-roading on their minds will discover higher choices underneath the F-150 umbrella (although the Lightning’s customary skid plates and locking rear differential assist for soft-roading obligation). It would additionally seemingly take you awhile to really take one residence. Nonetheless, the Lightning’s strong efficiency (how does 775 pound-feet of torque sound?), standard full-size pickup physique and normal normalness will make truck vets really feel sufficiently at residence, whereas improvements just like the Professional Energy Onboard system, 14-cubic-foot entrance trunk and impartial rear suspension are sport changers. Mainly, the Lightning is each a daring leap ahead and comfortably acquainted.
Though its variety of variations isn’t as intensive as the usual F-150, the Lightning lineup nonetheless features a Professional work truck, XLT entry-level shopper mannequin, Lariat near-luxury trim stage and the range-topping, luxurious Platinum (pictured above). You’re additionally restricted to a SuperCrew cab, 5.5-foot mattress and all-wheel drive. Sure, “all” slightly than “4.” There’s no switch case or 4×4 system right here: the entrance wheels are powered by one motor; the rear wheels are powered by one other. Though torque is a continuing 775 pound-feet, the quantity of horsepower differs by battery. The primary three trim ranges come customary with a battery good for an EPA-estimated 230 miles that helps yield 426 hp, whereas the accessible Prolonged-Vary battery ups that whole to both 300 or 330 miles, and yields 563 hp.
This electrical powertrain, plus the impartial rear suspension and an entire lot of battery weight ends in a considerably totally different, and higher, driving expertise. The Lightning feels extra agile and fewer cumbersome, whereas its experience is extra settled and cozy. Clearly, its acceleration is like nothing you’ve skilled in a truck earlier than, and the one-pedal driving function makes navigating visitors way more nice (as does the BlueCruise hands-free driving system). Whether or not you’ve pushed vehicles for years otherwise you’d be a brand new adopter, the Lightning makes for a pleasant transition. And contemplating simply how a lot consideration it obtained throughout our check, it looks as if there’s a ton of curiosity from each teams. We predict they’d be well-served to take a look at the Lightning, as a result of we’re definitely smitten.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gas Economic system
What it’s wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What are the F-150 Lightning inside and in-car expertise like?
The Lightning provides two sprint designs. The Professional and XLT include one you’d discover in a daily F-150, full with a regular 12-inch touchscreen that’s an choice on most of its gas-powered siblings. The Lariat and Platinum, in the meantime, get the identical 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen discovered within the Mustang Mach-E, which necessitated a unique sprint design. In addition to the larger display screen, this improve encompasses a totally different interface (dubbed Sync 4A) which will have a steeper studying curve than the usual Sync 4 system, however it’s usually straightforward to make use of and makes use of its additional display screen actual property nicely. In contrast, the usual 12-inch display screen has principally the identical interface as Ford’s 8-inch unit, however every thing’s simply blown up.
We will’t say that both design is as visually interesting as what you’d discover in a Ram 1500 or the impressively redesigned higher trim ranges of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, nor are the supplies fairly as premium. The Platinum specifically doesn’t look or really feel as luxurious as what you’d discover in its opponents’ range-topping variations. We don’t assume that’s a deal-breaker: The F-150 Lightning cabin remains to be a pleasing place to spend time, particularly with out all that engine noise or live-rear-axle jiggling.
In addition to the display screen, the inside is pure F-150 SuperCrew. You’d be hard-pressed to know you’re in one thing aside from a daily outdated XLT, Lariat or Platinum. The F-150’s five-passenger seating format is customary, which implies the Lightning additionally provides the distinctive heart console with an armrest lid that unfolds ahead to turn out to be a flat floor to position a laptop computer, paperwork or road-side picnic. To make this origami attainable, the shifter uniquely motors ahead right into a recess, although solely when parked. We’ll be curious to see how a lot homeowners make the most of and recognize this performance. The remainder of the middle console options helpful storage, whereas the again seat encompasses a distinctive, flip-up flooring bin.
How huge is the Lightning?
The Lightning is simply accessible with the mixture of SuperCrew cab, the five-passenger seating configuration and 5.5-foot mattress. That’s a preferred combo, and like all full-size crew cabs, it advantages from an unlimited quantity of passenger house, however it clearly limits your decisions.
You do acquire one thing immensely priceless with the Lightning, nevertheless; one thing you most likely by no means thought you’d need earlier than: a frunk. You see, eradicating the engine from an F-150 ends in a 14.1 cubic-foot trunk underneath the hood (or entrance trunk, therefore “frunk”). You now not need to danger getting issues moist or stolen by placing them within the mattress, or must depend on a mattress tonneau cowl for those self same causes. You additionally received’t need to rely as a lot on the flip-up again seat and the flat flooring beneath. With the ability to put a stroller, camp chairs, groceries and baggage for the airport within the frunk was fairly merely a game-changer throughout our check. It’s additionally fairly enjoyable to see folks’s response while you remote-open a truck’s hood to disclose some Goal luggage as a substitute of a V8.
