5 Best/Worst Features on Modern Ford Trucks & SUVs

Intro

Owning a modern Ford truck or SUV means you are behind the wheel of one of the most advanced, capable and efficient vehicles on the market. That can be a light duty truck that you need to just buzz around town in or a diesel-powered brute of a work truck that is capable of towing small buildings. And of course, anything in between. 2023 is a great time to be a Ford fan. However, even though Ford has been building trucks for over 100 hundred years they are not perfect. What we did was take a closer look at the modern Ford truck portfolio to find five of the best features and five of the worst. What do we love about modern Ford trucks and what do we wish was different? Keep reading to find out and see if you agree.

Worst #5 – Death of The Well-Spec’d Regular Cab

You can still get an XL or XLT regular cab F-150 with any engine, but the Lariat and above are no longer an option. This means you can’t make yourself an SVT Lightning tribute without going to the aftermarket, or swapping your whole interior. Can you get a decent Ford regular cab? Sure. But if you want more than just decent, you are out of luck. You need to step up to the Super Crew in order to unlock some of the best goodies.

Best #5 – All Engines Available in Base F-150

OK, assume you are okay with driving an F-150 Super Crew. The good news is that even on the basic XL trim you can step all the way up to the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 making 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. So, if you only care about the most powerful engine you can get, and not any of the other frills you can build yourself a reasonably priced XL that will deliver.

Worst #4 – Cheap Interiors on Expensive Models

Ford has been chasing the luxury truck market with vehicles like the F-150 Raptor R & Raptor 37, the F-150 Lightning Platinum, and F-150 Limited. However, outside of nicer seats and audio systems, the interiors are still filled with cheap plastics posing as refined materials. The same is true in the Bronco and even the Mustang. The more expensive models attempt luxury with power-upgrades, but the interiors are very cheap.

Best #4 – Ergonomics for Work & Play

The modern F-150 has never been better suited for both work and play. Back in 2000, the F-150 could be configured to have a maximum conventional tow rating of 8,800 pounds. Today, a 2023 F-150 has a maximum conventional tow rating of 14,000 pounds. That is nearly a 60 percent increase in capacity. On top of that, the F-150 of today can provide up to 7.2 kW of power thanks to Pro Power Onboard. That is enough to power an entire job site right from your truck. It also has an interior work surface, and USB ports to keep your devices charged. And it is not just the F-150, the Bronco was designed from the beginning to have accessory mounting points, and removable fenders. Even the Maverick is designed with functionality in mind with features like FLEXBED.

Worst #3 – Too Much Technology

Modern Ford trucks and SUVs are more advanced than ever. And there's a lot of upsides to this. But all this electronic wizardry costs money and increases the risk of failures as the trucks age. There are screens, sensors, and computers, that offer great functionality when working but are also potential points of failure. The modern trucks also offer over-the-air (OTA) updates. OTA updates are a great way to receive the newest functionality without a trip to the dealer. But it also means more surveillance and the ability to make some features require subscriptions.

Best #3 – 360-Degree Camera & Towing Bona Fides

Although the tech can be a curse, it has improved many things. Parking big trucks and towing takes a lot of skill. But Ford has changed the game by making it easier than ever to squeeze an F-Series into a parking spot, and to safely tow. And these trucks are now more capable towing machines than ever before. Smart Hitch, Onboard Scales, Dynamic Hitch Assist and other technologies are like using cheat codes to tow and haul.

Worst #2 - The Most Expensive Trucks & SUVs in History

It’s great that the Maverick exists, but it’s impossible to find. Ford just canceled the Bronco Base. The Ranger is more expensive than ever. And the F-150 and Super Duty routinely cost $50-$100K. The modern Ford truck is more capable and advanced than ever, but if you want one you had better bring a pile of cash. Expensive options can quickly add thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Trucks are not the bargain they once were.

Best #2 – The Most Powerful Truck Engines Ever

How about this Ford engine lineup?

• 6.7L High Output Power Stroke (most torque in its class)
• 3.5L EcoBoost (most torque in its class)
• 5.0L Coyote (most powerful F-150 V8 ever)
• 7.3L Godzilla (most powerful Ford pushrod V8).
• 5.2L Predator (most powerful Ford truck ever, in terms of horsepower).

That is some serious firepower. And if you are so inclined you can get the all-electric Lightning with an extended-range battery good for 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. That makes it the quickest-accelerating F-150 ever.  

Worst #1 – Overcomplicated Diesel Emissions Systems

The new Ford diesel engines generate impressive power figures and are supremely capable. However modern diesel engines have complicated emissions systems. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) became a requirement about a dozen years ago. And the newer trucks seem to use even more of it. Yes, it means a cleaner engine, but it also means another expense. And if you run out of the stuff your big, powerful truck essentially becomes a paperweight. Modern diesel trucks might be better for the environment, but the new emissions systems are driving down longevity and increasing repair costs. That is the opposite of what you would expect from a diesel.

Best #1 – Off-roading Everywhere (Tremor, Raptor, Timberline, Sasquatch)

Ford heard the call that customers wanted to go off-roading and now with almost every vehicle, except Mustang, you can. The Tremor package can be added to any Ford truck from the tiny Maverick to the not-so-tiny Super Duty. You can get F-150 Raptors with 37-inch tires. A properly equipped Bronco can wade through nearly 3 feet of water. Even the Expedition is now available in Timberline trim which provides 10.6 inches of ground clearance. If you like to travel off the beaten path, then there is a Ford truck or SUV waiting to take you further off the path than ever before.

Images: Ford