As one of the best-selling vehicles in America, it’s hard not to have at least a little bit of knowledge of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. If you’ve seen any of its commercials, you’d know that Ford prides itself on a motto of “Built Ford Tough.” While this may seem like just a slogan to some, Ford fans know the truth – Ford vehicles are some of the toughest trucks around, and every one of its vehicles we’ve seen has always surpassed expectations in one way or another. If you’re in the market for a pickup truck, then visit your local Ford F-150 dealer, but before you do that, why don’t you check out how the 2022 F-150 is going to continue the “Built Ford Tough” legacy.
Before we get to the meat and potatoes of the F-150, we do want to discuss the potential trim levels. Ford has not yet released the full details for the F-150 model, but we are willing to make some educated guesses based on last year’s model. Last year, there were seven trim levels for the F-150, starting with the base Xl and ending with the luxury and power-packed Limited model. We hope to see all of the seven previous trims return this year, but Ford could surprise us with something new. In fact, Ford is already making exciting moves with the introduction of the new Ford F-150 Lightning model, a completely electric full-size truck. However, we are going to focus on the tried and true F-150 model and what 2022 may bring to the table for America’s favorite pickup.
The Perfect Truck for When You Need Something Strong and Powerful
Most of the powertrain configurations from last year have made their way over to the 2022 F-150 except for one. It currently appears that the diesel engine is no longer available, but that could easily change as more details come out. However, the five engines that run on gasoline still garner the same exceptional power as last year. Best of all, each of these engines comes paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Starting with the base engine, you will get 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the F-150 can tow up to 8,200 lbs, both reasonable and respectable amounts for those who don’t plan on doing heavy towing tasks. For example, if you’re a hobbyist or just someone who enjoys going down to the lake, this will give you plenty of power to work with. The base engine is followed up by a turbo-boosted 2.7L V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. As you can tell, this is a vast upgrade over the base engine’s torque output. This then correlates into a vastly better towing capacity of up to 10,100 lbs. This isn’t the only V6 engine available to the F-150 either, with two more to choose from.
Of the two extra V6 engines, we’ll start with the turbo-boost 3.5L V6 that can generate 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. This is where the most towing potential lies for the F-150 this year. Equipping the F-150 with this engine will give a maximum towing capacity of up to 14,000 lbs, which is the current towing max for this truck. If you want the most powerful 2022 F-150, you’ll want to utilize the turbo-boost 3.5L V6. The 10-speed automatic transmission that it comes with is simply a bonus.
Before we discuss the last available V6 for this year’s truck, we also want to make mention of the 5.0L V8 engine that’s also available, nicknamed “Coyote.” V8 engines are beastly engines, and it certainly delivers here with 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, albeit it doesn’t outperform the turbo V6. Regardless, it does still offer a towing capacity of up to 13,000 lbs. This makes it the second-best option for towing out of the five engines listed. So why choose the V8 over the V6? The V8 is less costly than the turbo V6 engine, so you can upgrade your power at a lower cost, and it is still a vast improvement over the base option.
A Remarkable Hybrid
The final engine option is one that many people like to opt for due to the environmental benefits, though it will be interesting to see how this one sells once the Lightning starts hitting the streets. Not to be confused with the F-150 Lightning, which is all-electric, the F-150 has an available hybrid powertrain that you can opt for. If you want to save on gas, then you need to consider the 3.5L PowerBoost Turbo V6 Hybrid engine. With the hybrid F-150, you’ll get 430 hp, which is the most that we’ve seen so far, meaning this truck will have easy and smooth acceleration. Next, this hybrid combo delivers with a powerful 570 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity for the hybrid sits at 12,700 lbs, which puts it above the 5.0L V8 and the 3.3L V6 engine. While there may be some small concessions made in the towing department, there are a lot of benefits to owning a hybrid that makes up for the 1,300 lbs difference.
This hybrid model comes with even more advantages over the other four engines, and that’s in fuel efficiency. Thanks to its hybrid nature that consists of these motors and batteries, the 2022 F-150 hybrid is likely to achieve somewhere around the same fuel economy ratings as last year’s models (though again, we could be surprised). The 2021 F-150 with the hybrid engine and rear-wheel drive saw averages of 25 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, which is excellent for a truck model. Even opting for a four-wheel drive model still got you an excellent 24 MPG city and 24 MPG highway, and we don’t expect the 2022 model to offer a much different economy.
Make It Happen
Ford has made some of the finest vehicles over the years, and we’ve seen plenty of pickup trucks come our way. The F-150 stands out for the potential it can deliver, and the best part is that it doesn’t break the bank. A towing capacity of 14,000 lbs for a full-size pickup truck is worth talking about, and with new advancements and technology, the F-150 keeps getting better and better. The F-150 is the perfect truck for first-time owners, long-time fans, and enthusiasts because it offers ways to customize your experience while still providing you with excellent power and capability at any level.
Performance has always been a quality of Ford that tens of millions of drivers can attest to, and Ford has done a phenomenal job at keeping up with the ever-changing trends in the industry and the things drivers want most. There is even a powerful F-150 Raptor model for those who like a little extra power under the hood and off-road features that will make your day when you get your tires muddy on the trails.
The F-150 has plenty more to offer you, whether we’re talking about comfortable and power-adjustable seats, a large infotainment center, or features that are exclusively designed to assist you with towing. In many ways, the F-150 will be your best friend on the road. The F-150 has consistently been one of the best-selling models in America for a reason, and the 2022 F-150 is going to be no exception.
