Ford continued to win the pickup truck wars in 2021, assuming sales are your measuring stick. While that might have been a sign to Ford to ease off the gas, they instead continue their push to improve the newest generation of F-150 trucks.
Letās take a look at whatās the same, and whatās different, with the 2022 Ford F-150 and whether those changes are good for consumers.
The Key Takeaways
Before getting into the specifics, these are the main takeaways about the new 2022 Ford F-150:
- Ford has cut back on some color options for the F-150 to focus on fan-favorite color schemes
- Many of the engine configurations for the 2022 F-150 start at 400 hp and go up from there
- Many of the tech and safety options that made Ford F-150ās a solid choice before still exist in the 2022 model.
The New Stuff Out For The 2022 Ford F-150
In the previous model year, Ford did a big overhaul for its F-150 line of trucks. For the 2022 model year, we instead see a range of improvements and tweaks to better innovate on the current design of the F-150 model.
First, letās talk about what was cut. The Power Stroke diesel engine has been phased out, as well as a couple of color options for the truckās interior including Guard, Kodiak Brown, and Lead Foot.
However, new packages and options for style and function were added:
- STX Black Appearance Package
- XLT Black Appearance Package
- Lariat Black Appearance Package
- Platinum Black Appearance Package
- Bed Utility Package
The appearance packages help to consolidate Fordās color choices and bring to the market the color schemes that have resonated with buyers in previous years. The utility package fleshes out the bed of the truck into an accessory to on-site work by offering accessories needed on the job.
Engine Options
While the Power Stroke diesel engine is no longer an option for the 2022 Ford F-150, you can still customize the engine inside to your needs. The F-150 has the following options for you to choose from:
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 hp, 400 lb-ft torque
- 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: 290 hp, 265 lb-ft torque
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 400 hp, 500 lb-ft torque
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: 430 hp, 570 lb-ft torque
- 3.5L EcoBoost H.O.: 450 hp, 510 lb-ft torque
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 400 hp, 410 lb-ft torque
Each of these engines hooks into the F-150ās 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission comes standard with rear-wheel drive, though you can add the all-wheel drive option instead.
Your fuel economy will depend on which wheel drive option you choose. Rear-wheel drive models will average a slightly higher fuel economy than the all-wheel drive models. This wonāt be more than one or two mpg, though.
Cab and Bed Sizes
Much like with the engine, the 2022 Ford F-150 also features a host of options for its cab and bed. Youāll have three options for both to match your workload.
The three arrangements you can pick for the cab are:
- Regular Cab: The truck features a single bench that can seat up to three people.
- SuperCab: This ups the interior space of the cab, giving you room for five to six passengers across two benches inside the truck.
- SuperCrew: While this configuration has the same number of passengers as the SuperCab, this choice gives those seated in the back seats more legroom and space.
As for the truck bed, there are three lengths you can choose from: 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8.0 feet. All of these bed lengths come with a 21.4-inch depth and 51.1-inch width between the wheel wells.
To put that in perspective, the 8.0-foot length truck bed has 46% storage volume capacity than the 5.5-foot length bed (77.4 cubic feet vs. 52.8 cubic feet) and 24% more capacity than the 6.5-foot length bed (77.4 cubic feet vs. 62.3 cubic feet).
Towing and Payload Power
Much like with the previous model year, the Ford F-150ās towing and payload capabilities will depend on the cab, body, and powertrain options that you select.
So, because of that, hereās the maximum you can expect for the payload capacity of the F-150 based on engine configuration:
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 2,480 lbs.
- 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: 1,985 lbs.
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 3,250 lbs.
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: 2,120 lbs.
- 3.5L EcoBoost H.O.: 1,400 lbs.
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 3,325 lbs.
The F-150 follows a similar pattern with its maximum towing capacity:
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 10,100 lbs.
- 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: 8,200 lbs.
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 14,000 lbs.
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: 12,700 lbs.
- 3.5L EcoBoost H.O.: 8,200 lbs.
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 13,000 lbs.
Now, all of these maximums come from Ford directly, so the real-world numbers will most likely be lower. These values assume perfect conditions and are tested independently of each other, so take them all with a grain of salt.
Still, the towing and payload capacity for the Ford F-150 tops out at a higher value compared to most other trucks in its class.
Technology - Integrated and Options
When it comes to the interior, not much has changed with the 2022 Ford F-150 over its predecessor. This yearās model has the same 8-inch touchscreen as the previous yearās and it is still running Fordās Sync 4 user interface. The system also still receives updates and information using over-the-air connectivity.
Speaking of screens, the basic trims of the F-150 will have a 4-inch gauge cluster for their information display. As you go up in trim, the cluster goes up to 8 inches or 12 inches, depending on how much extra you put into the trim package.
Finally, the Ford F-150 has plenty of connectivity options. The WiFi hotspot can support up to 10 devices within 50 feet around the truck. Also, both Apple and Android payment support is built into the truckās computer. The FordPass Connect app lets you check in on the truck when away from it as well as remotely control or start the vehicle.
Safety Features
Compared to the GM and Ram trucks on the market right now, Ford F-150ās have broader access to safety features that would be options for other makes. For example, the driver-assist feature comes standard on more variations of the Ford F-150.
Overall, the F-150 received high marks for safety across multiple tests and agencies. Ford received five stars in overall, front, and side government crash tests for all its cab designs, and four stars for rollover safety. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety listed the F-150 as a Top Safety Pick in crash performance and crash prevention.
However, the headlights received a range of poor, acceptable, and good ratings for their headlights, depending on the trim package. Still, the F-150 marks high in many safety categories across the board.
Our Thoughts
Overall, the Ford F-150 is a solid option for those looking to grab a new full-size pickup truck. The technology and packages that help keep Ford as one of the highest volume sellers of trucks have come along for the ride into the next year of F-150ās.
While the diesel engine and some color packages have been cut, the truck continues to score high on safety and satisfaction for drivers. In fact, the hybrid engine options offer towing power that is hard to beat in a standard gas engine thanks to the electric design.
While it remains to be seen what can be fully done with hybrid and electric trucks, the 2022 Ford F-150 seems to be a design in the right direction.