Shopping for a Ford F-150 can be exciting if you love the idea of options, but lots of options can also be confusing. Powertrains change on a regular basis, and the 2022 Ford F-150 has six choices for engines, including the fully electric Lightning trims. Depending on the reasons you may have for purchasing a new truck, you may want to review which powertrain is right for the jobs you need to accomplish. Having choices is only as good as the information you have at hand, so here we will cover each powertrain available for the 2022 F-150 as a reference for horsepower, torque, towing, power generation, and trims. Each engine pairs to a ten-speed automatic transmission, except for the fully electric Lightning model.
3.3 Liter V6
Standard for the entry-level XL and XLT trims, the 3.3-liter V6 engine has fair capability with a mid-range towing capacity and fuel efficiency. It generates 290 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, which can translate into towing up to 8,200 pounds. For 2022 models, this is the only engine that cannot come with the Pro Power Onboard feature that can act as an on-site generator. If you stick with the standard rear-wheel drive, fuel efficiency can be around 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. Adding four-wheel drive drops fuel efficiency to 19 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. If this is the engine you want, it’s only available for the XL and XLT trims.
2.7 Liter V6
Standard for the Lariat trim level, the 2.7-liter V6 is a class leader in towing for the full-size truck segment in comparative V6 choices, and the twin-turbo powerhouse produces up to 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, a towing capacity of up to 10,100 pounds is available, and it can be optioned with Pro Power Onboard for 2.0 kW of gas-generated electricity. Fuel efficiency of an average of 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway is possible with the standard rear-wheel drive, and opting for four-wheel drive drops mileage to 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. If you love the towing capability and fuel efficiency of this engine, it’s available for a wide range of trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum.
5.0 Liter V8
Purchasing the King Ranch or Platinum trims offers the 5.0-liter V8 powertrain as standard equipment, and it produces an impressive 400 horsepower with 410 lb-ft of torque. You might think that as the only V8 option in the lineup, the 5.0-liter would have the highest available towing capacity, but it actually comes in second place. With plentiful capability, this engine can tow up to 13,000 pounds with the right body configuration and towing package. Only buyers who plan to tow a large trailer or RV will need this much power. Fuel economy is surprisingly good at 17 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway with the standard rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive drops that economy to 16 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. Like the 2.7-liter V6, this engine can be optioned with Pro Power Onboard for up to 2.0 kW of available gas-generated electricity, and it is available for XL, XLT, and Lariat trims in addition to trims for which it is standard.
3.5 Liter V6
To have this engine as the penultimate of F-150 towing power, the Limited and Tremor trims offer the 3.5-liter V6 as standard. It puts out 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque and can tow a jaw-dropping 14,000 pounds when properly equipped. A high-output version of this engine is standard for the Raptor trim, and that version produces a whopping 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque for handling off-road duties with ease. Fuel efficiency of 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway is standard for rear-wheel drive models, while four-wheel drive gets 18 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. As with the other gas-powered engines, Pro Power Onboard is available for up to 2.0 kW of electricity. This is the only engine available for the Tremor and Raptor trims and is the only V8 engine available across the entire lineup.
3.5 Liter V6 Hybrid
Though you might think fuel efficiency would be the bright spot in having a hybrid engine for your truck, the more exciting feature of this engine is the available electric power you can generate. With the hybrid engine, you won’t need to plug in to stay powered because the electric motor uses gas to supply energy. 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque are produced by this combination of gas and electric motors, and it supplies enough capability for towing up to 12,700 pounds in the proper body configuration and towing package.
Fuel efficiency is best for the 2022 F-150 when the hybrid engine is equipped, and it gets 25 MPG both on the highway and in the city with the standard rear-wheel drive. This efficiency drops to 23 MPG with four-wheel drive, though the hybrid comes standard with 2.4 kW of power supplied by Pro Power Onboard. An available 7.2 kW can be added, and this is the only engine with the option to upgrade this feature. For perspective, Ford states that the power of the standard generator can run a microwave or reciprocating saw and can run at full power for up to 85 hours. The more powerful 7.2 kW generator can run up to 32 hours at max capacity. All but the Tremor and Raptor trims can option this powertrain.
Dual Electric Motors
If you want to be free of the gas station forever, a fully electric option is finally available for those lucky enough to order the first run of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. Two electric motors generate a standard 426 horsepower with 775 lb-ft of torque when fitted with the standard range battery. Driving range, rather than fuel efficiency, is the measure for electric engines, which starts at a max of 230 miles for the Lightning.
An extended range battery is available, and that can have a driving range up to 300 miles as well as increasing horsepower to 563. Four-wheel drive is standard, and the standard battery can tow up to 7,700 pounds. The available extended range battery offers up to 10,000 pounds of towing capability. Like the hybrid engine, the electric motors can supply massive energy through Pro Power Onboard for up to 9.6 kW of power, plus it offers the added benefit of available Intelligent Backup Power that can supply three days of generator power for your home if needed. Four trim levels are available with the electric powertrain: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum.
How to Choose Your Engine
It’s important to remember that though Ford gives a maximum towing capacity for each engine, every single configuration of the truck body will change how much you can tow. Everything from the gross combined vehicle weight rating—or GCVWR—to the bed length is taken into account to calculate how much the truck will be rated for towing capability. Be sure to check the tow rating for the configuration of the truck you want before you finalize the order if you need a specific weight allowance.
Generally, the best engine for towing is the Twin Turbo 3.5-liter V6. If you want the best fuel efficiency, the hybrid and fully electric are the optimal choices, though, in gas engines, the 2.7-liter V6 is the next best option available for most trims. Any engine other than the 3.3-liter V6 can add Pro Power Onboard, and that feature can also be chosen across the trims. Whether you need a truck for towing or hauling, Ford continues to deliver choices to suit almost any need you have, and the engines are just the beginning.
