Ford Announces Improved Hauling and Long Haul Economy for the 2018 F-150

As promised, Ford is updating the engine lineup in the company’s best-selling F-150 for the 2018 model year, providing improved fuel economy and maximum towing capacity across the board.

While it’s always a good idea to hold out a bit of skepticism until review time, Ford previously low-balled its economy estimates for the F-Series — as such, we’re working with some previously existing good faith.

News has been trickling out regarding Ford’s upcoming styling tweaks, advanced safety tech, and a powerful new diesel engine for the 2018 model. We also knew the F-150’s gas engines would be getting upgraded specs and, while some alterations are minor, there are a few big numbers worth disclosing.

And they have little to do with the 5.0-liter V8.

Ford’s V8-equipped pickup maintains its impressive 3,270-pound payload capacity, but advanced dual port and direct-injection technology add 10 more horsepower and an additional 13 lb-ft. of torque.

The 5.0-liter also gets modest improvements in economy for both rear- and four-wheel-drive variants. According to the manufacturer, four-wheel-drive V8s now average 16 miles per gallon city and 22 mpg highway, while rear-drive models manage one better in both areas. While only a single extra mile of range per gallon, it’s not terrible for a motor with 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.

It’s a similar story with the V6s. Boasting a combined average improvement of 1 mpg apiece, the new base 3.3-liter yields 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway; the 2.7-liter Ecoboost hits 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Obviously those numbers shrink a bit when outfitted with four-wheel drive, but still represent an overall improvement from 2017.

The 2.7-liter also receives an uptick in torque, now generating 400 foot-pounds at 2,750 rpm. Meanwhile, the 3.3-liter represents an 8-horsepower, 12 lb-ft of torque improvement over the old naturally aspirated 3.5-liter. Total output is 290 hp and 265 lb-ft.

The upgraded economy rating is primarily down to auto start-stop and the expanded availability of Ford’s 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, which now appears on everything but the base model, including the all-new 3.0-liter V6 Power Stroke turbo diesel.

Sadly, the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 doesn’t benefit from any such economy improvements. But it does possess a new maximum tow rating of 13,200 pounds. Weirdly, Ford didn’t advertise this as a 1,000 pound increase in capacity, but that’s exactly what you’re getting. The 2017 model was specified as possessing a 12,200 max haul, which was already enough to bring the F-150 into comparable range of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s 12,500 pound limit (with the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 and applicable package).

Now, the F-150’s tow rating bests every competitor, including Ford’s V8 F-150, and is the best you can expect from a pickup without optioning for a super duty.

[Images: Ford Motor Co.]