2017 Ford F-150 Gets New Engine and Transmission
Ford just announced updates for its best-selling truck that provide more power and faster acceleration.
The 2017 F-150 will be offered with a new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. The new V6 produces 375 hp (up 10 hp from last year) and a hearty 470 lb.-ft. of torque (a 50 lb.-ft. gain).
Ford says the new V6 and transmission should significantly improve both acceleration and overall performance. No fuel economy figures are available, yet.
The updated powertrain could be good news for future truck buyers, but also for those in the market now.
Our tests of a four-wheel-drive, crew-cab F-150 with the previous 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and six-speed automatic returned 16 mpg overall. The available 2.7-liter V6 (which we also tested) eked out 17 mpg overall.
While the extra horsepower and torque hyped for the 2017 model might sound tempting, the current 2016 model is no slouch. Zipping from 0 to 60 mph took just 7.0 seconds for the 2.7-liter model and only 7.2 seconds for the 3.5.
Plus, the F-150s top our ratings for all pickup trucks. Highlights include a quiet cabin, strong acceleration, impressive towing and payload capability, and lots of clever features, including an available tailgate ladder and side mirror spotlights.
There are some impressive deals on the 2016 Ford F-150 right now (shown in pictures). In fact, it appears that there are about 100,000 examples on dealer lots, with about a third being the 3.5-liter EcoBoost.
To size up the buying opportunities, our analysts have studied recent nationwide transactions, then layered in currently available incentives to predict the average savings this month.
For example, a 2016 F-150 regular cab XLT 4WD with an MSRP of $36,525 has a market average price of just $30,161—a 21 percent potential savings under the sticker. (The latest transaction prices for the F-150 can be found on its model page, along with road tests, reliability, owner satisfaction, and much more.)
If we were buying one today, we’d opt for an XLT or higher trim. We'd also get Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system; this well-designed touch screen is a big improvement over the MyFord Touch system that it replaced.
Unless you're pulling a really large trailer and need the added tow rating, our first engine choice would be the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. It doesn't sound as good as the available 5.0-liter V8, but acceleration with the considerably smaller turbo engine is effortless. If you've got a big trailer to pull, go with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. That said, this is a very capable tow vehicle, so resist the temptation to buy more than you need.
Visibility aids are great when driving a full-sized truck. Consider the optional rear camera a must. We'd also opt for the blind-spot and surround-view systems, available on higher trim levels.
If you plan to tow, option your F-150 accordingly with the integrated trailer brake controller, towing mirrors, and appropriate rear axle ratio needed to provide the tow rating you require. The larger 36-gallon fuel tank provides another 13 gallons worth of range, which is especially helpful when towing.
But if you’re still excited thinking about the 2017 model equipped with the new 3.5-liter and 10-speed automatic, it goes into production at the end of September and will be on sale late October.
Read our complete Ford F-150 road test.
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