Tag Archives: electric cars

The Ford F-150 Lightning, known colloquially as the Ford Lightning, takes a traditional approach to electrification in that it’s not trying to be an interstellar spaceship on wheels. This truck looks and performs like a truck. I’ll be damned. The F-150 Lightning offers strong towing and payload numbers, a spacious and upscale interior, and a long electric range.

Though it has been on sale for a couple of model years, Ford still struggles to keep pace with demand, and the wait for a new truck extends to a year for some configurations. Still, if you do find a Lightning for sale, the pickup offers actual truck capability without the need for gas, and that’s a compelling proposition for many buyers. 

Ford Lightning price and specs

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning: check local availability at CarGurus

Ford has raised prices on the Lightning a few times since its inception, moving it from the sub-$40,000 starting price to almost $60,000 at the bottom end.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro

• Price: $59,974
• Range: 240 miles (standard), 320 miles (extended)
• Horsepower: 462 hp (standard), 580 hp (extended)
• Torque: 775 lb-ft
• Curb weight: 6,015 lbs (standard), 6,361 lbs (extended)
• 0-60 time: 4.1 seconds (standard), 3.8s (extended)

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT

• Price: $63,474
• Range: 240 miles (standard), 320 miles (extended)
• Horsepower: 462 hp (standard), 580 hp (extended)
• Torque: 775 lb-ft
• Curb weight: 6,015 lbs (standard), 6,361 lbs (extended)
• 0-60 time: 4.1 seconds (standard), 3.8s (extended)

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat

• Price: $75,974
• Range: 240 miles (standard), 320 miles (extended)
• Horsepower: 462 hp (standard), 580 hp (extended)
• Torque: 775 lb-ft
• Curb weight: 6,015 lbs (standard), 6,361 lbs (extended)
• 0-60 time: 4.1 seconds (standard), 3.8s (extended)

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum

• Price: $98,074
• Range: 320 miles
• Horsepower: 580 hp
• Torque: 775 lb-ft
• Curb weight: 6,893 lbs
• 0-60 time: 4 seconds

Ford options most Lightning trims with either a standard- or the pricier extended-range battery. Not only does the extended-range battery give you an extra 80 miles of juice, but it also adds nearly 120 horses, bringing the Lightning’s official 0-60 time from 4.1 seconds to under 4.

Naturally, the Platinum comes standard with the extended-range battery. The tradeoff is more than 800 lbs of added weight. And sure, that can add a fraction of a second to your 0-60 time, but who’s complaining about a 4-second pickup truck? Remember the Ram SRT-10? That thing had a Viper engine and just barely managed under 5. Besides, trucks are all about how much you can haul before you stall, which the Ford Lightning has in spades. With 775 lb-ft of torque gracing the lineup, it’s rated for a towing capacity up to 10,000 pounds – although, if we’re being real, you probably shouldn’t go over 2,000.

Buyers can add towing packages, upgraded wheels, power side steps, and a myriad of interior upgrades. That said, the F-150 Lightning is expensive and has only gotten pricier as time has gone on. Part of that is due to inflation, but it’s the opposite of the actions Ford took with its other mass-market EV, the Mustang Mach-E.

The F-150 Lightning currently competes against the Rivian R1T seemingly for the titles of Most Expensive and Hardest to Find. In the near future, the Ram 1500 Revolution, Chevrolet 1500 EV, and GMC Sierra EV will land, giving the Lightning a whole host of electric rivals. The Ram is more traditionally styled like the Ford, but the two GM EVs are futuristic in appearance. Pricing for all is expected to be close to the Ford’s MSRP, so we’re in for an expensive electric future in which we’ve subbed burning gas for burning cash.

Ford F-150 Lightning interior and tech

Just like its gas-powered brethren, Ford offers several upgrades and customization options for the F-150 Lightning. While the top Platinum trim brings all the goodies, including leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, lower trims can be outfitted with much of the high-end kit through packages and standalone options.

As with most modern vehicles, but especially the electric ones, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning follows the polarizing trend that is replacing physical HVAC controls with an oversized tablet. The 15.5-inch touchscreen display in the F-150 Lightning’s center console runs the automaker’s own Sync 4A software for all your truck specific needs. Thankfully, for everything else, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (not to be confused with Android Automotive) still remain.

Unlike GM, whose electric Silverado and Hummer trucks have taken to Android Automotive, Ford is sticking to the proprietary stuff, for better or worse. On one hand, because Sync 4A is built by Ford for Ford drivers, its interface is tailor-made to fit the F-150 Lightning. In the main control panel, for instance, the first selection you’ll see highlighted is the onboard scales feature – as long as you have the tow technology package. This lets you check the weight of your payload to make sure you didn’t overdo it on the supplies for your latest home improvement project.

Like the onboard scales utility, some of the more exciting tech is exclusive to certain packages or options. The 360-degree exterior zone lighting, ambient interior lighting, leather seats, and moonroof are all add-ons, as are the upgraded B&O speakers. Even the trailer brake controller is locked to the tow technology package. But no matter how it’s configured, the Ford Lightning comes standard with a host of different drive modes, tons of hidden storage as well as a frunk, built-in navigation, and a stow-away shifter that converts your center console into an in-car workstation.

Ford electrified trucks: F-150 Lightning vs F-150 PowerBoost hybrid

The Ford F-150 Lightning offers similar configurations and options to the standard F-150, including the PowerBoost hybrid truck. They both provide in-bed generators and traditional truck capabilities, but the similarities do not extend to their powertrains. The hybrid powertrain delivers 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque, giving it stout towing and hauling capabilities – but it still uses gas. 

The Lightning offers up to 320 miles of range on a charge and can use DC fast charging to charge from 15 to 80 percent in around 40 minutes for the extended-range battery. The challenge with an electric truck is that doing any “truck stuff” reduces the range. Towing and hauling put more strain on the electric drivetrain and can zap range. Additionally, cold weather can drain the batteries faster, as using the heat and other accessories takes more power. 

Pricing is another significant difference between the two trucks. The Lightning easily crests the $100,000 mark in its top configuration with options, while adding the hybrid powertrain to the standard F-150 drives the price upward by about $3,300. Of course, the hybrid requires gas purchases, and despite its improved fuel economy, it can be more expensive to operate. Charging costs money, but it can be cheaper than refueling. Some configurations of the Lightning are eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500, but some are too expensive to quality. 

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning: check local availability at CarGurus

Ford Motor Company news

Ford is deep into its electrification strategy and has made progress on its Blue Oval City EV and battery production facility in Tennessee. In addition to the F-150 Lightning, the automaker sells the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit EVs in the United States. Ford has partnered with Volkswagen and others to produce and sell unique EVs in other countries, but there’s no indication that those models will make it to North America.

Ford has struggled with quality in recent years and has faced multiple recalls from all corners of its vehicle catalog. Consumers tend to rate EVs poorly for quality and satisfaction, so it’s not just a Ford problem, but the company has spent a ton of time and money fixing quality issues that could have been resolved on the factory floor. CEO Jim Farley has acknowledged the problem and promised a plan to fix the quality issues, but Ford has work to do.

There’s no slowing progress, and in the automotive world, that means going electric. Some automakers have jumped in with both feet and billions of dollars, while others have been slower to hop on the train. Toyota and, by extension, Subaru, have been slow to develop and release new EVs. However, we got our first taste from both automakers this year with the new Toyota bZ4X and Solterra, respectively. The 2023 Subaru Solterra shares a platform, drivetrain, and much of its engineering with the Toyota bZ4X but has enough Subaru DNA to make it unique. 

The Solterra is all-new for 2023 and we’re still waiting to hear more about next year’s model. That said, we can speculate that the automaker may offer a more rugged Wilderness trim of the 2024 Subaru Solterra. We also expect the company to add an extended-range model to the line as well. 

2023 Subaru Solterra price, specs, and range

2023 Subaru Solterra: check local availability at CarGurus

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is available in three trims. Each trim comes standard with all-wheel drive and a dual-motor powertrain making 215 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque.  

2023 Subaru Solterra Premium

• $44,995

• 228 miles of range

2023 Subaru Solterra Limited

• $48,495

• 222 miles of range

2023 Subaru Solterra Touring

• $51,995

• 222 miles of range

The Solterra is an interesting first EV from Subaru, as it’s more expensive and has less range than the Toyota it’s based on. That said, the Toyota bZ4X is front-wheel drive by default, while the Subaru gets standard all-wheel drive, which likely accounts for the price difference. While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a few thousand dollars cheaper, it requires added-cost upgrades and trims to get all-wheel drive.

Another hangup for Subaru is that the Solterra isn’t eligible for federal tax credits under the current rules. The requirements changed with the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act. Under the new legislation, only electric vehicles that have undergone final assembly in North America are eligible for federal tax credits. The Solterra and the Toyota bZ4X are both built in Japan, disqualifying them from the program.

Despite that, the Solterra fits nicely within Subaru’s catalog and can actually do off-road-y things. It’s more expensive than most of its lineup, but it’s not outrageously more costly than higher trims of the Subaru Ascent SUV. It’s also not entirely out of line with its rivals’ pricing and offers decent value for the money. However, the Subaru could use more range. Its charging speed is also limited to 100 kW, slower than the newest EVs from Korea, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Subaru Soltera vs Toyota bZ4X: sibling rivals

The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X are nearly identical in many ways but differ in a few key areas. Subaru equips the Solterra with standard all-wheel drive, whereas Toyota gives the bZ4X front-wheel drive to start. Buyers can add AWD to the Toyota, but it comes at the cost of range. That said, the Solterra and bZ4X return identical numbers with all-wheel drive considered. Neither vehicle is particularly exciting to drive or quick, and both take longer than many other new EVs to charge. 

Going forward, we know Toyota has other EVs in the works, including new SUV models. Subaru hasn’t been as forthcoming with its electrification plans, but much of its EV development is likely tied to Toyota. This means we’ll see something from the automaker soon. A company official has stated the need for several EV models by 2025, which is a good sign for Subaru EV hopefuls.

Subaru Solterra interior: not Solterrible

The Subaru Solterra interior, for example, is almost the same as in the Toyota bZ4X, as they both offer the same headroom, legroom, and passenger space. Their interior designs are also strikingly similar, and both offer great tech. Toyota equips a standard 12.3-inch display, while Subaru buyers get a standard 7-inch display with the option to upgrade to a larger unit. Safety equipment, cargo space, and exterior dimensions are also closely aligned.

Subaru news: Into the wilderness

Though we’re here talking about Subaru’s electric ambitions, the automaker’s standard vehicle lineup is one of the most targeted, focused product lines in the industry. Subaru listens to its customers and delivers models and features that they want, which is why the company is expanding its Wilderness line to the Crosstrek for 2024. By adding light but legitimate off-road capabilities, Subaru gives its customers a rugged vehicle that remains usable every day. 

Subaru has been characteristically quiet in 2023. However, the company did take the opportunity to tout its vehicles’ safety credentials earlier this year. Five 2023 Subaru models earned Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), meeting the organization’s new, stricter standards for side-crash safety. Individual models have been long-running award winners, such as the Forester, which has more Top Safety Picks than any other small SUV, and the Legacy, which earned the award for its 18th consecutive year.

Despite initial skepticism about its styling, the Subaru WRX is also seeing success. In a world where it’s nearly impossible to buy a new Toyota GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R at MSRP, Subaru has made the WRX accessible and affordable. While the non-STI model may not be as “hot” as the Type R or GR Corolla, it’s an extremely fun car that can actually be found in the wild, making it a significant win for Subaru.

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