2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Review

These days, it’s tough to escape the misinformation that spreads across the internet like wildfire.

Case in point: the misconception that our federal government has cancelled the so-called zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate. It hasn’t, but at least at the time of writing, it’s merely pumped the brakes to reassess just how aggressively to push towards a cleaner driving future.

It’s a wildly complex discussion with plenty of voices shouting the merits of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and other alternative fuel scenarios to power our future selves along.

Along the way, a lot of this misinformation — along with the interruption of the government incentives on consumer purchases — has put the squeeze on EV sales, with Ford’s all-electric pickup in particular suffering a nasty decline. It’s a disappointing and unfair predicament for the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning to find itself in, as a week with this impressive truck revealed. This isn’t just good for an EV — it’s a great truck that should exceed the expectations and needs of many F-150 buyers, period.

Value 7 / 10

The 2025 F-150 Lightning Lariat tested here starts at $95,595, meaning it barely squeaks under the $100,000 mark before tax but including freight ($2,795). While it’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow that a vehicle with so many hard plastic interior finishes and vinyl seats is now a six-figure machine, it’s also an impressive rolling showcase of technology and practicality. And although government incentives have been paused or cancelled across the country, at the time of this writing Ford was advertising discounts of nearly $10,000 on some Lightning models.

Practicality 8 / 10

Pickups are everywhere, and while the diabolical congestion on Southern Ontario roads makes me wonder why anyone would choose to drive something as large as an F-150 if they didn’t need it for work, I have to admit to appreciating the added practicality for a particularly hectic test week. For duties that ranged from grocery runs to commutes from the suburbs into and out of downtown Toronto, and even hauling a set of five beefy off-road wheels and tires, I was pleased to have the utility of a truck.

As a video production support vehicle, it proved incredibly handy having a 9.6-kW inverter and 11 power outlets in the bed, cabin, and frunk. In fact, that space beneath the hood where an engine would be found in another F-150 proved to be a secure spot to keep expensive gear that would otherwise be susceptible to theft.

Beyond the modest 5-foot-5 box, the frunk adds considerable utility, but so does the area behind the front seats when the rear bench is flipped up, opening up massive real estate for all sorts of cargo.

Would-be buyers who need a truck for hauling serious payload should be aware of the F-150 Lightning’s payload of 907 kg (2,000 lb) when equipped with the extended-range battery. Its basic tow rating is paltry for a half-ton pick-up at only 2,267 kg (5,000 lb) unless equipped with the Max Tow package, which doubles its capability. And, of course, owners should expect towing even a modest trailer to reduce range considerably — as much as half, and maybe more.

Fuel Economy 8 / 10

Certainly, one of the primary motivators for buying an electric pickup is the presumed operational savings. Whether using it for parent duties, or a tradesperson bouncing between job sites and supply stores, the F-150 Lightning can reduce operational costs by a notable margin compared to a truck with a traditional engine. Rated at 26.9 kWh/100 km in the city, 33.3 on the highway, and 29.8 combined, this truck is expected to manage as much as 515 km between charges.

The highest indicated range observed during this test week was 499 km with a full charge. As the distance travelled increased, that estimate proved to be quite accurate, spending much of its time crawling through Toronto, with a few bursts of highway speed on the rare occasion traffic allowed.

At 131 kWh of capacity, the extended-range battery is sizable and when plugged in to my home charger at roughly 30 per cent one evening around midnight, had only managed 87 per cent charge by 8 a.m. the following morning when I set off again. Most EVs I’ve had here would’ve been topped up in that time, which is one of the downsides of such an enormous battery pack.

Power 10 / 10

Beyond efficiency, EVs benefit from prodigious and instant torque. That’s certainly the case here, with the F-150 Lightning dispensing an impressive 775 lb-ft of it. The extended battery system in this truck also means a peak output of 580 hp. Both make for an unexpectedly quick machine, ripping from zero to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. Beyond that, it’s the way this truck can bolt through traffic and snap off an overtake of slower vehicles with barely a thought from the driver that makes it quite rewarding to drive.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

As far as full-size trucks go, the Lightning drives well, too. Its considerable mass — 3,100 kg (6,800 lb) — helps give it a solid feel on-road that most unladen pickups can’t manage as they bounce and shudder along. Its steering is slow and without much road feel, and the bulk and weight mean it’s a whole lot of truck that doesn’t much enjoy being tossed around like a smaller vehicle, but it’s easy to manage. Where smaller, lighter trucks will respond to steering inputs with more immediacy, the F-150 Lightning always seems to take a beat before leaning a bit and settling into a curve.

