MotorTrend calls F-150 Lightning best truck Ford’s ever made

The Ford F-150 Lightning is the kind of truck that will make the electric vehicle revolution work for just about everyone, according to MotorTrend.

That’s part of the reason why the Dearborn automaker’s electric pickup has been named the publication’s 2023 Truck of the Year.

The Lightning also marks a major achievement for Ford, according to a news release announcing the award.

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“The F-150 Lightning’s instantaneous torque and standout ride and handling make it without a doubt the best truck Ford has ever made. If that feels like a bold statement, consider that amongst our judges, the Lightning won Truck of the Year by unanimous decision — the first EV truck to convince all judges across the board,” Ed Loh, MotorTrend group head of editorial, said in a news release. “The Ford F-150 Lightning is no less than a milestone achievement in the history of American mobility.”

The Lightning beat out contenders this year from Chevrolet, GMC, Ram and Toyota, and it follows last year’s win by another electric truck, the Rivian R1T.

“As the best-riding, best-handling, and best-driving F-150 yet, the Lightning is the first EV pickup to appeal directly to the existing truck market. It does so with a trove of new engineering accomplishments wrapped in a practical, recognizable package truck owners have come to trust,” according to the announcement, noting that the F-150 Lightning successfully bridges the gulf between the powertrain of the future and the pickup of today.

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The truck excelled in each of MotorTrend’s key criteria: safety, efficiency, value, advancement in design, engineering excellence and performance of intended function, the release said.

Despite an increase in the starting price for the 2023 model, MotorTrend said the truck, with a starting price of around $52,000, remains the least expensive EV truck on the market by almost $20,000.

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Here are a few other highlights, according to MotorTrend:

• A dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain.
• Eight 120-volt outlets, enough to power a job site.
• A full center console and front bucket seats on all models.
• A huge frunk, or front trunk, under the hood.