The Least Popular Ford F-150 Trim Has the Best Fuel Efficiency
When people buy a truck like the Ford F-150, they seem to know what they want and which options need to be avoided. But some decisions come at the cost of having a better fuel economy. Check out which 2023 Ford F-150 trim is being shunned.
How many mpg does the 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid get?
The 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and up to 25 mpg on the highway. It can travel up to 700 miles between fill-ups.
It has a better fuel economy than hybrid rivals like the Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max, which gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway.
Plus, F-150 models with the popular 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine get an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway.
But the improved fuel economy isn’t helping the F-150 PowerBoost gain interest. Only 10% of F-150 models sold are the hybrid model.
It doesn’t matter that the F-150 Hybrid still may qualify for the $7,500 tax credit or that it’s often sold very close to or under its MSRP. Seriously, it’s often sold for .8% or $701 less than its starting sticker price of about $46,230 on the XL trim.
Meanwhile, the F-150 XL is actually the most popular trim level. It starts with an MSRP of about $34,585 with the regular cab.
How reliable is the F-150 PowerBoost?
The 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost doesn’t have the best reliability rating. In fact, it actually ranks as the least reliable truck available. This might be why shoppers are less reluctant to get behind the wheel.
But the rating comes from Consumer Reports, which is based on customer surveys sent out to actual owners. The pool is a bit small because it only includes paid subscribers.
We had to dig deeper to discover the potential Ford F-150 hybrid problems, and the batteries might be to blame. There are several reports of phantom battery draining before occurring 5,000 miles on the odometer.
This issue may have been related to a software update that the trucks needed prior to being shipped. Drivers also received warnings about the 12 Volt battery charge being low, and their power accessories became locked as a result.
Other drivers experienced faults with the high-voltage battery system and found their trucks dead in the mornings. The batteries are prone to failing and often need replacing. However, they’re expected to last up to 150,000 miles or 15 years.
How much power does the Ford PowerBoost have?
The 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost pairs the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric motor and a battery pack to generate 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. On its own, the engine provides 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
When properly equipped, the F-150 Hybrid can tow up to 12,700 lbs and carry a payload of up to 2,120 lbs. The regular F-150 can tow up to 14,000 lbs and can carry a payload of up to 3,325 lbs.
We understand avoiding the hybrid engine if you need to tow or haul more, but it’s still got impressive figures. Plus, during our week with the PowerBoost hybrid, we got 25 mpg and used the Pro Power OnBoard Generator to power an RV with the radio, oven, TV, and lights on.
The battery issues reported earlier in 2021 and 2022 may be concerning, but the 2023 model has fewer reports of trouble. This may indicate that the issue has been solved. Also, the 2024 Ford F-150 PowerBoost might have significant upgrades, so stay tuned.
