Here’s the Cheapest Full-Size Hybrid Pickup Truck on the Market
The age of hybrid pickup trucks is upon us. If you’re dreaming of a hybrid 2023 truck, you have several options. But the Ram 1500’s eTorque technology is technically just a “mild hybrid” system. And while the Ford Maverick is very efficient, it is a compact truck. The only two full-size, fully hybrid pickup trucks available are the Ford F-150 PowerBoost and the Toyota Tundra i-FORCE MAX. Because Toyota is only offering its hybrid powertrain on mid-trim trucks, you can’t get into one for less than $54,915. An entry-level Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost, on the other hand, starts at $47,675.
The cheapest hybrid Toyota Tundra is $54,915
Customizing a hybrid Toyota Tundra is a tad bit complicated. That’s because Toyota is not offering its i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain on the Tundra SR work truck, or even the entry-level Tundra SR5. If you want to drive a hybrid Tundra, you’ll have to start with the Limited trim.
Toyota is currently advertising the 2023 Tundra Limited with an MSRP of $50,565. But that total is for a pickup truck with a smaller “double cab.” Because Toyota installs the i-FORCE MAX’s Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery under the truck’s rear seat, the smaller cab won’t cut it. So first, you’ll have to upgrade to the “CrewMax” configuration. If you go for the smaller 5.5-foot bed, your new MSRP will be $52,615.
The Tundra Limited normally ships with Toyota’s new twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6. Upgrading to the hybrid i-FORCE MAX powertrain add $3800, for any trim of the truck. At the time of writing, Toyota’s advertised MSRP for a 4×2 Tundra Limited i-FORCE MAX is $56,415.
The entry-level Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost starts at $47,685
Ford is doing things a little differently with its first hybrid F-150 powertrain. You can actually select the PowerBoost engine upgrade on any trim level of the F-150. This choice may target work-truck drivers interested in the PowerBoost’s class-leading onboard power outlets.
Like the Tundra, only the F-150 with the big cab (the Ford SuperCrew) is available as a hybrid. Ford still offers a two-door (regular cab) F-150 XL. Ford advertises the 2023 XL regular cab at $33,695, but the SuperCrew configuration will set you back at least $40,640.
The regular F-150 XL comes with Ford’s naturally-aspirated 3.3-liter V6. Ford actually has a different upcharge for the PowerBoost hybrid engine depending on trim. So if you were springing for the F-150 King Ranch, adding the PowerBoost would only run you $2500. If you were selecting an F-150 Lariat, you’d only pay $3,300 extra for the PowerBoost. But for drivers of the XL and XLT, Ford actually tacks on an extra $4,495 for the hybrid engine.
So all told, for the 2023 Ford F-150 XL with the PowerBoost, Ford is currently advertising a $47,675 MSRP. That’s quite a bit less than the Tundra, but we wish Ford only hit XL drivers with the same hybrid upcharge as King Ranch owners.
Is a hybrid pickup truck worth the money?
Obviously, the cheapest hybrid Toyota Tundra is an even larger investment than the cheapest Ford F-150 hybrid. Are either of them a smart choice?
Andre Smirnov of TFL Truck got a Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost to drive daily. After one year, he concluded that not every PowerBoost driver would recoup their investment. The PowerBoost does little to improve the F-150’s highway mpg. What it does improve is the truck’s efficiency during stop-go driving. So only drivers with a city commute could conceivably get their money’s worth.
Next, see the PowerBoost’s mpg and find out whether a hybrid Ford F-150 is a smart buy for you, or watch Smirnov’s thoughts on investing in a full-size hybrid truck in the video below:
