The Ford F-150 is one of the best-selling pickup trucks in the world and the best-selling pickup in the United States. The introduction of the all-electric F-150 Lightning in 2023 will firmly enter a new era.
The F-150 regularly faces stiff competition, whether from its main rival, the Chevrolet Silverado, or other trucks such as the GMC Canyon. People just love the F-150.
This list contains 13 reasons why people love Ford’s pickup truck, each highlighting just how good a utility vehicle the truck really is.
Reliability And Sturdiness
Over the years, the Ford F-150 has forged an exceptional reputation for sturdiness and reliability. Websites such as Consumer Reports and J.D. Power show just how strong the reliability record for Ford’s flagship pickup truck really is.
The 2023 F-150, for example, scored a solid 78/100 on J.D. Power, with the 2022 edition topping out at 84/100. These scores, however, are only part of the story, and it is owner testimonials that help paint the F-150 in such a positive light.
Ford Pushes The Limits
Ford is not afraid to push the limits when it comes to the F-150, given the various special editions and performance versions of the truck it has produced. Just take a look at the F-150 Raptor, a monster of a truck with a 450 horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood.
Then there is the Raptor R, the long-awaited V8 version of the truck. Under the hood of the Raptor R is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 taken from the Shelby GT500, and it produces 720 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque.
Electrifying The F-150 Range
Yeah, okay, some people might not like EVs. But we can’t escape electrification anymore, particularly if we are going to save the planet for future generations. Ford has realized this and has introduced the F-150 Lightning, the first all-electric truck in the F-150 family.
The big downside is the starting price, with the all-electric F-150 currently starting at $62,995 for the XLT model. But you do get up to 320 miles of range, a 0-60 mph time of under four seconds, and all the practicality of an internal-combustion-powered pickup truck.
The Extensive Trim Levels
One of the best things about the Ford F-150 range and why people keep going back to it is the incredible variety on offer. The range has everything from the base XL trim, which retails at $38,610, to the Raptor itself, which retails at $78,805.
The XL trim is, of course, the most basic. However, you still get features such as Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 technology and a 5G LTE modem. Go up to the $74,705 King Ranch trim, and you get a bulkier-looking truck with a King Ranch-themed exterior and twin-panel moonroof.
Excellent Towing Capacity
An essential part of almost any truck is its towing capacity. Many people want to tow a trailer or a caravan to carry goods or go on holiday. So, if a truck can’t pull even an introductory trailer, then what is the point of the car?
Fortunately, Ford knows this, and thus, the F-150 can tow virtually anything—well, bar a Boeing 747, perhaps. The F-150 can tow up to 13,500 lbs, which for 99 percent of customers is going to be more than enough towing capacity.
One Of The Most Fuel Efficient Pickup Trucks
It will come as no surprise to anyone that pickup trucks aren’t precisely hyper-milers. You would be quite the lemon to buy a truck hoping for up to 60 MPG, only to find out you are lucky to get 20 MPG. Yet, as pickup trucks go, Ford’s F-150 is undoubtedly one of the most economical.
The standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine is good enough for around 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Sure, it’s not at the same level as a Toyota Prius. But 26 MPG on the highway is as good as it can get with any pickup.
A Comfortable And Spacious Interior
It doesn’t matter what trim level of Ford F-150 you buy. Be it the basic XL or the Raptor R, the F-150 has one of the best interiors of any pickup currently on sale. They are spacious and comfortable, and the large windows and moonroof options can let plenty of daylight in.
Ford ensures as much rear legroom as possible, something that some vehicles often lack. The higher up the trim levels you go, the more features you get, such as heated and cooled seats and even built-in massaging features.
Ford Makes The F-150 As Safe As Possible
While safety is, of course, important in any vehicle, Ford seems more committed than some to making its products as safe as possible. The F-150 is one of those products, and that is true right across the range, from the Raptor to the XL and all the way to the massive Super Duty versions.
Ford’s safety suite on the F-150 is vast. Many functions are contained within the Co-Pilot 360 system, which features functions such as blind-spot monitoring and lane assist. The onboard systems also make the F-150 as secure as possible, with theft alerts coming through via the FordPass app.
Incredible Off-Road Capabilities
The Raptor and Raptor R are the best versions of the Ford F-150 when it comes to off-roading. The trim levels that are suited to off-roading are the STX with the FX4 package, the F-150 Tremor, and, of course, both versions of the F-150 Raptor.
For does more than just shove some off-road tires on the truck. Each off-roader comes with a variety of drive modes to suit the terrain and conditions. This is all handled via the Terrain Management System, and the trucks also have Fox racing shock absorbers, absorbing every bump and dip in the road.
The Hybrid F-150
Ford has yet to introduce an all-electric F-150. However, it has also introduced a hybrid version, adding more variety to the lineup and one that still has an internal combustion engine while improving fuel economy.
Officially, this is the Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid. It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine backed up by an electric powertrain that produces 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. A 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine with 325 horsepower is also an option.
Brand Loyalty
One factor in the Ford F-150’s success almost has nothing to do with the truck at all. Brand loyalty can play a big part in why people love a certain car or vehicle, and they will always gravitate towards the latest version of that particular product from that particular manufacturer.
Ford has a lot of fans, and a lot of them will love the F-150. Even through the hard times, those that love a brand will know that a manufacturer can fix any problems that many crop up.
Rivals Not Putting Up The Competition
Something else that can play a role is a rival manufacturer not putting up the competition to rival the F-150. The fact that it consistently sells so well each year is perhaps a sign that Chevrolet, GMC, and other brands simply aren’t producing as strong a product.
The sales figures for the pickup across all trim levels really do speak for themselves. In 2023, the Blue Oval sold 750,789 units of the entire Ford F-Series of pickup trucks. At the time of writing, in 2024, Ford had sold 490,390 examples of the S-Series.
A Practical Family Vehicle
Something else that makes the Ford F-150 so strong is how practical it is. Thanks to the sheer amount of space in the cabin, it can be used not only as a truck but also as a family vehicle. It can comfortably seat you, your partner, and the kids and has plenty of room for luggage, too.
While it is a big truck, Ford has used aluminum in its construction to keep the weight as low as possible. Meaning that it doesn’t feel too cumbersome, even when driving around town.