2023 Ford F150 Lightning Review

Vehicle Type: Full-size electric pickup truck.

Price Range: $57,869 – $98,669

Powertrain: The 2023 Ford Lightning F-150 uses two electric motors running through an all-wheel drive configuration.

There are two battery options available: Standard and Extended Range.

The Standard battery setup delivers 452 horsepower while the Extended battery produces 580 horsepower. Both battery types put out 775 lb-ft of torque.

Trucks equipped with the higher-end battery have a zero-to-60 time of just 4.0 seconds.

The Standard battery has a 230-mile range while the Extended version upgrades this to 320 miles.

Video Review:

What’s New for 2023?

The F-150 Lightning has not seen any significant changes for 2023. The only difference between this model year and the last one is the fact that the prices have gone up across the board. This is largely due to supply chain and demand issues as well as the global chip shortage, which has severely affected EVs and new cars of all types.

The base F-150 Lightning is $12,000 more expensive than last year’s while the higher-end Platinum version is $6,000 more.

What’s Good?

• The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning features an excellent combination of full-size truck capability and sporty acceleration specs, which makes it a great choice for all kinds of drivers
• Compared to other EV trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and the Rivian R1T, the F-150 Lightning maintains much of the versatility and rugged usability of its gas counterpart while offering the benefits of an electric motor
• With the Extended Range battery, you get optimal horsepower and towing capability that will be suitable for any job that you would use the F-150 with a traditional engine
• The F-150 Lightning is almost silent with a combination of electric power and a sound-proofed body and interior, making it perfect for long drives as well as work applications

What’s Bad?

• The F-150 Lightning features a body-on-frame design that isn’t as stable as it could be, which causes shaking and jiggling, especially at higher speeds
• The interior is not as high-quality as the price would suggest and the lack of cab options make it less versatile than other comparable trucks in the gas engine realm
• Range can be an issue, even with the Extended-Range battery as towing and payload can severely affect the number of miles you can get out of one charge
• The price going up seemingly arbitrarily for the 2023 model, despite the claims of a supply chain issues, makes it less of a value than it was even one year ago

Would we buy one? Yes! Even with the higher price, the 2023 F-150 Lightning is a capable, eco-friendly truck that carries the spirit of the best-selling truck in the United States into the future.

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Overview:

When the Ford F-150 Lightning was introduced for the 2022 model year, it changed the way we think about the full-size work truck category. With enough capability for almost any application and acceleration that you would expect from a V8 muscle car, it has something for everyone and doesn’t sacrifice style. For the 2023 model year, the F-150 Lightning hasn’t changed with the exception of the price and demand is still as high as ever.

The F-150 Lightning uses two electric motors in an all-wheel drive configuration that can deliver different horsepower ratings depending on the battery you choose. The base-level battery helps the motors put out 452 horsepower while the upgraded one delivers 580 horsepower. The higher-end batter has a zero-to-60 time of just 4.0 seconds and can make a quarter mile in 12.7 seconds. This kind of responsive acceleration could be jarring to drivers who are used to the torque-heavy feel of the traditional F-150’s gas engine.

The base battery is 98 kWh and the Extended-Range battery pack is 131 kWh. These feature ranges of 230 miles and 320 miles respectively. These batteries can be charged at home with either standard 110-volt or 220-volt outlets but you also have the option of using a DC fast charger, which can bring the charge from 15 percent to 80 percent in under 45 minutes. This is comparable to smaller electric vehicles currently on the market when hooked up to a charge station.

The interior of the F-150 Lightning’s crew cab is similar to the traditional gas-powered F-150 with the exception of some tech features. The front trunk, or frunk, is one of the biggest differences and has a weight capacity of 400 extra pounds for excellent storage. It features a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the lower trim levels like the Pro but this can be upgraded to 15 inches with the Lariat and F-150 Lightning Platinum trims. This system runs on Ford’s Sync 4 software and allows for monitoring of the battery and more. Plus, it comes with standard safety equipment like automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist with optional driver assistance and hands-free driving.

Overall Score: 4/5 stars

Driving Experience: 4/5 stars

With a quick, responsive accelerator and a tight turning radius, the electric F-150 is a great choice if you want the feel of a Tesla with the practicality and durability of a rugged pickup.

The steering wheel is responsive to the touch and makes maneuvering the F-150 easy, even if you are towing a large load or hauling weight in the 5.5-foot bed.

The Lightning does not suffer from any of the sponginess that can occur when using regenerative braking and instead delivers a short stopping distance and excellent feel.

The body-on-frame build tends to be wobbly, especially when you are at higher speeds, which can be disconcerting for even the most experienced driver.

The acceleration is where the Lightning really shines with quarter mile times that beat sports cars like the Shelby Mustang GT350 and the Mustang Mach-E GT.

Safety Features: 4/5 stars

The F-150 Lightning comes with a fairly large array of standard safety features that work in conjunction with the high-tech powertrain.