In the interest of maximizing efficiency, I spent most of the test period with one-pedal drive mode engaged to harness as much kinetic energy as possible. It’s an effective system, but it’s very aggressive and grabby, and it takes some time to get used to in order to drive smoothly. 

User-Friendliness 7 / 10

The massive 15.5-inch tablet-like display that dominates the central dash also presents a few challenges. With virtually all the controls now embedded into the display, some features can take a bit of searching to locate. But by and large, the menu systems are sensibly laid out and the graphics crisp and bright (although with so much screen space, it would be nice to have the on-screen buttons larger and easier to tap when bouncing down the road).

The system connected reliably to my iPhone, and I loved that even the Google Maps directions show up in the instrument display, helping to avoid missed turns. But there were a few glitches, like the time all the speakers on the left side of the vehicle randomly ceased to operate, not returning until the vehicle had been shut off and restarted. The touchscreen itself was often slow to acknowledge inputs, and the lock and unlock sensors on each external door handle was infuriatingly inconsistent, often taking five or six taps before reacting.

The outward views are commanding, especially facing the front, and between having bright, clear camera displays, including a surround-view setting, parking was quite easy. For my seating position, the very thick B-pillar created a notable blind-spot during left shoulder checks.

Features 9 / 10

Aside from niceties like the powerful stereo to the massive panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, and the heated steering wheel, it’s the features like the onboard inverter or the clever step that comes out of the tailgate and integrated cargo area lighting that help make you wonder how other pickup truck owners get by without. Plus the shifter folds forward, allowing a massive work top on the centre console to flip open (a feature that’s available no matter how the F-150 is powered).

Safety 7 / 10

The extensive feature count carries over into the safety offerings, too. Beyond the typical suite of airbags and active safety systems like blind-spot monitoring and lane departure mitigation, there’s Ford’s BlueCruise, which can help reduce a driver’s stress and burden behind the wheel by taking care of accelerating, braking, steering, and even lane changes on designated highways. When commuting in and out of Toronto, BlueCruise managed exceptionally well even in dense traffic, smoothly maintaining safe speeds and distances, while reacting to some erratic manoeuvres by other drivers.

The F-150 Lightning received a very disappointing “Poor” rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its updated moderate front overlap crash test, which showed significant risk to a rear-seat passenger’s thorax. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the F-150 Lightning a five-star test rating.

Comfort 8 / 10

Like all the full-size, four-door pick-up trucks these days, the F-150’s cabin offers enormous space for occupants up front, and enough space for three abreast on the rear bench. Head-, leg-, and shoulder room is generous, and the seats are decently supportive while also offering some cushiness.

Ride quality is impressive for a full-size truck, thanks in part to the independent rear suspension instead of the traditional solid axle found under most pickups. Wind noise is hushed, and the low-rolling-resistance tires create little noise. The electrified drive system, of course, is whisper quiet, too.

Styling 6 / 10

The fact the F-150 Lightning is so closely related to the rest of the lineup means it looks very similar to its siblings. For many buyers, this is surely a boon; however, I’ve never warmed to the smooth grille and unibrow light bar.

Inside, the 15.5-inch vertical screen makes the Lightning’s interior style unique in the F-150 lineup, for better or worse. It’s purposeful with some appealing flourishes, but there’s also a lot of hard, cheap-feeling plastic that, while durable, feels chintzy in a $100,000 truck.

The Verdict

With such impressive usability thanks to its cargo cubbies and holds, plus features like its onboard inverter and hands-free highway driving help, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is easier and better to live with than most of its non-electrified competition — including its own gas-powered siblings. Add in the addictive thrust of the electric motors and the considerable savings at the fuel pump, and Ford’s electric truck remains a very compelling (if costly) machine for those who can live with its range.