2023 Ford F-150 Review

Affordable and sporty, the 2023 Ford F150 Rattler builds on the XL. It’s easy to think of it as the entry-level F150 Off Roader. It certainly matches that description, but don’t let the pricetag fool you. This is a serious trail-ready truck.

Equipment is thorough: off-road shocks, a rear-locking differential, and all-terrain tires. Skid plates add exterior protection. In addition to its special badging, it wears snake-inspired graphics and painted 18-inch alloy wheels.

The cabin has a special look with a desert-inspired theme. The black Onyx seats have burnished bronze accents and bronze stitching. Adding more bronze, the color trims the instrument panel.

You can still get the F150 FX4 Off-Road package. It includes many off-roading features, including Hill Descent Control. This maintains a safe, slow speed between 3 and 20 mph when traveling down a steep trail. You can schedule a test drive to check out the F-150 off-roading Rattler.

Ford is celebrating 75 years of F-Series trucks with the 2023 F-150 Heritage Edition. The classic two-tone look is reinterpreted. In this new look, one color covers the midsection while another covers the roof, pillars, lower doors, lower body, and bumpers. There are five color combinations available at this time.

With upper and lower Agate Black sections, the midsection can be Atlas Blue, Avalanche or Area 51 exterior colors. Race Red or Antimatter Blue midsections can be paired with upper/lower Carbonized Gray.

The expressive interior wears slate gray and black. A 75 Years logo is centered on the upper windshield and appears on the center console.

The 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor is powered by the 400-horsepower V8 with a 430 lb-ft of torque. To assist the 4x4 drivetrain, there is a 9.75 inch gearset and an electronic locking rear differential. This truck is definitely ready for serious off-roading.

From the curb, you’ll notice its distinctive hood, orange-accented grille, skid plates and box-side decals. There are unique Tremor-style step bars and dark-matte finished 18-inch wheels.

The Raptor is made for higher speed off-roading and more fun on road, too. It has a High-Output V6 creating 430 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. Raptors have a Hi-Lock transfer case and an electronic differential to assist the 4x4 drivetrain.

On the road, you’ll notice its unique grille with FORD block letters. The bumpers wear performance accents. Flare front fenders and flared pickup box outers add to the distinctive look. Skid plates are especially heavy duty.

Trail 1-Pedal Drive allows the driver to just use the accelerator pedal to slow-and-go when rock crawling. Trail Control could be called off-road cruise control. At slow speeds, the truck manages its own speed and braking. This allows the driver to concentrate solely on steering.

The Tremor cabin is dressed in a unique sport cloth upholstery, although a Tremor-specific leather upholstery is available. Raptor models have standard leather upholstery. However, Raptor shoppers may want the Recaro leather and alcantara suede combination. It has handsome accents in Rhapsody blue.

The most sophisticated off-roader ever, the 2023 Ford Raptor R is the high-performance truck that only Ford could build. A supercharged V8 engine is its centerpiece. Raptor R drivers will command 700 horsepower.

The athletic build was crafted for exceptional off-road durability. The 5.2-liter engine produces 640 lb-ft of torque to ensure plenty of low-speed torque when it is needed for crawling. Toothy all terrain tires are 37-inch models, adding to the height and the capability of this new off-road star.

Not surprisingly, Raptor R trucks have class-leading ground clearance. A long-travel suspension, developed just for this pickup, is paired with FOX Live Valve shocks.

XL models are work trucks, although they have plenty of technology for modern living. The XLT model has softer cloth upholstery and color-coordinated carpeting. Both models have the 8-inch touch screen. However XLT models add Sync 4 with enhanced voice recognition. You can also choose the F-150 Lightning which has its own trim levels.

Ford F-150 Lariats are the first trim with standard leather upholstery. This trim level has ventilated front seats, our favorite feature for Phoenix AZ summers. The cockpit gains power-adjustable pedals and a 12-inch digital instrumentation screen.

King Ranch models are dressed with genuine wood interior accents and attractive trim-specific leather upholstery. Dash tech includes a 12-inch touchscreen to match the 12-inch digital screen behind the steering wheel. Bang and Olufsen provide awesome sound.

Platinum and Limited trims have different leathers and distinctive color schemes. Both of these full size pickup trucks have multicontour front seats with ActiveMotion.

Recognizing the significance of these devices, many trailering systems are available on the XL, and the rest are available on the XLT. With the advanced blind spot information system (BLIS), drivers can get trailer tow coverage. This extends the safety watch to include the trailer.

The big truck is easier to park with the rearview camera and available front/rear sensors. Even better, the available 360-degree system has a camera on each side, in the grille, and on the tailgate. These provide live images of everything around the vehicle.

It’s useful for parking, trailering and off-road. Plus, a bed-view camera lets you watch over your payload.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist provides a knob that can turn the trailer while the steering wheel keeps the truck straight. When it’s time to hook up, Dynamic Trailer hitch is an on-screen guide.

First in its class, Ford Onboard Scales can weigh payload, and the Smart Hitch can assist with tongue weight. When loading, the tail lights have an LED visual display to help you know when the truck has reached weight capacity. These systems work with the FordPass App and will show on the Sync 4 touchscreen.

When equipped with 4WD electronic-shift-on-the-fly, the driver chooses 4x4 low, 4x4 high, or 2-wheel drive. It also has neutral flat-tow ability.

Allowing shoppers the strongest engines at the most affordable levels, five options are available on the XL and XLT. As the entry level engine, the 3.3-liter V6 engine is ready to work hard. Output is 290 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque.

Guarding fuel economy and still doing the big jobs, the 2.7-liter Ecoboost V6 delivers 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Ford engineers used high-strength compact graphite iron to create its upper block and cylinders. This engine is standard on the Lariat pickup trucks.

To achieve class-leading payload ratings of 3,280 pounds, the choice is the 5-liter V8. This robust engine cranks out 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. It is standard on the King Ranch, Platinum and Tremor.

On the other hand, you may want the full size truck with a best-in-class towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. For that, there’s a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 that acts like a top-notch V8. This twin turbocharged engine cranks out 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.

Saving the most creative to last, the 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid V6 is the choice if you want incredible tow-haul ratings. Combining its twin turbo gas engine and full hybrid technology, output is 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft. The hybrid F-150 achieves 2,210-pound payload ratings and 12,700-pound tow ratings. It is standard on the Limited.

To maximize the capability of every engine, there is an electronic 10-speed automatic transmission. This optimizes acceleration at low power and mid power ranges. Hybrid models

have their own 10-speed automatic. Like the regular one, it is geared to reduce drag.

Reserved for the Raptor, the 3.5-L Ecoboost twin turbo is a high-output V6. High-power fans help keep it cool during off-roading. This engine generates 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Of course, now the Raptor R with its 700-horsepower engine.

The 2022 Ford F-150 is a Top Safety Pick Plus, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This designation applies to Super Crew models with curve-adaptive headlights.

Every Ford F 150 has a forward collision system to warn about dangers and intervene with automatic braking if necessary. The lane keeping system and BLIS monitor try to help the driver from wandering into another vehicle’s trajectory.

With Intersection Assist, the technology goes even further. It assists with left hand turns by watching for oncoming vehicles.

The many different styles and trims of the 2023 Ford F 150 are available at your Earnhardt Ford dealer. Check out our inventory and reach out to our staff by chat or phone if you have questions.