Road test reveals new F-150 Power Stroke model’s strengths and weaknesses.
In one generation of the F-150, Ford has introduced several revolutionary changes to its best-selling pickup and the light duty truck industry as a whole. When it rolled out the all-aluminum F-150 for the 2015 model year, every other truckmaker was still using heavier steel for its vehicles. That was also when Ford started offering the F-150 with the surprisingly stout 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. A couple of years later, Ford finally revealed the production version of the more capable, more powerful, and more badass second-generation Raptor. The same year, Ford enhanced the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and brought out a 10-speed automatic.
Now it’s the 2018 model year…and time for another big change to the F-150: diesel power. Ford offers the F-150 with a 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 that cranks out 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. Despite that robust output, it enables the F-150 to get an EPA-estimated 22 city, 25 combined, and 30 highway mpg.
In the video up top, MotorWeek‘s Zack Maskell drives the diesel F-150 during its media launch in Colorado. The event gives him a chance to not only notice how quiet the baby Power Stroke is, but use it to tow a 5,500-pound trailer. With a maximum tow rating of 11,400 pounds, the F-150 has no problems pulling the load, unless it’s going uphill; that’s when it leaves some extra grunt to be desired. Maskell also notices throughout his time with the F-150 that its 10-speed automatic occasionally seems hesitant to do its job.
Revolutions always come at a price. There’s a chance Ford will offer the Power Stroke V6 in the F-150 XLT in the future (depending on the engine’s popularity), but for now, it’s only available in the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trim lines. On Ford’s website, the F-150 Lariat starts at $41,015. Maskell says the Power Stroke upgrade costs $4,000, so at a minimum, the new diesel F-150 will sticker for around $45,000. That’s certainly not cheap, but for those who need a fuel-efficient tow rig most days of the week and want to pull their loads in comfort and luxury, it may be worth it.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
