The electrified F-150 offers a distinct character compared to gas versions, and there’s a lot to learn
Ford released the F-150 Lightning back in 2022, and while demand may have cooled, it’s still one of the most competent entrants in the surprisingly cramped electric pickup segment. It now does battle with competitors from Rivian, Tesla, GMC, Chevrolet, and, sooner or later, Kia and Scout. Of course, one of the things Ford has over rivals is familiarity and reputation. It’s hard to argue that Ford doesn’t know how to make a darn good truck. Especially considering the F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in the United States for over forty years. Does Ford’s know-how in the gas truck game translate to the Lightning? There are a few key differences every prospective shopper should know before considering the F-150 Lightning as their next workhorse.
Ford
Ford
Ford
Inside, the F-150 Lightning feels just like any other F-150
The first thing you notice when you strap yourself into the Lightning is its overwhelming familiarity. Ford does a good job of keeping things simple; if you’ve driven any F-150 in the last ten years, you’ll immediately feel at home in the Lightning. The gear selector is chunky, the steering wheel feels purposeful, and materials all feel work-ready. The touchscreen, if you need to use it, is intuitively laid out and features big buttons. The familiar feeling translates to a less jarring driving experience, especially if you aren’t used to driving EVs or electric trucks specifically.
The electric powertrain is almost imperceptible in regular driving
There are obvious signs that you’re not driving a gas-powered vehicle when you’re piloting the Lightning. Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) are exponentially improved from the last gas-powered F-150 I drove, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that there isn’t a combustion engine involved. Whether cruising along or accelerating from a stop, the Lightning silently and effortlessly responds. The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning delivers V8-like acceleration when called upon, but you’ll never feel like you’re taxing the powertrain, which is a great feeling.
Ford
Ford
The Ford F-150 Lightning is a big truck and might be bigger than the last F-150 you drove
Although the gas-fed F-150 is available in a handful of different body styles, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is a “one size fits all” arrangement. It only comes in a SuperCrew cab layout with a 5.5-foot bed. The F-150 Lightning stretches around a foot and a half longer than an F-150 regular cab, despite losing 12 inches of bed space. The size likely won’t bother long-time truck buyers, but if it’s your first truck or you don’t usually spring for the largest model, it may take some getting used to.
Electric trucks are a lot heavier than gas-powered ones, and you’ll feel it
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is not only one of the biggest F-150 configurations possible, but it’s also the heaviest, and you feel that weight in everything the truck does. The truck weighs around 1700 pounds more than the gas-powered F-150, boasting a curb weight in excess of 6000 pounds. The heavyweight pickup puts on weight thanks to its cab configuration, but a bigger contributor is the heavy electric powertrain. Thankfully, there are some positives that come with it, too.
Ford
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is a lot quicker than the last gas F-150 you drove
The aforementioned electric motors and batteries are heavy, but they really ratchet up performance. The F-150 Lightning Lariat trim we drove touted 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. You don’t need us to tell you those are incredible numbers. But if you want proof, Car and Driver recorded a 4.0-second zero-to-60 time. The only thing that comes close in the gas-powered world is the insane Raptor R, which touts a 700-horsepower supercharged V8 that MotorTrend scooted from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Either way, unless you’re hopping out of a Raptor R, the Lightning is going to feel much quicker than the last truck you drove.
Final thoughts
Ford has done a great job of making the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning accessible to pretty much everyone. Existing F-150 customers will appreciate the familiar surroundings, and new customers will like that the truck drives nicely with minimal NVH. Best of all, fleet customers will appreciate that the truck still performs, essentially, exactly as an F-150 should. We look forward to getting a little bit more seat time in the F-150 Lightning to see what it’s like to live with.
About the author
Steven Paul
Contributing Writer, Autoblog