Which Ford F-150 Engine Is Best? All 5 Powertrains Compared Back-to-Back

[JExpedition07]

Ben Hardy just tested all 5 powertrains back to back. The good news: he did not have anything bad to say about any of them, well except the base V6. But hey for fleet use and regular cabs it is probably adequate enough through the 10 speed. Great video of the 14th gen.

His rankings are:
Tied for 1st Place: 3.5L EcoBoost (regular) & 5.0L V8
2nd place: PowerBoost & 2.7 EcoBoost
3rd place: 3.3L V6

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[Highway 11]

In defence of the 3.3L, I recently had it in a rental. It's not going to wow anyone, but it has its own entertainment - it's more fun to drive a slow truck fast than a fast truck slow (especially around here where 50km/h over the limit results in a 30 day suspension and 14 day impound).

My thoughts on powertrains were always:

3.3 - The motor for UHaul fleets.
2.7 - The motor for people who aren't towing anything serious, or commuting.
3.5 - The motor for people who are towing serious weights.
5.0 - The motor everybody wants deep down in their heart.
PB - The motor for people who: Tow really heavy, or want enough electricity to run a county at their fingertips.

 

[eharri3]

I was a 5.0 guy when I went to order last Feb. Total dinosaur, proudly all in on having one of the last V8s before the purge. The salesman kept trying to get me into an EB asking why I didn't want the more powerful and economic motor. I was like "I'm old school, want muh simple old school V8 grumble." I Put my order in on a rapid red 5.0 Screw but kept looking because I was looking at potentially a year-plus time frame.

3 weeks later I found a rapid red 157" wb Powerboost with the 7.2 kw system sitting on a different lot down the street from my house. Just showed up out of the blue after I'd already checked that lot repeatedly and asked a salesman about incoming 5.0 Screws in my colors and trim. They probably didn't tell me about it because I never asked about the powertrain.

I Read up on the capabilities of the motor and propower on board system, took a test drive. Then ended up having to call dealer #1 and tell him to cancel my 5.0. I'd evolved, passing the V8, skipping the standard Ecoboost and going right to the tossing my dice on the first year of one of most technologically advanced truck powertrains on the market.

No regrets a year and 11k later. That it stays neck and neck through the 1/4 with my old 6 speed challenger RT that I dumped to help finance this deal along with my 09 Tundra helps me miss her less.

 

[JExpedition07]

Lol, if you are looking for old school the 5.0 Coyote isn’t for you. The 5.0 uses about every modern engineering marvel in the book as its dual overhead cam, direct injection, high 12:1 compression, displacement on demand. It’s an Americanized European style sport motor —but in V8 form. Looks very different from the good ol’ classic pushrod V in my boat that’s for sure lol. But where a classic pushrod V8 falls on its face the 5.0 will put serious power down right on up through 7 grand.

As far as a purge I don’t think that’s coming, GM just invested $1 billion into the small block V8 program and Ford just totally redesigned a new 5.0 Coyote for the 2024 Mustang. The V8 engine will likely be turning the lights out on ICE vehicles as a whole.

If you are looking for old school while it’s here that’s where the GM LT series would come into play. That or the Hemi.

 

[DT444T]

PB - The motor for people who: Tow really heavy, or want enough electricity to run a county at their fingertips.

Absolutely this, plus getting 22+ mpg average when not towing.

I'm not sure how they can rate the standard 3.5 as higher than the powerboost, but I also haven't watched the video yet.

 

[RCMills]

If the Powerboost is a bit slower, it is because it is hauling that heavy ass liquid cooled battery. But I find mine to be very fast and very quick off the line. and even when I drive with a heavy foot I can get 20+ mpg.

And from the ford website, these are the power ratings. The powerboost is the most powerful choice short of the High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 at 450 HP & 510 lb-ft but That is special to the Raptor and is also rated at almost half the MPG as the powerboost.

And you can feel that extra 60lb-ft of torque when you put your foot to it from a standing start. Probably more than you will feel with that extra 20HP of the High output. I have no issue with the power and speed of my powerboost , so far it has been great

3.3L Ti-VCT V6	290 HP	265 lb-ft
2.7L EcoBoost® Twin-Turbocharged V6	325 HP	400 lb-ft
5.0L Ti-VCT V8	400 HP	410 lb-ft
3.5L EcoBoost® Twin-Turbocharged V6	400 HP	500 lb-ft
3.5L PowerBoost™ Full Hybrid V6	430 HP	570 lb-ft

 

[bgalakazam]

For me fuel savings was not a factor. In fact, I did the math for an upfront charge of 2-3K for PB (or whatever it was). Then I ran a MPG calculator based on my driving. Then I ran the the gas prices at 4.50 a gallon. It turned out it will take me 10-15 years to break even. Then if I have taken the 2-3K upfront and invested them, the breakeven approaches 20 years. If you want MPG - don't get a truck, or get a midsize, or a Maverick.

