The 2024 Ford F-150: Pricing, specs, and what's new this year for the talented full-size pickup

By Colin Ryan

Pricing starts at $36,570.

Pros

Class-leading abilitiesWide range of choicesWell-tuned ride quality

Cons

No diesel engine offered

What's new?

New stylingMulti-function tailgateExtra tech

The 2024 Ford F-150 is simply a king among full-size pickup trucks, with talents and features that should please almost any potential buyer. Pricing starts at $36,570.

We don't think full-size trucks get any better than an F-150. This impressive pickup took the 2023 KBB Best Buy Award for its class, having also won the eight previous years in a row. And it's not just us - our consumer reviews are exceptionally positive, too.

This generation, which launched for the 2021 model year, has an aluminum-intensive construction. The less weight it has in its body, the more weight it can haul, resulting in class-leading towing and payload capacities.

Another reason why we like the F-150 so much is the array of choices. Such as several great engines, including a hybrid drivetrain, plus different cabs and beds, and trim levels that go from rough and ready to the leather-covered lap of luxury. Ford (F) has revamped the F-150 this year, adding more standard equipment and providing an even greater number of smart features.

The Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup is reviewed separately.

What's new for 2024

Grab a coffee, this could take some time. Let's start with the exterior styling where there's nothing too drastic, just a sprucing up. The interior brings extra tech and offers more color schemes.

An STX trim comes in just above the base XL, and the erstwhile top Limited version is replaced by a Platinum Plus trim. The previous base engine is discontinued, making the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 the new base unit, raising standard horsepower and torque levels.

A super-convenient multi-way tailgate becomes available, and the bed receives up to two lockable boxes. Ford has also reduced the F-150's maximum payload and towing figures slightly, but they remain the best of this class.

Once buyers are ready to order a 2024 F-150, they'll find a simplified process. Ford said it has reduced complexity by 90% over last year, offering bundles of popular option combinations. A few items like the extended-range fuel tank and Class IV trailer hitch are now standard.

2024 Ford F150 Regular Cab pricing

The 2024 Ford F-150 starts at $36,570. That's for the base XL trim with a 2.7-liter turbo V6, regular cab, 6.5-foot bed, and rear-wheel drive. From this point, there are many permutations that include a formidable desert racer (the Raptor) and a luxury vehicle (Platinum Plus trim) with all sorts of cosseting comforts, plus prices to match.

   F-150 XL             $36,570 
   F-150 STX            $43,895 
   F-150 XLT            $47,620 
   F-150 Tremor         $63,950 
   F-150 Lariat         $64,995 
   F-150 King Ranch     $73,425 
   F-150 Platinum       $73,425 
   F-150 Raptor         $77,980 
   F-150 Platinum Plus  $84,400 
   F-150 Raptor R       $109,555 

These are manufacturer's suggested retail prices and don't include the $1,995 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

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Intense competition in the full-size truck class comes from the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500 - all starting in the high 30s. The Toyota (TM) Tundra kicks off in the $40K region. And the Nissan Titan begins in the low 40s.

Before buying a new F-150 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tundra tends to have the strongest resale values, but the F-150's are completely respectable.

Check out: The cars, trucks, EVs and SUVs with the best resale value in 2024

Power, ride and handling

The new base engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 325 horsepower and a meaty 400 lb-ft of torque (torque is arguably the more important factor, as it's the force that gets things moving). The other V6 available is a 3.5-liter unit turbocharged to corral 400 horses and 500 lb-ft of torque.

For those who still hanker after a big V8, there's a 5.0-liter unit making 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque - available even in the lowest trim. Ford doesn't finish there, though. There's also a hybrid drivetrain with 570 lb-ft of torque, which is the choice for anyone hoping to balance work duty with decent fuel economy, in the absence of any turbodiesel option.

The Raptor R comes with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 making a mighty 700 horsepower, but this is a niche vehicle.

Back in the workaday world of regular F-150 trucks, we've found that they ride with a refinement and composure that makes the week more bearable and road trips more likely.

