5 Best/Worst 2024 Ford F-150 Features!

Intro

The 2024 F-150 has been announced. It is not an all-new generation but there are quite a few changes that we can expect for the new model year. There are changes to trim levels, engines, technology, design, and more. And like most things in life, some of the changes are welcomed, but others we are not so happy with. Today we are rounding up what we feel are the five best and five worst features that will be part of the 2024 Ford F-150 lineup.

Worst #5 – More Complexity Increases Risk of Costly Repairs

The 2024 Ford F-150 is going to be the most advanced and complex F-150 to date. That is great if you want the latest and greatest technology. But there is a downside to all this innovation. The F-150 is no longer a simple basic truck. To be fair it hasn’t been for a number of years now. But 2024 adds even more technology, larger screens, and so forth. These features are great when they are working. But they introduce additional failure points and potentially costly repairs down the road.

Best #5 – Pro Access Tailgate

Ford is proud of the tailgate innovations they have introduced over the years. From a fold-down tailgate step to a power up/down tailgate Ford has spent a lot of time, effort, and money developing the F-150 tailgate. That continues in 2024 with the available Pro Access Tailgate. With this option, you can open the center section of the tailgate to access contents in the bed without having to open the full tailgate. This swingout portion can open in three different positions, 37 degrees, 70 degrees, and 100 degrees. The smallest angle allows you to open the tailgate even when you have a trailer hooked up.

Worst #4 – Engine Output Remains Unchanged

There is a rumor that the Raptor R might get a horsepower bump, but outside of that, the bread-and-butter F-150 engines retain the same power output as before. It is not that the engine lineup is underpowered. But when a truck undergoes a refresh like the F-150 is getting for 2024 it is nice to see a bit of a power increase to go along with it.

Best #4 – More Powerful Base Engine

The engines in the 2024 F-150 lineup may not have gotten any additional power, but the least powerful engine from 2023 has been dropped for 2024. The 3.3L V6 making 290 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque dies after 2023. Starting in 2024 the new base engine is the much more powerful 2.7L EcoBoost V6. That means for 2024 base power is now 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet or torque.

Worst #3 – Lack of Individual Options

For the 2024 model year Ford is changing the way you can order an F-150. There are fewer individual options and more packages. The reason behind this is that Ford wants to streamline the build process, and it should lead to better quality and quicker build times. But the downside is that buyers no longer have the same flexibility to order a truck exactly as they want. You may now have to pay for an expensive option package to get one option you want and three other options that you really don’t care about.

Best #3 – Upgraded Technology

The 2024 F-150 is the most technologically advanced F-150 ever. You get BlueCruise 1.2 on every model for 90 days with purchase and you can choose to extend beyond that. Ford Stolen Vehicle Services is available on the 2024 F-150 and it will help locate your truck should it be stolen. It is the first vehicle in North America to come with this technology. A 12-inch touchscreen is now standard across the lineup, a Head-Up Display is available, there is a whole host of trailering technology and a whole lot more. In short, even the cheapest XL-trim work truck is going to feel like it's been upgraded.

Worst #2 – Price Increase

None of this new technology or the new base engine is cheap. A 2023 F-150 XL starts at $33,835. For 2024 that goes to $36,570. A 2023 Lariat starts at $57,480 and in 2024 it will be $64,995. The King Ranch in 2024 will cost $10K more than a 2023 model. The 2024 trucks are better equipped but Ford isn’t giving anything away for free. Do you want to extend that BlueCruise 1.2 feature for 3 years? That will cost you an additional $2,100. F-150 trucks will be creeping closer and closer to the six-figure mark. Ford enthusiasts across the ages are less than thrilled to see prices creep up so rapidly.

Best #2 – Raptor Upgrades

We already love the F-150 Raptor and we suspect that we will love the 2024 version even more. New FOX Dual Live Valve shocks will be part of the package in 2024 (which allows the truck to adjust rebound and compression independently). There is also a new modular front bumper that will make adding accessories a snap (Standard on both 37-inch tire models). The Raptor graphics have been restyled for 2024 and a new Shelter Green color has been added. It has not been confirmed yet, but it is expected that the Raptor R will see a power bump in 2024 that should put it above the Ram TRX.

Worst #1 – Decreased Payload and Towing

By far the most disappointing news regarding the 2024 F-150 is the reduction in both payload and towing capacity. Max towing in 2023 was 14,000 pounds, and that is reduced to 13,500 pounds for 2024. The max payload in 2023 was 3,325 pounds and that is reduced substantially to 2,455 pounds. This is apparently due to the increased weight of the trucks. In 2024 the 36-gallon fuel tank is standard in almost every F-150 and the tank and fuel weight resulted in the reduction of the payload and towing capacities.

Best #1 – 5.0L V8 Lives On

There are EVs all around us and it seems another one is being announced almost daily by one automaker or another. So, the fact that Ford still offers a naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 truck engine in 2024 is a wonderful thing that we should celebrate. It might not be the most powerful or fuel-efficient engine in the lineup, but a Ford V8 just feels (and sounds) right in a Ford pickup. We don’t know how much longer we will have this option so we should enjoy it while we can.

Images: Ford