I buy my vehicles to keep "forever" but so far they either get totalled, I have to sell, or end up upgrading. So I would have never broken even from gas savings by buying a PB. That and adding all the sheared bolt issues (not unique to PB, but many PB get the max tow) made it easy. I also strongly dislike turbos.

With a last caveat, I would buy a V8 hybrid, if Ford makes it.

 

[Uncle_Booty]

I have always preferred V8’s over boosted engines. There’s a video from Town & Country Ford (I think that’s right) in Alabama where they poll all of the mechanics and sales people. It reinforced my V8 instincts.

I have been a GM guy my whole life and when I considered trading my 5.3 Trail Boss for an F-150, Granger’s pricing in an MSRP+ market flipped me.

I love the Coyote so far - zero regrets.

 

[notabot]

Best motor? The best motor is the one that doesn't throw a con-rod through the block after the factory warranty expires AND comes in a truck that will start and get you back and forth EVERY DAY.

 

[Samson16]

I was a 5.0 guy when I went to order last Feb. Total dinosaur, proudly all in on having one of the last V8s before the purge. The salesman kept trying to get me into an EB asking why I didn't want the more powerful and economic motor. I was like "I'm old school, want muh simple old school V8 grumble." I Put my order in on a rapid red 5.0 Screw but kept looking because I was looking at potentially a year-plus time frame.

3 weeks later I found a rapid red 157" wb Powerboost with the 7.2 kw system sitting on a different lot down the street from my house. Just showed up out of the blue after I'd already checked that lot repeatedly and asked a salesman about incoming 5.0 Screws in my colors and trim. They probably didn't tell me about it because I never asked about the powertrain.

I Read up on the capabilities of the motor and propower on board system, took a test drive. Then ended up having to call dealer #1 and tell him to cancel my 5.0. I'd evolved, passing the V8, skipping the standard Ecoboost and going right to the tossing my dice on the first year of one of most technologically advanced truck powertrains on the market.

No regrets a year and 11k later. That it stays neck and neck through the 1/4 with my old 6 speed challenger RT that I dumped to help finance this deal along with my 09 Tundra helps me miss her less.

Amen brother! My rapid red 302A screw 4x4 PB is my first full size truck. It's my tow vehicle, daily driver, and now our choice for outings with the dogs over our Outback Touring XT lol. I've had it since January and it continues to impress mile after mile. Comfortable, quiet, effortlessly powerful, and 20.4 mpg after 1400 miles? What's not to love?!!

 

[Snakebitten]

It's a rather tiny High Voltage battery. Doesn't weigh much by Hybrid battery standards.

Most of the additional weight of the Powerboost is all the other components that are onboard to both support that HV battery, or to leverage what that battery brings to the table. Admittedly it's quite the ensemble of components.

An amazing vehicle. On the complete other end of the spectrum from simplicity.

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

I'm an old school loyalist to Henry's V8. It might be a dinosaur about to go extinct, but with the addition of a super charger these things will put out 800+ hp all day. and with a factory warranty!

 

[Highway 11]

Best motor? The best motor is the one that doesn't throw a con-rod through the block after the factory warranty expires AND comes in a truck that will start and get you back and forth EVERY DAY.

Huge reason why I ended up with an F150. 2.7L for durability and reliability. Chevy's 2.7L doesn't even come close.

 

[JExpedition07]

With a last caveat, I would buy a V8 hybrid, if Ford makes it.

I would also consider a 5.0L V8 hybrid, not sure if I’d buy it over a regular ICE 5.0L but I’d take it for a drive. This is a possibility as Ford has filed this exact patent for the 5.0, but it is very likely for the Mustang. From what I am hearing from the echo chambers of GM, the 6.2L V8 will be offered in a plug in hybrid next year.

It makes sense, the electric motor will make big torque down low and the revised V8 will make big top end power. No reason for them to design a ground up turbocharged engine where tech stands right now. Electrification can accomplish a lot. I’m a sucker for V8 engines, and I also like EV’s. I could likely stomach a cross between the two myself.

I am very happy with my 2023 5.0L at the end of the day. Just crossed the 1,800 mile mark and it’s been a lot of smiles.

 

[slow3v]

bly adequate enough through the 10 speed. Great video of the 14th gen.

In defence of the 3.3L, I recently had it in a rental. It's not going to wow anyone, but it has its own entertainment - it's more fun to drive a slow truck fast than a fast truck slow (especially around here where 50km/h over the limit results in a 30 day suspension and 14 day impound).

My thoughts on powertrains were always:

3.3 - The motor for UHaul fleets.
2.7 - The motor for people who aren't towing anything serious, or commuting.
3.5 - The motor for people who are towing serious weights.
5.0 - The motor everybody wants deep down in their heart.
PB - The motor for people who: Tow really heavy, or want enough electricity to run a county at their fingertips.

Nailed it lol.

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