The Ford F-150 Lightning impressed some big-named people, like Jay Leno, but is it right for you? Here, we explore three reasons why you should buy it and three why you shouldn’t. 

An overview of the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning 

Ford’s F-150 Lighting runs off an electric powertrain and battery with a driving range of 240 to 300 miles, depending on your chosen version. The extended-range battery will get you 300 miles.

If you want to compare it with a gas-powered version, the Lightning is rated to get 73 MPGe in the city and 60 MPGe when traveling on the highway. 

It comes with four-wheel disc brakes with an automatic braking system, LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, voice activation, and parking sensors. 

1. Worth the outstanding power

According to TrueCar, the electric powertrain produces 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. With this much power, the truck can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds, which is faster than the brand’s Mustang GT. 

2. Worth the hauling capability

The payload capacity for the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is 2,235 lbs, according to MotorTrend. It can also tow up to 10,000 pounds, provided you have the right battery range package added to your purchase. You will need the extended range version with Ford’s trailer towing package.

3. Worth the Storage

The pickup comes with a 5.5-foot box to haul quite a few items. But what makes the Lightning impressive is its “frunk” feature that gives you storage where the engine would usually go. This area offers approximately 14.1 cu-ft of space to use as storage. 

1. The price is relatively high

Buying one will not be cheap. The price for the F-150 Lightning will run you $51,000 to $92,000 before you add any options. If you compare that to the gas-powered version, you can expect to pay approximately $30,000 to $74,000.

2. Not much of an off-road vehicle

It appears the F-150 Lightning truck wasn’t meant to do much off-roading. It has four-wheel drive, which is great, but it lacks quite a bit to be helpful in journeying rugged terrain. It would take an upgraded suspension, raising the ground clearance height, and fine-tuning the approach and departure angles to be good at off-roading. 

3. Heavy towing capability affects the range

It’s always good to have the ability to haul heavy loads, but if it starts affecting your driving range on the electric powertrain, then it can be an issue. This means for those driving long distances, you’ll have to deal with waiting for it to charge, so you can either get back home or move on to the next destination. A level 2 charger will take about 11.9 hours of charging time to get enough juice to get back on the road. 

There are plenty of items to like about the Ford F-150 Lightning, and some that will send you looking elsewhere. If you’re into acceleration, towing, and storage, this pickup is a perfect choice. If you haul heavy items for long distances, and you don’t want to deal with waiting for them to charge up or if you can’t afford the high price tags, then you’ll want to look for something else.