That is nonetheless a truck, although, and this looks as if place to say the distinctive mattress components the Lightning shares with different F-150s. One is acquainted: the tailgate’s pop-out help step that makes repeatedly climbing up and down out of the mattress a game-changing quick-and-easy course of. The second is newer: the Professional Energy Onboard electrical system that permits the F-150 to operate as cellular generator and energy station. A 2.4-kilowatt system is customary on the Lightning, and options a number of 120-volt retailers all through the truck: two every within the cab and mattress, plus 4 within the frunk. This is identical system that comes customary on the F-150 Hybrid. The 9.6-kW system (non-compulsory on Professional and XLT, customary on Lariat and Platinum) provides a second pair of 120V retailers and a 240-volt outlet to the mattress. In addition to including some critical energy to no matter job you may want when away from residence, Professional Energy truly provides you the flexibility to energy your house within the occasion of an influence loss. We’ve already seen the Hybrid’s accessible 7.2-kW system come up huge for homeowners, and the Lightning has even better functionality.
What are the F-150 Lighting’s vary, efficiency and towing specs?
The important thing component to think about is the battery. Customary on all however the Platinum is a 98-kilowatt-hour battery – which is very large, however then so is the Lightning – leading to a hardly eye-popping 230 miles of vary. With a motor on every axle offering customary all-wheel drive (there’s no 4×4 switch case right here with 4Lo, however then, electrical motors don’t want one), mixed output with the usual battery is 452 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. Ford says it should go from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. That’s faster than a Raptor. Max payload is 2,000 kilos, whereas the towing capability is 7,700 kilos with the non-compulsory Max Trailer Tow Package deal.
The Prolonged-Vary battery is non-compulsory on all however the Platinum, which incorporates it as customary gear. This large 131-kWh pack will increase vary to 330 miles on the decrease three trims, or 300 miles for the Platinum. Output will increase to 580 horsepower, however torque stays the identical at 775 lb-ft. The 0-60 time falls to the mid-4-second vary, which is corresponding to a Ram TRX. Max payload lowers to 1,800 kilos (blame the added battery weight), however the Max Trailer Tow Package deal ups towing capability to 10,000 kilos.
One different component to think about: charging. The Prolonged-Vary battery has a extra highly effective onboard charger, that means it fees at a comparable fee regardless of the larger pack. Each max out at a fee of 150 kW, which might in idea can help you recharge both battery from 10 to 80% capability in a bit of longer than 40 minutes at a 150- or 350-kW quick charger. (Study extra about all this newfangled charging enterprise right here).
What is the Lightning wish to drive?
The Lightning is like no different truck you’ve pushed earlier than. It’s whisper-quiet, for one, which is fairly weird contemplating many assume that pickups are higher when louder. Acceleration is neck-snappingly fast, with an immense quantity of torque accessible instantaneously. That goes for both battery pack. The steering certain appears the identical because the impressively responsive and well-weighted system launched for the ‘21 F-150 (together with its improved wheel place), and given the impartial rear suspension with coil springs, the Lightning feels prefer it shrinks round you. It feels extra agile and planted than every other full-size truck, and it’s straightforward to neglect simply how huge it’s. Effectively, no less than when you’re used to driving a truck. If you happen to’re not, it’ll nonetheless really feel monumental.
The experience high quality additionally advantages from the impartial rear suspension, however because the common F-150’s experience consolation has turn out to be awfully refined, it’s not the benefit we would have anticipated a couple of years in the past. Nonetheless, there’s no hiding a body-on-frame development. Very similar to a Ford Expedition with its mixture of body-on-frame, impartial rear finish and coil springs, you continue to really feel shudders by means of the construction over huge impacts and occasional vibrations you wouldn’t really feel in a unibody design. That is key distinction between the Lightning and a Rivian R1T, in case you’re questioning.
What different Ford F-150 Lightning opinions can I learn?
Ford F-150 Lightning First Drive
Dive deeper into the Lightning’s engineering and distinctive options, plus our most substantial driving impressions.
F-150 Lightning Professional Revealed
Extra element concerning the base Lightning Professional, which is usually meant for companies.
What’s the F-150 Lightning value?
On the time of this writing, the Lightning’s value is a moot level as 2022 order books are closed, 2023 order books aren’t open but and any sitting on supplier tons shall be topic to near-certain supplier markups.
That stated, right here’s what the MSRP was for every 2022 Lightning trim stage, together with the $1,795 vacation spot cost. All have been/are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit score.
Professional: $41,769
XLT Customary Battery: $54,769
XLT Prolonged-Vary: $74,269
Lariat Customary Battery: $69,269
Lariat Prolonged-Vary: $79,269
Platinum: $92,669
What are the F-150 security rankings and driver help options?
Each Lightning comes customary with the Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 suite of driver help applied sciences. This contains computerized emergency braking with ahead collision warning and pedestrian detection, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping help, rear parking sensors, reverse braking help and auto excessive beams. Customary on the Lariat and Platinum, and non-compulsory on the XLT, is the Co-Pilot 360 Help improve that provides evasive steering help, built-in navigation, velocity signal recognition and adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality and lane-centering steering help. Elective on the Lariat and customary on the Platinum is Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free freeway driving help and an automatic parking system.
The Lightning had not particularly been crash examined by a 3rd celebration on the time of this writing.
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