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We've spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size pickup trucks, including the Ford F-150.

Payload and towing

Maximum payload of the 2024 F-150 is 2,455 pounds, enabled by the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 in a Regular Cab with rear-wheel drive, and deploying the optional Heavy Duty Payload Package.

Achieving the 13,500-pound tow rating is done with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 in a Super Cab, plus rear-wheel drive and the Max Trailer Tow Package. Incidentally, the hybrid drivetrain can still handle 12,700 pounds.

Let's compare those maximum figures with the Chevy Silverado 1500's 2,260 and 13,300 pounds, as well as the Ram 1500's 2,300 and 12,750 pounds.

Fuel economy

The turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 returns 22 combined mpg (20 city, 26 highway) with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 20 combined mpg (18 city, 24 highway) with 4-wheel drive (4WD). The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 manages 21 combined mpg (18 city, 24 highway) with RWD. Versions with 4WD go one less mile per gallon on the highway.

The 5.0-liter V8 runs to 19 combined mpg (17 city, 24 highway) (RWD). Subtract 2 mpg from the highway figure for 4WD.

The rear-drive hybrid drivetrain achieves 25 mpg in all three cycles, dropping by 2 mpg across the board with 4WD.

With 4WD as standard, the Raptor's 450-horsepower 3.5-liter turbo V6 is rated at 16 combined mpg (15 city, 18 highway), while the Raptor R manages 12 combined mpg (10 city, 15 highway)

All F-150 engines are fine with regular gasoline.

Be sure to read: A hybrid just won 'vehicle of the year.' Here's why the EV case has been hard to crack.

Clever interior

Following the usual pickup playbook, trims range from work-truck basic to status-symbol plush. Things do improve this year, though. A 12-inch digital driver information display becomes standard, along with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. And for the first time in an F-150, a head-up display is available.

Ford is offering a wider range of color schemes than last year, and a flat load floor (where there's a second row) enables plenty of cargo-carrying versatility. If there's going to be a full complement of passengers, choose the SuperCrew for its generous rear legroom.

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Multiple-choice exterior

Cab choices are Regular, Super Cab (like a typical double cab) and SuperCrew (like a typical crew cab). Bed lengths are 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, or 8 feet. Not every bed is available with every cab, or in all trims.

A lockable bed storage box is newly standard this year, just behind the rear right-side wheel well. If there isn't a generator on board, a second box goes behind the other wheel well.

Two new wheel designs for each trim level. The optional Black Appearance Package is available with the STX, XLT, and Lariat. The Platinum gains blacked-out exterior (and interior) elements as standard.

Our favorite features and tech

Pro Access TailgateNewly available this year (on all trims expect the base XL), this tailgate has an inner section that opens to the side, providing 19 more inches of reach for grabbing stuff in the cargo bed. It can open out a full 100 degrees, but there are also detents at 37 and 70 degrees to prevent it from hitting things like a trailer jack.

Pro Trailer Back Up AssistReversing a trailer is so much easier with this optional feature. Just turn the relevant knob in the desired direction, and the system works everything out.

Pro Power OnboardAn onboard generator is available across the range. The most powerful version, with 7.2 kilowatts (offered with the hybrid drivetrain - known as PowerBoost), can run a refrigerator or a space heater, or even save a wedding during a power outage. The other two "strengths" are 2.0 kilowatts (available with gas-powered variants) and 2.4 kilowatts. This latter item is standard on the hybrids.

Infotainment systemIn our opinion, Ford's infotainment system is easy to use and keeps improving. Now it has advanced voice recognition, over-the-air updates, 5G Wi-Fi, and wireless Apple (AAPL) CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration. The entire 2024 F-150 lineup also gains a 12-inch touchscreen.

RaptorAdmittedly, this isn't going to fulfill the needs of every F-150 buyer, but as an off-road specialist model with all the extra hardware and ground clearance, the Raptor is an amazing machine. It gains an upgraded suspension this year.

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05-16-24 0502ET

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