How to equip the Best Car To Buy 2023 winner

What range and price does an electric car need? It was a battle for victory for the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. The Car Connection The best cars to buy in 2023 Award. The truck’s merits are undeniable, but its price triple price hike Last year, I was worried.

Ford has increased the price of the base F-150 Lightning Pro by nearly 40% from $41,669 (including a whopping $1,895 destination charge). $57,869 as of last month.

Ah.

Truck buyers paid an average of about $60,000 in 2022 (the cost of a well-equipped Lightning XLT with a small pack), 2023 F-150 Lightning However, it is still within reach of most shoppers. Outright platinum at just under $100,000 is another story.

The F-150 Lightning topped out dozens of nominees for this year’s awards, largely because of how it makes the paradigm shift so familiar. It’s faster, quieter, cleaner, more optimized, and more capable (if not more) than everything before it. But how to equip it is not so simple.

The F-150 Lightning has basically two options. It uses a 98 kwh standard range battery pack that produces 452 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 240 miles. Or with the 131 kWh extended range pack that produces 580 hp and 775 lb-ft with a range of 320 miles.

Every Lightning has front and rear permanent magnet motors for all-wheel drive, independent rear-wheel suspension, 10,000-pound towing capacity, a crew cab, and a 5-foot-6 bed carried over from the F-150. You can transfer accessories between the gas and electric F-150. Almost the same F-150 seen from the back of the cab. But Lightning’s Frank says he can store 14.1 cubic feet, carry 400 pounds, and double as a cooler or power source. Easy to load and unload box runs larger than a bed, waterproof and safe. That alone gives it an edge over his gas-powered F-150.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

The base F-150 Lightning Pro is well equipped with 18″ alloy wheels, vinyl seats, heated front seats, cruise control, 12.0″ digital instrument cluster and 12.0″ touchscreen. Highlighted by dash and climate dials and buttons. I prefer it to the 15.5-inch all-in-one touchscreen that dominates top-grade center stacks. All Lightnings are equipped with automatic emergency braking, active lane control and blind spot monitoring. Add a charging cable ($500) and a 9.6 kw on-board generator ($1,200) and the price is just over $60,000. A towing package adds another $3,000 or so.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

But that’s for the standard pack. Only fleet customers who have purchased at least 5 Lightnings and have been certified as a fleet buyer by Ford will be eligible for the Lightning Pro and Extended Range Pack. The cheapest version a regular customer can buy with an extended range pack is his XLT grade, but it’s $17,500 more ($12,500 for the pack, $5,000 for the XLT upgrade). XLT trim adds running boards, a surround-view camera system, fabric seats, and the F-150’s clever interior work surface that turns the console into a mobile desk. The total amount is just under $84,000.

It hurts again.

So the non-linear math problem: Is a 40% price increase ($84,000 vs. $60,000) worth a 33% range increase (240 miles to 320 miles)? you can answer that. I choose the base F-150 Lightning Pro because it is towed infrequently. For owners who tow regularly and log a lot of long trips, the extra charge for the extended range pack seems worth it. Or we are cheap. That’s one reason. Ford Maverick wins Best car to buy in 2022.

With battery packs and better grades of Lightning, we couldn’t blame you for growing up. The future is exciting, and it’s here. for the price.

check out all of us Best car to buy coverage for 2023 Here, including our segment winners as well as the best cars to buy from our enthusiast arm, motor authorityand our efficiency leg, green car report.