Despite Technology Boost, Ford F-150's New Base Engine Still Guzzles More Gas Than the Upgrade

Think of the Ford F-150 pickup and one’s mind immediately turns to an excellent pair of EcoBoost V6 engines with 2.7 and 3.5 liters of displacement. And why wouldn’t you? Together, Ford’s twin-turbocharged V6 twins make up three-quarters of the model’s engine share. These beauties are the last word in full-size pickup torque, though the 2.7-liter is a wanderer that finds deserving homes in such models as the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and Ford Fusion Sport.

For 2018, both EcoBoost engines see some refinements, but buyers of F-150 XL and XLT pickups won’t see either if they leave those option boxes unchecked. In a bid to increase fuel efficiency across the lineup, 2018 sees the introduction of a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 in low-rung trims, replacing the previous 3.5-liter unit.

There’s no shortage of technology at work with the new 3.3, but it can’t match the fuel economy of the closest available engine upgrade.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a two-wheel-drive 3.3-liter F-150 sips gasoline to the tune of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 21 mpg. Adding four-wheel traction sees those numbers slip by 1 mpg combined, and 2 mpg on the highway.

Respectable numbers, especially given the engine’s healthy output. The 3.3-liter makes 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, assisted in its power and fuel economy goals by dual port- and direct-injection, plus twin independent variable cam timing. Last year’s 3.5-liter made less power and delivered 20 combined/18 city/24 highway in 2WD guise.

Still, there’s a reason automakers are flinging turbochargers at practically every model. Upgrading to the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, now with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft, means less pain at the pumps — at least on paper. The EPA rates that engine (in a 2WD F-150) at 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. Going 4WD takes those figures to 21 combined/19 city/24 highway. More power, and still more fuel economy, it seems. (Keep in mind that the 3.3-liter still uses Ford’s six-speed automatic, while the 2.7 receives the new 10-speed.)

While the EPA claims the 3.3-liter can’t quite match the fuel consumption of the 2.7-liter, your mileage may very well vary. A recent test of an F-150 King Ranch, equipped with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 10-speed auto, saw the week’s observed fuel economy fall well below the EPA rating. The driver (yours truly) was not hoofing it, just to make that clear.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]