Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range Platinum (US-spec)
Price: Not available in the UK
Engine: two electric motors
Battery: 145kWh (gross) lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 571hp
Torque: 1,050Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 300 miles (EPA range)
0-62mph: ~4.5 seconds
Top speed: 105mph
Boot space: 400 litres (frunk)
Styling
The Ford F-150 is big, and there's no getting around that. The Lightning is just the same, and it's an imposing thing even when it's stationary. But it's surprisingly stylish with it, thanks to its smart front end and the hint of a grille, even though it doesn't have a radiator like a standard F-150. The design is in keeping with the latest-generation Ranger, so it looks chunky and brash in a way, but the sharp edges and bluff front give it a kind of charming modernity, somehow.
Interior
As you might expect, the F-150’s cabin is enormous. There’s acres of space between the driver and the passenger, thanks to a wide centre console that houses a folding gear lever. When you get in, you press a little button and the gear lever pops up, but there’s no way of pulling it upright – presumably that’s a safety feature. Gimmicks aside, though, cabin quality is reasonable, even if there are some American-spec plastics in evidence. This Platinum version in particular is endowed with fabulous leather and flashes of chrome to ensure it feels premium.
There’s premium tech, too, with a huge digital instrument cluster and a portrait-orientated touchscreen similar to that of the Mach-E electric SUV. The display is sharp and intuitive, which is a good start, and it looks pretty good, too, although the volume dial integrated into the screen is a bit odd. Still, it does the job well enough.
Practicality
Because the F-150 is so big, and the electric powertrain is relatively compact, the Lightning is enormously spacious. The cabin is massive, as it is in the standard F-150, but for those uninitiated in the ways of the popular Ford pick-up, it has to be seen to be believed. There’s a chasm between the two front seats, and space in the back is akin to that of a luxury saloon such as an Audi A8.
Obviously, there’s also a load bed with a remarkable carrying capacity of just over 800kg. That’s less than you get in a Ranger, and it isn’t enough to keep the company car tax in check (not that it matters in an electric vehicle), but it’s impressive considering the massive battery. Yet more impressive is the 400-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet. Because the electric motor takes up less room than a big V8, the Lightning has the space to spare, and it has been lined to create a useful boot – something we don’t expect to find in pick-up trucks.
Performance
Although the F-150 Lightning is definitely big and more than a little heavy, the transition to all-electric power has allowed it to offer a startling turn of pace. In the chassis of this Extended Range Platinum model is a massive 145kWh battery, which feeds two electric motors. Together, they produce the equivalent of 571hp, splitting the power between the front and rear wheels. That means this pick-up is all-wheel-drive and can get from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. Almost silently.
This performance, which is alarming when you try it for the first time, combined with the bulk of the vehicle naturally means range is a bit of a problem, or it would be were that battery not so large. At 145kWh, it's roughly three times the size of the battery in a Vauxhall Corsa-e, yet the official range is around 300 miles according to the American EPA test. Whether you manage that depends on the sort of driving you do, but we reckon 250 miles on a charge should be achievable.
Ride & Handling
Due to its size, the Lightning isn’t an especially easy car to use on UK roads – particularly narrow ones – but on a motorway or a fairly roomy A-road it’s rather pleasant to drive. Naturally, it’s pretty quiet, and it’s very comfortable, thanks to supple springs and those massive armchair seats.
The catch is the Lightning tends to wallow about a bit in corners, and the steering doesn’t have that much feel, so it’s as much of a lump as you expect. But the battery sits low in the vehicle, so there isn’t too much body roll. All the driving fun is in the acceleration, as opposed to the handling, but the F-150 still makes a wafty cruiser, like a kind of plus-size Range Rover EV.
Value
Ford has no plans to introduce the F-150 in the UK any time soon – it’s just too big for that – but if it were to come to the UK, it would likely be very expensive. Even in America, it costs $60,000 for the cheapest model, so it’s hardly an affordable mode of transport. And this range-topping Platinum version comes in at just under $100,000, although it comes with plenty of equipment, including leather upholstery and lots of on-board tech.
Verdict
The F-150 Lightning is completely unsuitable for use in the UK – it’s just too big and too bulky – but that doesn’t stop it being a remarkable feat of engineering. To build something with this kind of range, this kind of performance and this kind of practicality is nothing short of astonishing, and we can only hope this technology finds its way into smaller and more UK-friendly pick-ups soon. For now, though, we’ll just bask in the glorious ridiculousness of the Lightning.
