Most products don’t get more valuable the less you get. Check out toilet paper; The larger the pack, the cheaper each roll becomes. But that’s not the case with the new Ford F-150 Lightning. In fact, the higher the trim level, the worse the value. How can that be? What is the game to get the best value for money out of a Ford F-150 Lightning?
What is the best equipment for the 2022 Ford Lightning?
After attending a Ford Lightning event, a MotorTrend reporter found that the nicer models offered less value. This prompted him to suggest spending as little money as possible on the Ford F-150 Lightning. The base model could actually be better value for money. However, MotorTrend’s preferred trim level is the secondary XLT model.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Trims:
- Pros: Starting at $39,974
- XLT: Starting at $52,974
- Lasso: Starting at $67,474
- Platinum: Starting at $90,874
After testing all four skins, MotorTrend finally landed on a favorite version of the F-150 Lightning. There’s a whopping price difference between the base model Pro and the Platinum trim, around $50,000 if you really focus on that. However, that doesn’t mean you have to spend all that to get the best value for money Ford F-150 Lightning.
For the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, there’s only one option that really matters
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For sure. The higher trims come with more luxurious features, but there’s only one feature you actually need. the extended range battery pack.
The upgraded battery boosts the Lightning’s power output from 452 hp to a healthy 580 hp while maintaining 775 lb-ft of torque. More importantly, the more powerful battery extends the Ford Lightning’s range from 230 miles to 320 miles. This gives you a massive increase in performance and range. The XLT skipped the Pro for the best trim because Ford isn’t yet offering the $10,000 option to the Pro unless you’re a fleet customer.
Now the super premium Lariat trim comes standard with this expensive option. It costs almost $30,000 more for starters, and its many features and 22-inch wheels narrow that range down to just 300 miles. This makes the Platinum trim objectively less powerful than the cheaper XLT.
Getting the most powerful Ford F-150 doesn’t come cheap
While this option saves you money, that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. It is not. MotorTrend states that the XLT starts at $54,769, plus the $10,000 long battery and required $9,500 XLT 312A option package. Although we’re opting for a lower trim level, this 312A option pack packs a lot of bells and whistles, which given the cost it should. This package includes a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, power opening and closing tailgate, running boards, sharp-looking 20-inch wheels, keyless entry, a 10-way power driver’s seat and Ford’s CoPilot360 Assist 2.0 active safety features. This all adds up to a total of $74,269.
It’s hard to imagine that this sum could represent the best value for a Ford F-150 Lightning, but the logic is right. Electric trucks will be coming to us at premium prices for some time yet. The market is too hot and the technology too new to be cheap.
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