2025 Ford F150 Regular Cab

If you are looking for the 1/2-ton truck with the most towing and payload capacity, your search ends at the Ford F-150. But that’s far from the only thing that separates it from the rest of the 1/2-ton pack. The F-150 is known for its innovative tech, much of which is aimed at making towing and getting work done easier. And there is no shortage of luxury features in the cabin. This Ford is such a capable, well-rounded truck that it’s our highest-rated full-size pickup, and a KBB Best Buy Award winner in its segment 10 years running.

With two twin-turbo V6 engines, a V8, and a hybrid powertrain, as well as three cabs and three bed lengths, it’s easy to find the right combination for your purposes. Layer on top of that eight trim levels, ranging from basic work truck to off-road speed machine to all-out luxury cruiser, and the number of possible combinations gets exponentially higher. The Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup is reviewed separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size pickup trucks, including the Ford F-150.

Following the significant updates the F-150 received for 2024, this year’s changes fall under the category of fine-tuning. The Onboard Scales and Smart Hitch are no longer available. The 2025 Ford F-150 uses BlueCruise 1.4, the latest version, which feels more intuitive and natural than BlueCruise 1.0. It’s optional on lower levels, and standard everywhere else. Also, Ford’s native navigation system is no longer standard — it’s now available starting with the XLT SuperCrew with the midequipment group (302A) package. In addition, the King Ranch and Premium trim levels are no longer equipped with Continuously Controlled Damping shocks. And the SecuriCode keyless entry keypad, a really helpful feature for mountain bikers, hikers, and surfers, is now a dealer-installed option.

There are also new value-minded packages with a pared-down list of features and lower starting prices than the 2024 versions. Also on the Lariat, leather-trimmed seats have been replaced by ActiveX-trimmed seats. Marsh Gray and Space White Metallic are new colors for 2025, and Darkened Bronze and Avalanche have been dropped.

When it comes to the Ford F-150, the 4-wheel-drive STX SuperCrew is the most popular choice.

The 1/2-ton truck market is highly competitive, and pricing for rivals such as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 starts in the high $30K range. The GMC Sierra 1500 kicks off in the $40K region, and the Toyota Tundra, which is not available as a regular cab, starts at about $42K.

Before buying a new F-150 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tundra tends to have the strongest resale values, but the F-150’s resale values are completely respectable.

Starting last year, Ford’s 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 became the base engine. With 325 horsepower and a meaty 400 lb-ft of torque, this may technically be the base engine, but it’s a terrific choice for most people. This engine is responsive and produces plenty of power. For those who prefer a V8, the storied 5.0-liter is alive and well, with 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. While the 2.7-liter is the base engine in the lower and midrange trims, the 5.0-liter V8 comes standard in one XL configuration. Ford’s other twin-turbo V6 is a 3.5-liter unit with 400 horses and 500 lb-ft of torque. It gets cranked up to 450 hp and 510 lb-ft in the Raptor. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost is surprisingly quick and makes the F-150 feel spry and lightweight.

Ford also offers a hybrid drivetrain based on the 3.5-liter engine. It creates 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque — that’s more torque in all but the Raptor R’s engine — yet is also the most fuel-efficient choice in the lineup. It’s a smooth drivetrain, and when driving, it’s easy to forget it’s a hybrid.

Going beyond the Raptor is the Raptor R, which comes with a supercharged 720-hp 5.2-liter V8 with 640 lb-ft of torque.

The F-150 trim levels in the heart of the market feel refined and composed. The off-road biased Tremor and Raptor are also surprisingly comfortable on the highway, and they are fantastic in the dirt and on the rocks. The off-roaders, however, do admittedly feel bigger on the road than the rest of the F-150 line.

Fuel Economy

With rear-wheel drive (RWD), the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 returns 21 mpg combined and the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 manages 20 combined mpg. Those numbers drop 1 mpg with 4-wheel drive (4WD). The 5.0-liter V8 nets 19 combined mpg. Those numbers are competitive with the rest of the segment.

The hybrid drivetrain achieves 23 combined mpg.

The best way to stay competitive in the 1/2-ton truck segment is by offering a wide array of trim levels and features. The F-150 offers just that, starting with the work truck XL and moving up to luxe King Ranch and Platinum. The F-150 is available with plenty of tech, like a 12-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster that come standard. The screens add a pop of color and pizzazz, but the goal is to make towing and work easier, add more safety, and add more luxury. The tech is helpful and easy to use.

If you’re looking for a work truck, you can get a 40/20/40 cloth bench, but moving up from there, the options get quite luxurious, with available Alcantara suede, heated, cooled, and massaging power seats with memory. Features like Bang & Olufsen audio, adjustable pedals, and wireless phone charging also add to the experience. Plus, the rear seat in the SuperCrew cab is especially roomy, with a flat floor in all three seating positions. That also makes it easy to fit gear in the cab.

