The Ford F‑150 isn’t just a pickup. In America, it’s the same truck that’s remained the best‑selling vehicle in the country for almost half a century. But times are changing: competitors from Ram, Toyota, and GM are hot on its heels, and the era of V8s is slowly fading.
Ford’s answer isn’t to increase engine displacement, but to make its engines smarter. The author drove the updated F‑150 Lariat with the PowerBoost hybrid system and is ready to tell you why the future feels darn fast, especially if you’re weighing it against Ford’s heavier-duty F‑250 in a classic F‑150 vs F‑250 showdown.
Price
Let’s start with the most exciting question – the price. The Lariat is the entry point into the world of premium Ford pickups, and it’s priced accordingly. The base all‑wheel‑drive version starts at around $63,000. The PowerBoost hybrid engine costs $1,900 more than the standard 5.0L V8, buying you an extra 30 hp, 570 lb‑ft of torque, and a 3.2‑hp (about 2.4 kW) onboard generator. The bulk of the cost comes from option packages, which can easily push the truck to $75,000.
Such a purchase hits the pocket hard, considering that the used‑truck market in Florida can offer mid‑cycle F‑150s in popular trims like XLT and Lariat in the mid‑$20,000s to mid‑$40,000s, depending on year, mileage, and equipment. Many used Ford F-150 trucks in Florida dealerships like Autoland Jax fall into that bracket, with some lightly used models even dipping into the low‑$30,000s for relatively recent trucks.
So let’s see what Ford can offer for this immodest price tag.
Engine
The heart of this pickup is the PowerBoost hybrid system. Under the hood is a 3.5‑liter twin‑turbocharged V6, paired with a 35‑kW electric motor integrated directly into the 10‑speed automatic transmission. Power is supplied by a compact 1.5‑kWh lithium‑ion battery.
- Power: 430 hp
- Torque: 570 lb‑ft
On the road, these numbers translate into one simple sensation: this truck is incredibly fast. Not “fast for a pickup,” but truly fast at any speed. All the magic is in the electric motor. It provides instantaneous pickup from zero rpm, completely eliminating turbo lag. As soon as you touch the gas pedal, the electricity propels you forward silently and powerfully. And by the time the boost wears off, the turbos are already spooled up, the V6 roars, and you simply disappear.
Sprinting to 60 mph takes about 5.2–5.4 seconds, but the real story is the acceleration from 20 to 70 mph on the highway. The pickup lunges forward with such immediacy that it seems almost comical for a vehicle of its size. In terms of performance, this hybrid feels a generation ahead of its competitors with their new turbocharged six‑cylinder engines or trusty old V8s.
A nice bonus: fuel consumption for the all‑wheel‑drive version is around 23 mpg in the combined cycle, which is very respectable for this segment.
As for handling, it’s good, but not perfect. The high‑strength‑steel frame and aluminum body provide a composed ride, but the rear leaf‑spring suspension still makes its presence felt. In terms of comfort when unloaded, the F‑150 is inferior to the Ram 1500 with its coil‑over suspension or the GMC Sierra.
Pro Power Onboard
The hybrid is only half the story. The second, and perhaps more important, part is the Pro Power Onboard system. It turns your truck into a powerful mobile power station.
- Standard: a 2.4‑kW generator. Enough to power tools at the job site or throw a party outdoors.
- Optional: a 7.2‑kW generator. This power is enough to run an entire construction site, a large travel trailer, or even the essential appliances in your home during a power outage.
Interior
The interior is modern and, importantly, convenient. The Lariat trim level includes two 12‑inch screens: a digital instrument cluster and a central display. The SYNC 4 system is fast and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And kudos to Ford engineers for including physical buttons and knobs for climate control and volume – no need to navigate through three submenus to turn on the air conditioning.
If the F‑150 has a weak point, it’s the interior. The ergonomics are excellent, the screens are superb, and the seats are comfortable. There’s even a brilliant feature called the Interior Work Surface, which folds the automatic‑transmission selector, transforming the center console into a flat work surface.
However, the quality of the trim materials is a bit behind the competition. The Lariat, which costs just under $70,000, doesn’t come with genuine leather but with “ActiveX” – Ford’s signature high‑quality leatherette. Compared to the Ram 1500 Laramie’s opulent interior, it seems modest.
Exterior
On the outside, the 2025 F‑150 Lariat looks… normal. It’s the result of a mild 2024 redesign with a new grille and LED headlights. The design is deliberately conservative – boxy, masculine, and unmistakably familiar. It’s like the blue jeans and work boots of the pickup world: functional and familiar, but without the design flourishes of a GMC or Toyota Tundra.
Final thoughts
The Ford F‑150 PowerBoost isn’t a pickup for eco‑activists. It’s a vehicle for a successful contractor who needs to power a construction site; for a traveler with a 5‑ton trailer; for a tech geek who wants a single, exceptionally capable vehicle for all occasions.
It offers best‑in‑class performance, phenomenal practicality thanks to the generator, and excellent technology. This Ford truck isn’t for those who want to save money – it’s for those who are willing to pay for capability, technology, and a hybrid powertrain that simply doesn’t penalize you on the road. Yes, the PowerBoost Lariat comes with a premium price tag, but for the right buyer it pays off in performance, towing flexibility, and that powerful onboard generator.
Everyone else can still choose from a wide range of used F‑150s out there and, in many cases, don’t lose much at all – you trade the very latest tech for a much gentler hit to the wallet.