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AUTO
REVIEW

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV

By Stephen Schutz, MD

Ford recently unveiled the coming-in-2022 all-electric F-150 truck than a $80,000 luxury vehicle (an F-150 Limited lists for
Lightning pickup truck, and it was, as they say, kind of a big deal. It about that much money, FYI).
looks a lot like the current F-150—which we’ll get to in a minute— While driving an F-150 around town and (especially) on the in-
but with numerous futuristic styling touches, particularly in the terstate is invariably pleasant, and it’s always nice to have room to
lighting department. put almost anything, this is not a perfect vehicle. Parking one can
Interestingly, Ford is positioning the Lightning as a tough pickup be difficult, and fuel economy is generally disappointing (16 MPG
for commercial fleet buyers first, presumably thinking that if those City/22 MPG Highway for the V8 and 18 City/23 Highway for
demanding customers can be won over, then retail customers should the 3.5L EcoBoost V6).
be relatively easy to satisfy. By the way, only my favorite engine, the 3.0L turbo-diesel V6, gets
It makes sense. On the one hand, commercial buyers put many respectable fuel mileage: 20 MPG City/27 Highway.
more miles on their trucks and are much harder on them than every- Interestingly, the most recent F-150—updated just last fall—in-
day owners—think hauling stacks of drywall to 12 different job sites cludes some retro styling touches that harken back to the 1970s, par-
in one day—but on the other, if Ford can make them happy, then ticularly the egg crate grilles found on most trim levels. The overall
people who use their trucks for more mundane activities like Costco design is of course completely modern, but it’s surprising to see an
runs will likely be satisfied too. icon like the F-150 tip its hat to a decade marked by automotive de-
As with most things in life, easy to say, hard to do. signs that are not remembered fondly. Vehicles from that decade are
Anyway, the Lightning includes some highly innovative features derisively called “malaise era” cars, as then-new emissions regulations
such as the ability to use its battery pack as a power source in case of a and back-to-back oil embargoes rocked the industry, resulting in un-
power outage in your house, and a huge lockable “frunk” storage space derpowered and ugly products.
located under the hood in the place where the engine used to be. The F-150 can be configured in an almost infinite number of
Base F-150 Lightnings are expected to start at around $40,000, ways, but BCMS members will likely be drawn to the higher-end
but no other details about pricing have been provided. It’s reasonable models with four doors, especially the Platinum and King Ranch
to expect all the trim levels we’ve become accustomed to with inter- versions. While those two trim levels have much in common, they
nal combustion engine (ICE) F-150s (XLT, Lariat, Platinum and use different styling elements and interior materials to appeal to
the like), but with an extra cost for the electric versions. And it’s easy more urban and rural buyers, respectively. The Limited sits above
to predict that average transaction prices will be much higher than those trim levels at the very top of the F-150 food chain.
$40,000. For the next year or so until it actually launches, the all-electric F-
I have neither driven nor seen an F-150 Lightning, but I did spend 150 Lightning will be the darling of automotive publications across
a week with a gasoline powered version of what Automotive News the country, but for the time being, the less cool ICE F-150 remains
calls Ford’s, “crown jewel.” It was a pleasant experience, as you’d ex- a pickup you can count on. It can tow, haul and get you to the hos-
pect, given the fact that the ICE F-150 has been the best-selling ve- pital in any weather condition. Plus, it does so with a level of comfort
hicle in the U.S. for more than four decades. and luxury that surpasses what even some expensive cars can provide.
My test vehicle came with the loaded Limited trim and had a V8 It’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
engine, which used to be ubiquitous and is now quite unusual (most
F-150s today come with the more efficient and torquier 3.5L Eco- As always, call Phil Hornbeak, the Auto Program Manager at
Boost V6). BCMS (210-301-4367), for your best deal on any new car or truck
Driving the F-150 Limited reminded me that some versions of brand. Phil can also connect you to preferred financing and lease rates.
this truck are almost Lexus-like from inside the cabin. The ride is
comfortable, noise is limited, passenger space is generous, even in Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterol-
the back seat and most materials are soft and very attractive. Never- ogist who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was
theless, this is a Ford and not a Lexus, so many buttons and knobs stationed here in the US Air Force. He has been writing
(and a few surfaces) are more reflective of a base model $40,000 auto reviews for San Antonio Medicine since 1995.

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