The 2.7L EcoBoost V6 is the Best Engine in the 2015 F-150
Ford made a big stink out of their new, smaller V6 EcoBoost engine that first appeared in the 2015 F-150. The 2.7L EcoBoost features some cutting edge engineering and the best fuel economy of all the F-150 engines currently available.
I’ve driven a truck with this engine during the launch event, and now I’ve been driving it for a week around town. I can honestly say that the 2.7L EcoBoost is the best engine in the 2015 F-150. Here’s why.
It’s Capable and Powerful
I’d be willing to bet money if I put you in a F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost in it and asked you to drive it, without telling you what engine it is, you’d guess it’s the 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Unless you drive the two back-to-back, you can’t tell the difference in everyday driving.
In the F-150, it makes 325 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque. For comparison, the 3.5L EcoBoost makes 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Yes, that’s a 45 lb-ft of torque difference, but the way the 2.7L delivers that power it’s difficult to tell.
It’ll also tow 8,850 pounds and a payload of 2,250 pounds, when properly equipped. That’s over one ton of payload from a half-ton pickup and that’s not even the largest engine available.
It’s Fuel Efficient
When comparing gasoline full-size trucks, the Ford F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost is the most fuel efficient available. In a two-wheel drive trim, the EPA rating for the truck is 19 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, or 22 combined.
So far this week, with mixed driving, and four-wheel drive, I’ve averaged about 21.5 mpg in my review truck. Since there’s a fuel economy loss with four wheel drive, and my driving more highway than city, that’s about the number I’d expect from this truck.
Start / Stop Is Damn-Near Perfect
In an effort to save fuel and lower emissions, the 2015 Ford F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost will turn itself off at a stop sign or traffic light.
When you come to a complete stop with your foot on the brake, the truck will turn off. The radio, climate control, headlights, and all other systems remain operational. Once you remove your foot from the brake, the truck restarts.
https://youtu.be/vzutkY5SBjQ
This happens in milliseconds, and the truck is fully running by the time your foot hits the accelerator to start moving forward.
Unlike some earlier attempts at the system, Ford’s implementation is extremely smooth and hardly noticeable. I recently had three passengers with me, and while two of them thought the truck was turning off, it didn’t disturb them enough to ask about it. The third passenger didn’t notice at all.
The system is not without its faults. Since the climate control is not electronic like in a true hybrid, when the engine turns off in warmer climates the air conditioner struggles to keep the truck cool. If it’s really warm, the truck’s algorithm will decide that it’s not a good time to turn the truck off.
I’ve driven vehicles with start / stop before, but nothing that worked so well I didn’t find myself reaching for the switch to disable it. I have not reached for that switch once in this truck for the entire week.
The beauty of the 2.7L EcoBoost is that it’s a great engine that doesn’t cost much over the base V6 to upgrade to. Just $795 gets you into the EcoBoost, and it’s worth the upgrade.
Since not everyone wants to drive around in $50,000+ pickup trucks, the 2.7L provides an affordable alternative in the F-150 lineup that will get most of the work done without breaking the bank. What’s not to like?
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