Ford F-150 XL Feature Overview
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Explore trim options
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Overview
2026 Ford F-150
Ford
What's New for the 2026 Ford F-150
Ford added Avalanche, Argon Blue, and Ruby Red to the 2026 F-150's exterior paint color selection. The automaker dropped Atlas Blue, Rapid Red, and Space White from the lineup. Also, Ford discontinued the all-electric F-150 Lightning.
The F-150 is the truck to get if you need a light-duty pickup with outstanding towing capacity. According to Ford, the F-150 can tow a class-leading 13,500 pounds when properly equipped. With V6, V8, and hybrid powertrain options available, the lineup offers something for a wide range of buyers. That said, a diesel engine is not available.
Pros
- Trims ranging from basic to plush to off-road-focused
- Choice of V6 and V8 engines, plus a hybrid
- High tow rating that's among the best in the class
Cons
- No diesel engine available
- The top trims rise steeply in price
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Ford F-150 Trim Levels
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup available in regular-cab, Super Cab (extended-cab), and SuperCrew (crew-cab) body styles, seating up to six people. Buyers can choose from 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot cargo beds. Choose this truck for light-duty towing and hauling; Ford offers the heavy-duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 for those who need more towing power.
Several powertrains are available, ranging from a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 making 325 horsepower to a 720-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V8. All models have a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) and available four-wheel drive (4WD).
The F-150 comes in eight trim levels: XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Tremor, and Raptor. Here's a look at the noteworthy standard features of each:
- XL
The XL is the base model, suitable for those seeking a straightforward work truck. It comes with 17-inch steel wheels, a power-locking tailgate, and LED headlights. A turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 lives under the hood, while inside there's cloth upholstery and single-zone air conditioning. Standard tech features include a 12.0-inch infotainment display, two USB charging ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.
- STX
The STX is similar to the XL but adds sporty appearance upgrades. These include 18-inch black-painted wheels, a black-and-gray grille, and sport-cloth upholstery.
- XLT
The XLT models with RWD get 17-inch aluminum wheels, while 4WD models upgrade to 18-inch wheels. The XLT also features body-color front and rear bumpers, LED fog lamps, and rear privacy glass. Inside, there are two USB charging ports and a 12.0-inch digital driver display.
- Lariat
The Lariat steps things up with more power and luxury than the XLT. It gains two front tow hooks, adaptive headlights, and tailgate LED lighting. There's also a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. The cabin includes an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel, Ford's ActiveX synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo. The Lariat comes with a three-month subscription to Ford's BlueCruise, a semi-autonomous driver-assistance system.
- King Ranch
The King Ranch trim offers a more luxurious alternative to the Lariat, gaining 20-inch wheels, a chrome grille with bronze accents, two-tone exterior paint, and 6-inch running boards. The cabin adds power-adjustable pedals with memory settings, ambient lighting, wood interior accents, leather upholstery, and heated rear seats.
- Platinum
The Platinum is similar to the King Ranch, but with different styling cues. It has gloss-black exterior accents, including a blacked-out grille.
- Tremor
The Tremor is crafted for off-roading, with all-terrain tires, front and rear tow hooks, skid plates, and off-road-style running boards. It also gains an electronically locking rear axle and off-road shocks. The cabin features heated and power-adjustable front seats with trim-specific upholstery and Tremor-branded floor mats.
- Raptor
The Raptor is built for hardcore trail-busting, with heavy-duty front and engine skid plates, sport-tuned shock absorbers, and integrated marker lights. It also includes a 450-hp turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and is available with the Raptor R package, which adds even more horsepower for a total of 720-hp. The cabin has leather upholstery, front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
Ford
2026 Ford F-150 Payload and Towing
The 2026 F-150 can pull up to 13,500 pounds with conventional towing; Ford claims this gives the pickup the highest tow rating in its class. To achieve that towing capability, choose the 4WD SuperCrew equipped with the 382-hp turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine and 6.5-foot cargo bed. The truck can also accommodate a payload of up to 2,440 pounds with the 382-hp V6.
A power tailgate and trailer sway control are standard. The options list includes bed hooks, spray-in bedliner, plastic drop-in bedliner, and an integrated trailer brake controller. This truck is also available with Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which lets you use a knob to steer the trailer while reversing.
2026 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy
As of publication, neither Ford nor the EPA has published fuel-economy estimates for the 2026 Ford F-150.
Ford
2026 Ford F-150 Safety Ratings and Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2026 Ford F-150 five out of five stars for overall safety.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2026 F-150 crew cab a "Good" rating (the highest) in small overlap front crash tests and updated side crash tests, and a "Poor" rating (the lowest) in updated moderate overlap front crash tests. Extended-cab models received a "Good" rating in IIHS small overlap front crash tests and in updated side crash tests. As of publication, the IIHS has not published crash-test ratings for regular-cab models.
Ford equips every F-150 with safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, and rear parking sensors. Automatic high-beam headlights are also standard.
The list of optional safety features includes a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and front parking sensors. The F-150 is available with BlueCruise, Ford's semi-autonomous hands-off driver-assistance system.
Warren ClarkeWarren Clarke is an automotive journalist who specializes in vehicle reviews and consumer advice, and he loves helping car buyers make informed decisions. In addition to Capital One Auto Navigator, he's written for outlets such as Credit Karma, J.D Power, U.S. News and World Report, and Car and Driver.