The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size truck and a mainstay of many work sites across the country. It’s loved for its highly configurable nature, strong and diverse engine choices, excellent capabilities, and easy handling. The F-150 has gone through many transformations throughout the decades, but each rendition has been a durable, reliable, hard working truck that you can count on to tow and haul some sizable items. Drivers who are interested in an F-150 but are also looking for a great deal should consider visiting their local Certified Ford truck dealer. Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Fords must meet certain standards and be in good condition to earn that CPO label, and they come with warranties and other benefits.
Ford has two levels to its CPO program: Blue and Gold. While there will be slight differences between the two, you can usually expect a vehicle that’s undergone a thorough multi-point inspection, has been put through a road test, and has a strict maximum number of miles on it. These vehicles will also still be relatively new. Under Ford’s CPO program, cars will either be no older than ten years (Blue) or six years (Gold) old.
Since Ford CPO models can cover a number of years, especially when you are looking at Blue Certified models, there are a lot of options out there for engines and capabilities. So, we’ve put together a breakdown of the different engines you can find in the Ford F-150. With the given age restrictions in mind, we’ll only look at F-150s that are up to ten years old, so you can make the best choice for your needs when you visit your local CPO lot.
Seventh Generation (2013 to 2014)
You might find some seventh-generation models in a CPO program, starting with 2013 models. This generation actually saw several new engine additions to the F-150 family. These included the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, the 3.7-liter V6, the 5.0-liter V8, and the 6.2-liter V8. Here’s a breakdown of each one:
- 3.5-liter V6 – This engine generates 365 horsepower and a torque of 420 lb-ft of torque. This engine gets a fuel economy of around 16 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway––a solid rating for a full-size pickup truck.
- 3.7-liter V6 – The 3.7-liter V6 was an exciting addition to the F-150 lineup when it appeared in 2011. It was significantly more powerful than previous six-cylinder engine offerings for the truck, boasting 302 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. When it comes to fuel economy, you can expect to get an average of 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway.
- 5.0-liter V8 – With 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, this V8 engine delivers impressive performance. The average fuel economy of this model does fall to 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway, but that is to be expected with the increase in power.
- 6.2-liter V8 – This beast of an engine was introduced in 2010 as part of the Raptor’s engine options. Appropriately nicknamed the “Boss 6.2L,” this engine went through extreme durability and endurance testing. Reports state that it was even subjected to bench testing at peak power for 500 hours, non-stop, and tests that lasted over 1000 hours while maxing out the truck’s payload capacity. Translation: this is a very tough engine. Depending on the model and trim it was added to, it could achieve up to 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. As is often the case when performance is high, fuel economy is low. Expect to see around 13 MPG in the city and 18 MPG on the highway.
Eighth Generation (2015 to 2020)
The eighth generation F-150 was noticeably lighter in build than the previous one. Appropriately, it got a smaller base-level engine compared to the seventh generation. Its total engine lineup included a 3.3L V6, 2.7-liter EcoBoost Turbo V6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost Turbo V6, 3.0-liter Power Stroke Turbo Diesel, and 5.0-liter V8.
- 3.3L V6 – The 3.3L V6 generates a modest 290 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, you see fuel economy ratings of around 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. Towing capacity maxes out at 7,700 lbs, which is the weakest of this generation.
- 2.7-liter V6 – The 2.7-liter EcoBoost Turbo V6 gets a steady 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is outstanding for a pickup truck, with 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Per usual, sacrifices are made in the performance department when fuel economy is impressive. The maximum towing capacity of this rendition is 9,000 lbs.
- 3.5L V6 – This generation features the 3.5L EcoBoost Turbo V6 of the last one, with an upgrade to 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This combination gives you the best maximum towing capacity of 13,200 lbs and a modest fuel economy of 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. There is also a High-Output version of this engine, bringing ratings up to 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, though towing suffers, topping out at 11,100 lbs.
- 5.0L V8 – This engine doesn’t have many changes from the previous generation aside from a power increase to 395 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This combination will take towing to 11,500 lbs and fuel economy to 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway.
- 3.0-liter Diesel V6 – The 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V6 option was actually dropped from the lineup in 2021, so consider it a rare find if you do snag one today. It achieves 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. It enjoys a fuel economy rating of 21 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. Drivers interested in a truck with better fuel economy can find this diesel engine as a CPO model.
Ninth Generation (2021 to present day)
Finally, we get to the present generation of the Ford F-150. This generation got a new hybrid model––the F-150 PowerBoost––which uses a 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbo V6 and a 35 kW electric motor. We see four engine options remaining from previous generations. These include the 3.3L V6, 2.7L V6, 5.0L V8 (with a slight increase in power), and the 3.5L V6 with a pretty significant bump to 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The maximum towing capacity shoots up to 14,000 lbs with this engine option, though all of the engines had a boost in capability. The final engine is:
- 3.5L V6 Hybrid – The 3.5L PowerBoost Turbo V6 Hybrid engine is one of the most powerful in the lineup, with 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. With that output, this engine can tow up to 12,700 lbs. However, the thing that really stands out is the 25 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway fuel economy ratings.
A Variety of Engines for a Dynamic Pickup Truck
Throughout the generations, Ford has constantly been adjusting and perfecting its engine options. Getting as much power as possible out of as small an engine as possible has been an ongoing priority. Smaller engines lead to better fuel economy, but Ford knows F-150 drivers don’t want to sacrifice capabilities for better MPGs. So they’ve slowly but surely created highly efficient engines that still pack a punch.
When you buy a Certified Pre-Owned Ford, you can be certain that it won’t be older than ten years (and much younger in some cases) and has been subjected to comprehensive inspections and testing. A CPO Ford affords you the excellent performance and rugged abilities of this beloved pickup at a price that’s in line with a used vehicle but with the assurances that come with a new one, like warranties and other protections. Visit your Certified Pre-Owned Ford truck dealer today to check out this long-loved pickup and enjoy great savings.
