The Ford F-150 has worn many hats over the years, with the truck not only functioning as America’s best full-size pickup but also a family hauler, off-road performance champion, works site office, and more. This chameleon-like ability to wear so many hats has helped the F-150 retain its top-selling position in the segment, with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning now preparing to add electrification to the F-150’s list of tricks.
The Future Comes In A Familiar Looking Wrapper With F-150 Lightning
While other EV pickups like the Rivian R1T and the Chevrolet Silverado Silverado RST adopt a look that blends the Jetsons with Matrix-like styling elements, the F-150 Lightning prefers to embrace a more familiar appearance with the truck infusing the F-150’s tried and true styling with a few Lightning exclusive touches.
The core shape of the F-150 Lightning retains a lot of the ICE model’s shape, with the side profile, in particular, having the strongest family resemblance. However, the front end gets a new front grille panel and tweaked headlights, with the space where the engine used to be being repurposed as a large frunk. The rear of the truck gets new taillights, and they now incorporate a lightbar that snakes across the upper portion of the tailgate, with a small spoiler also being integrated into the tailgate too. The upcoming Ram Revolution has adopted a similar game plan in terms of styling, but the F-150’s suit of clothes looks less clunky, and it manages to wear the EV look much better than most.
Our lone complaint centered around the color of our tester, with the Maytag-esque shade of white not doing a good job complimenting some of the darkened accents on the truck. We highly recommend going for a darker shade like red or blue to get the most out of the F-150 Lighting when it comes to raw styling.
Comfort & Technology Define F-150 Lightning Experience
Like the exterior, the interior of the 2023 F-150 Lightning embraces a similar approach, and it closely resembles a traditional F-150 model. Unlike other F-150 models, though, the Lightning is only available as a Crew Cab with a 5.5-foot bed, but that’s just fine since the Crew Cab allowed passengers in our example to stretch out and relax on long hauls. Our time with it also allowed us the rare opportunity to experience the cloth seats (a rarity in a model where the bulk of buyers go for the uplevel leather seats.) The cloth thrones were comfortable, and we also liked the bolstering, which had enough lower and mid-back support to satisfy even the most sensitive of lower backs.
The F-150 Lightning can be equipped with a pair of infotainment screens, with Lariat and Limited models getting a 15.0-inch screen. Our XLT tester arrived with the smaller (albeit still big) 12.0-inch infotainment system. Both screens come standard with Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system and also bundle in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability too. The larger 15.0-inch screen is sourced from the Mach-E, and it even comes with the same integrated control knob that we saw in that model.
While the XLT model doesn’t have as much flash or luxury goodies as the Lariat and Platinum trims, it still manages to feel high quality, with Ford designers giving the Lightning plenty of materials that are not only soft to the touch but also come from sustainably sourced materials. XLT models also get standard heated mirrors, a surround-view backup camera, power-adjustable pedals, and Ford’s Work Surface feature that transforms the center console into a foldable work table.
This Truck Has Performance To Spare
All F-150 Lightning models come with dual electric motors and standard all-wheel drive; however, the choice of battery will play a role in how much performance you get. Buyers that choose to stick with the Standard Range battery pack will get 452 combined horsepower, while the optional Extended Range battery produces 580 combined hp. Our tester arrived with the optional Extended pack, which allowed our rig to make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds.
This is impressive for a truck and allows the Lightning to be on par with rivals like the Rivian R1T when it comes to delivering smiles at every stoplight sprint. As you would expect, the Lightning’s handling is nowhere close to a formal sports car’s, but we will give a nod to Ford engineers for retaining the balanced ride quality that the F-150 has always been known for. That’s despite the Lightning ditching the ICE model’s solid rear axle for a lighter independent rear suspension. The tweaked rear suspension also plays a role in reducing the truck’s center of gravity, which aids in improving handling behavior for the truck. Steering in our tester felt too over-boosted, but as mentioned, the truck is designed to appeal to a wide range of consumer tastes, so having a setup that’s the equivalent of bland Spam or white bread in terms of weight and feel is on par for the course.
Extended Range models like our example have a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs while the Standard Battery pack gets a reduced 7700 lbs. Things flip on their head, though, when it comes to payload, with the Standard version capable of hauling 2000 lbs while the Extended Range version can only tow 1800 lbs. As for range, the 98.0-kWh standard pack gets 230 miles of max range, while the Extended 131.0-kWh battery pack boosts the overall driving range to 320 miles. Braking in our tester is typical for a pickup, with the brakes themselves delivering smooth stops, albeit with a pedal that felt vague and lacked a distinct bite point.
Value Quotient
The Ford F-150 Lightning lineup has proven to be immensely popular for Ford, so much so that the company has been forced to not only modify its production targets numerous times but also open and close its order books frequently. That plays a role in the current state of affairs of actually ordering the truck. Technically, the $59,974 Pro model is the base model in the family, but Ford was forced to close ordering on it for 2023. Instead, the $67,514 Lightning XLT will (for now) serve as the base model, with the aforementioned figure getting you a Standard Range model.
Equip the truck with the Extended Range Battery like our tester was, and the price goes up to $80,769. That’s partially due to the $4,000 XLT 312A equipment package, which adds $4,000 to the price but gives the truck a longer list of standard equipment, including heated front seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, and the onboard power generator. Our example arrived with several optional extras, which helped push the final price over $90,000. Lariat and Platinum models add more luxury and technology but also see prices move upward accordingly, with the range-topping Platinum easily capable of surpassing the $100,000 barrier when fully equipped. It’s important to note though, that these prices are before any rebates or green credits are factored into the mix.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is still a top contender in the EV pickup segment. However, it’s facing a growing pool of rivals, especially with the market now beginning to flesh out and gain traction. In addition to the Rivian R1T, the Lightning has to also contend with the Chevrolet Silverado EV as well as the Ram 1500 REV, with the latter boasting range that eclipses the Ford’s when equipped with its optional extended range battery pack.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.