Standard features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

You also have the option to add Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system, which enables a hands-free driving mode with adaptive cruise control for longer trips.

It also comes with other convenience and safety features like automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring.

The surround-view parking system allows you to keep an eye on every inch of the F-150 Lightning whenever you are parking or in a stop-and-go traffic situation, giving you excellent visibility for the whole truck.

Value: 3/5 stars

One of the main complaints from people who own the F-150 Lightning is the fact that the build quality is not nearly as high-end as the price tag suggests.

While the interior is comparable to the regular F-150, it doesn’t have the premium materials that you would expect, even if you opt for some of the higher trim levels like F-150 Lightning Lariat or the Platinum.

The higher MSRP is mainly due to the fact that the components for the technology used in the powertrain and the batteries is more difficult to get ahold of than it once was.

While you may end up paying more up front, the savings on gas with the all-electric powertrain could make it well worth the extra money in the long run.

Tech Features: 5/5 stars

Whether you are going with the Lightning Pro, XLT, Lariat, or Platinum trims, the Lightning is packed with tech features and extras.

There are a grand total of 11 power outlets throughout the F-150 Lightning, all of which can be used to power various devices using the Lightning’s on-board generator for road trips and camping excursions.

The large 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and can be upgraded to 15 inches if you choose some of the higher trim levels.

The Pro Power Onboard generator is designed to give you power wherever you go and with extra setup, you can even power your entire home with the Lightning’s generator.

Practicality: 4/5 stars

The towing capacity of the Lightning F-150 is impressive with a maximum of 10,000 pounds with the Extended-Range battery and 7,700 pounds with the Standard-Range battery.

The independent rear suspension makes for a responsive feel and a comfortable driving experience that is great for both work purposes and some off road driving.

The payload capacity will depend on the battery type as well with a maximum of 2,000 pounds in the bed and the front trunk compartment.

The higher the load is, the fewer miles of range you will get with drops as much as 50 percent at some of the upper limits of both towing and payload.

Styling & Design: 4.5/5 stars

One of the areas where Ford has been the smartest in the Lightning F-150’s design is its similarity to the traditional F-150.

Unlike other electric trucks like the GMC Hummer EV, the electric Chevrolet Silverado, and the Rivian R1T, the Lightning F-150 doesn’t have a futuristic, bubbly shape.

The exterior of the Lightning is aerodynamic and modern-looking while still maintaining the rugged, work truck appearance that has made the F-150 such an iconic vehicle over the years.

The interior is spartan and not as premium as you might expect, which could rub some consumers the wrong way, especially if they are paying for some of the higher trim levels.

If you are looking for more of the same from your truck with a little more functionality without the gas-guzzling engine, the Lightning F-150 could be a great option for you.

Fuel Efficiency: 5/5 stars

The F-150 Lightning is all-electric, making it easily your best option if you are looking to save some money on the total cost of ownership for your full-size pickup.

The truck gets an EPA-estimated 78 MPGe city and 63 MPGe highway with the Extended-Range battery and 76 MPGe city and 61 MPGe highway with the Standard-Range battery.

The driving range for the F-150 Lightning is 230 miles with the Standard-Range battery and 320 miles if you opt for the Extended-Range battery.

As with other electric cars, the driving range will be reduced if you put more weight on the frame either through a payload or towing load.

What’s it Going to Cost Me?

The F-150 Lightning comes in a variety of different configurations and trim levels. For the most part, the biggest difference between these trim levels will be the type of battery they come with. The base trim level, the Pro, starts at $57,869, including the destination charge, and only comes with the Standard-Range battery. This includes the onboard generator as well as driver-assistance technologies that come standard with the truck.

The next trim level up is the XLT. This version adds a metallic grille to the exterior with the Lightning’s signature front lighting as well as a 360-degree camera and cloth seats. It also includes a more powerful onboard generator and enhanced lighting. If you get the Standard-Range battery with this trim level it will cost you $61,269 and the Extended Range battery costs $82,769.

The Lariat trim level is the one we tested and it comes with an enhanced interior with leather trim and heated and ventilated front seats. You also get a power tailgate and the larger 15.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as well as 20-inch wheels in Dark Carbonized Gray. This version is available with the Standard-Range battery for $76,269 and with the Extended-Range battery for $87,769.

The most high-end trim level is the Platinum and this comes with all the extra features you would expect from a premium truck. This includes 22-inch aluminum wheels, heated and ventilated leather seats with Active Motion, which reduces fatigue on long drives, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. This model is only available with the Extended-Range battery and starts at $98,669.

There are also extras you can add on if you opt for some of the lower trim levels. These include the Tow Technology Package for $1,950 and the Max Trailer Tow Package for $1,000. You can also choose to add bed accessories like a Tonneau box cover for $1,200 and a Premium Tool Box for $880.

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