The squared-off front with split headlights is a styling theme that is also seen in the rest of the F-Series line, as well as on the Ranger and the first-gen Maverick. It’s a great design that looks tough and is uniquely Ford.

With three cabs — Regular, Super Cab (extended cab), and SuperCrew (crew cab) — and three bed lengths, there are a lot of appealing combinations. However, if you want the 8-foot bed, you can only get it in the regular cab XL. The 6.5-foot bed is available with more cabs and trims, but the most popular combination by far is the SuperCrew with the 5.5-foot bed.

Grille and wheel designs vary by model, and wheel sizes range from 17 to 22 inches, including wheels compatible with bead locks. As you would expect, the type of tire matches the trim level’s purpose. The XL gets functional all-season tires, while the King Ranch and Platinum ride on 20-inch all-terrains. There are 16 different wheel options.

There are even different tailgates to choose from, with one that splits to make it easier to reach the bed with a trailer hooked up, and one with an integrated tailgate step.

Pro Power Onboard
If you were considering buying a separate generator, Ford’s Pro Power Onboard may allow you to save some money. This onboard generator is available across the trim lineup. The most robust version, with 7.2 kilowatts, can run a plasma cutter, angle grinder, TiG welder, air compressor, and work lights — all at the same time. This version is available with the hybrid. The 2.0-kilowatt size is available with gas-powered variants and the 2.4-kilowatt version comes standard on the hybrid.

Towing Tech
Ford offers Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which lets you back in a trailer by turning a knob on the dash. The F-150 is also available with a tire pressure monitor for each trailer tire. The truck’s blind-spot system takes into account your trailer. And these are only a few examples of the F-150’s helpful towing tech.

Pro Access Tailgate
If you are towing, the available Pro Access Tailgate has an inner section that opens to the side. It can open out a full 100 degrees, but there are also detents at 37 and 70 degrees. This makes it easier to reach, load, and unload gear from the bed while a trailer is hooked up.

Off-Road Specialists
No, the Raptor isn’t for everyone, but it is a fantastic purpose-built off-roader with an impressive list of features and a well-engineered suspension. There are two levels of Raptor, plus the mind-boggling supercharged 720-hp Raptor R. And if you want to spend less on your off-roading adventures, the Tremor is a stout trim level with a starting price that’s $14K lower than the Raptor.

BlueCruise
Feeling smoother and more natural, this partial self-driving feature lets you take your foot off the pedal and your hands off the wheel. There are more than 130,000 miles of highways that BlueCruise works on — and a light on the dash shows you when BlueCruise is available. BlueCruise works to ensure the driver is active; the driver’s eyes have to remain engaged and alert. This is standard on the King Ranch and Platinum, and optional on the other trims — except for the base XL.

The base engine is a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque – and it’s an excellent engine. The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 option produces 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

There are two versions of the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. The first has 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. This is the engine that provides the highest towing capacity. In the Raptor, the High Output version generates 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.

The hybrid drivetrain uses the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and an electric motor. The gas/electric duo puts out a combined 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.

The supercharged 5.2-liter V8 in the Raptor R makes 720 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque.

All variants use a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the default configuration, and 4-wheel drive is optional. Four-wheel drive is standard in the hybrid, Tremor, Raptor, and Raptor R.

Payload and Towing

It’s nice when the maximum towing capacity is something you can find in the crew cab model, as this means you have the potential for the most versatility in that truck — the ability to seat the most people or tow the heaviest trailer. That’s the case here, where the 13,500-pound tow rating is achieved with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 in the 4-wheel-drive SuperCrew with the 6.5-foot bed, plus the Max Trailer Tow Package. The hybrid can tow up to 11,200 pounds. For the maximum payload of 2,440 pounds, look for the 2025 F-150 with the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6.

Those best-in-class numbers are followed by the Chevy Silverado 1500’s 13,300 and 2,260 pounds — which are slightly lower in the GMC Sierra 1500. Next on the list is the Toyota Tundra, which can tow up to 12,000 pounds (1,940 pounds of payload), and the Ram 1500, with a maximum payload of 2,370 pounds (11,550 towing).

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ford’s new vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles and that includes roadside assistance. These terms are typical among mainstream manufacturers, although General Motors and Toyota also include some form of free scheduled maintenance. Hybrid batteries are protected for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This generation of F-150 was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), using its old testing protocol, with the proviso that the truck is fitted with LED headlights, which became standard across the line last year. But it also scored well in crashworthiness categories. However, the 2025 model has not yet been tested. The 2025 F-150 took the maximum 5-Star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standout safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring.