Is the 2.7L EcoBoost Worth the Upgrade Over the 3.5L V6?
Browsing through our forums I stumbled across a post started by rfc1 who is looking at a new truck. He plans on purchasing a two-wheel drive F-150 in the SuperCab configuration. He’s wondering if he should just stick with the 3.5L V6 base engine, or upgrade to the 2.7L EcoBoost turbo V6? It’s an interesting decision to make, but I think it is.
The base 3.5L V6 engine makes 282 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. In this day and age, when you can buy a sedan with over 700 horsepower, 282 doesn’t seem like a lot. But it really is. It’s more power than you can get in the biggest-engined Fusion, for example.
The weight savings from skipping the four-wheel drive would make up most of the power and torque differences from the EcoBoost engine. If you aren’t towing, you probably don’t need the extra power anyway.
The V6 should also be a rock-solid engine, and easy to work on if it needs work. Ford tested the 2.7L EcoBoost in some of the harshest conditions in the world longer than anyone would normally drive it, but there is a certain amount of complexity that comes with having a turbo installed.
So why do I still recommend the 2.7L EcoBoost over the base V6? Because it’s just an awesome engine.
I’ve driven several new Fords with the 2.7L EcoBoost installed, and the engine is fantastic in all of those applications. In the 2015 Ford F-150, the 2.7L EcoBoost even includes a start stop function that worked really well for me. Also, the engine is more fuel efficient in normal driving. For $795, I think it’s a good deal.
Additionally, you do get more power and torque with the EcoBoost engine. You get 325 horsepower and a whopping 375 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers aren’t too far off from the bigger 3.5L EcoBoost in the high-end trims.
I can tell you, if you do like to scoot once in awhile, the EcoBoost is a great engine for it. The 2.7L EcoBoost just feels faster when you’re driving it. The near-nonexistent turbo lag combined with some serious down low grunt makes this truck feel faster than it is.
Also, if you are someone who, down the road, would like something faster, it’s pretty easy to get more power out of these EcoBoost engines. Any capable tuner can get you some big upgrades without that much of an investment.
EcoBoost engines have been out for awhile, and any reliability issues have been long solved. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I’d say you’re just as likely to have a problem with the base V6 as you would with the 2.7L EcoBoost. The only real advantage I see to the base engine, aside from the cost, is that it’s a Flex Fuel capable engine. If that matters to you, you can’t go EcoBoost.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the base 3.5L engine, and I can’t fault anyone for going with it. But the 2.7L EcoBoost is a real gem of an engine, and I think you’d be happier with it long-term.
What do you think? Check out the thread over in the forums!
