2023 F-150 Review

The big news this year is the off-road-focused Rattler package. It adds a series of enhancements, including 18-inch wheels, dual-exhaust, hill-descent control, locking rear differential, an off-road suspension system, and rattlesnake logos.

The 2023 Ford F-150 is available in eight trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, Tremor, King Ranch, Platinum, Raptor, and Limited. While the XLT is the popular trim, we prefer the Lariat. We’ll explain why.

XL

The base XL starts at $35,130 (including a $1,795 destination fee). Standard features include a 3.3-liter V6 engine and rear-wheel drive, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and a backup camera. All XLs also come with 17-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, remote engine start, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Options include four-wheel drive, 2.7- or 3.5-liter V6 engines, a 5.0-liter V8 engine, or a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid engine. Also optional are trailer reverse guidance, backup assist, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Ford’s Sync 4 system, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and an onboard mobile generator.

New this year is a Rattler off-road package that adds skid plates, hill descent control, off-road-tuned shock absorbers, electronic locking rear differential, 18-inch painted aluminum wheels, dual exhaust, F-150 Rattler badging on the fender vents, rattlesnake graphics, and distinctive interior accents.

XLT

The XLT is priced from $43,735 and adds lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with fog lights, power windows, heated power-adjustable side mirrors, keyless entry, and cruise control. Options include a remote tailgate release, LED exterior lighting, 20-inch wheels, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

Lariat

The Lariat starts at $58,275 and includes a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine, 18-inch aluminum wheels, a remote tailgate release, LED mirror-mounted spotlights, fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and leather seating surfaces. Options include active parking assist, a heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. This trim is our pick for most buyers. It provides a more responsive turbocharged engine, additional safety and comfort features, plus a larger 12-inch infotainment screen.

Tremor

Priced from $61,905, the Tremor has a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, dual exhaust outlets, off-road shocks, heavy-duty suspension components, a distinctive hood, Tremor exterior decals, and halogen fog lights, headlights, and taillights. Options include TrailControl with one-pedal driving, trail turn assist, and an integrated brake controller.

King Ranch

The western-themed King Ranch is priced from $63,800 and features a cabin decked out with rich leather trim and wood accents. The front seats are heated, ventilated, and 10-way adjustable. Additional standard equipment includes a 5.0-liter V8 engine, a navigation system, and an eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Options include a satin aluminum tailgate applique, power-deployable running boards, and 20-inch chrome wheels.

The King Ranch and above models come only in the crew cab body style, which partly accounts for the higher starting prices.

Platinum

The Platinum, at $65,490, adds 20-inch wheels, power-deployable running boards, massaging front seats, and elegant exterior and interior styling.

Raptor

The off-road-focused Raptor is priced at $77,570 and gets a high-output twin-turbocharged V6 engine, 35- or 37-inch off-road tires, skid plates, an off-road-tuned suspension, and a terrain management system with seven drive modes. Options include Recaro front seats with leather and Alcantara trims, Rhapsody Blue interior accents, and a Raptor exterior graphics package.

Limited

The top Limited trim, priced from $85,705, comes with a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, 22-inch wheels, a panoramic moonroof, a power-operated liftgate, a premium 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, and an around-view monitor.

2023 Ford F-150 buyers can choose from six engine options. The base 3.3-liter V6 delivers 290 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It’s adequate for basic work duty, but if towing is important, it’s worth upgrading to the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 rated at 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. More grunt can be found from the 5.0-liter V8 or 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, both rated at 400 hp. But the turbo V6 not only has a higher torque rating (500 lb-ft vs. 410 lb-ft), it also delivers more torque at lower engine speeds. There’s also a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid drivetrain that delivers the best all-around fuel efficiency, rated at an impressive 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. Lastly, a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque powers the Raptor.

All F-150 engine options are paired to a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. No matter which setup you choose, the F-150 is responsive and capable, with good handling and minimal road and wind noise.

The Ford F-150 has a maximum tow rating of 14,000 pounds and a maximum payload rating of 3,325 pounds when properly equipped. That capacity puts it at the top of the segment, beating the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Cargo volume measures 77.4 cubic feet in the 8-foot bed, 62.3 cubic feet in the 6.5-foot bed, and 52.8 cubic feet in the 5.5-foot bed. One notable feature unique to the F-150 is the availability of a 2.0-kW onboard generator mounted in the bed. It’s optional with either the 2.7-liter or 5.0-liter engine and standard on the hybrid model, where it’s rated at 2.7 kW. The F-150 Hybrid offers an optional 7.2-kW generator with a 240-volt outlet.

The 2023 Ford F-150 has not yet been rated by the Environmental Protection Agency, but figures should be unchanged from the 2022 model year. Those ratings are highest for the hybrid: 25 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive or 24 mpg city/highway with four-wheel drive. The 3.3-liter V6 sits near the middle with 20/24 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive or 19/22 mpg with four-wheel drive. When equipped with a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, the numbers are nearly identical at 20/26 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive or 19/22 mpg with four-wheel drive. The 3.5-liter V6 falls to 18/24 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive or 18/23 mpg with four-wheel drive. The 5.0-liter V8 returns 17/24 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive or 16/22 mpg with four-wheel drive. The lowest figures come from the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 in the Raptor, which gets 15/18 mpg city/highway.

The Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Toyota Tundra provide comparable fuel economy, but the F-150 hybrid is the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup truck in the class.

The Ford F-150 interiors run the gamut from basic to luxurious. There are cloth and leather materials along with real wood accent pieces. The F-150 King Ranch is swathed in embossed leather and wood, with the Platinum and Limited adding attractive, distinctive stitching and bright trim.

The F-150 is spacious and comfortable, with a huge center console storage area. An optional trick gear shifter folds down into the center console to create a flat workspace in front of the seat bottom. Fully reclining front seats are available with a massage feature. Overall, the F-150’s cabin is versatile, durable, and attractive. The Ram 1500 is the only full-size pickup that can match the F-150’s interior when it comes to comfort and quality. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra aren’t as luxurious, although the latest Tundra is nicely styled.

The 2023 Ford F-150 comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi connectivity with a 50-foot radius for up to 10 devices. That’s an ideal system for buyers who enjoy game-day tailgating or foremen who need to keep a crew connected on a worksite. The 8-inch screen is standard on the XL and XLT models, and the rest of the lineup upgrades to a 12-inch touchscreen and voice recognition. While Ram 1500 offers a similar-sized screen, it’s only standard on the top Limited model. The Ram’s base screen is just 5 inches. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has an easy-to-use system, but screen sizes are limited to 7 or 8 inches, depending on the model. The redesigned Toyota Tundra has the most comparable setup, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and an optional 14-inch unit.

The 2023 Ford F-150 has not yet been rated but should have similar ratings to the 2022 F-150, which earned a five-star rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a 2022 Top Safety Pick with a top rating of Good.

Safety features, such as pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, curve control, and roll stability control, come standard. Available features include a blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, forward and reverse sensing, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive steering, and trailer reverse guidance.

The Ford F-150 has long been the bestselling full-size truck, and it has the features, trims, and capability to stay at the top. With the highest towing and payload rating in the class, it has a performance edge. However, the Ram 1500 also offers a wide range of options with nicer interiors and superior ride quality, while the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has many of the same configurations at more affordable prices. The Toyota Tundra was completely redesigned for the 2022 model year, making it the 2023 F-150’s most modern competitor.

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