Ford F-150 Lightning review: fast truck, slow computer

The brand new electrical F-150 Lightning is a giant deal for Ford and, actually, for the automobile business at giant. The F-150 has been the bestselling car in America for over 40 years now, which suggests an EV F-150 is a giant step towards electrifying automobiles, interval.

Nevertheless it’s primarily a giant step for Ford, which is quickly present process a large transformation into an electrical automobile maker. Ford CEO Jim Farley not too long ago restructured the corporate into two divisions: Ford Blue, which can give attention to gas-powered automobiles, and Ford Mannequin E, which will likely be led by ex-Apple and Tesla exec Doug Subject and develop EVs and software program. Farley is chopping jobs from the fuel division and investing within the EV division; it’s no secret the place he thinks the longer term lies.

However there are a number of steps from right here to there, and Ford nonetheless has to deal with a number of the fundamentals, like increasing the charging community for the Lightning and Mustang Mach-E so it will probably compete with the Tesla Supercharger community. It’s additionally utterly resetting its software program technique in a partnership with Google, with a giant transition to Android Automotive and Google companies coming sooner or later. And, after all, there’s the little drawback of convincing American truck consumers that an electrical F-150 continues to be… an F-150.

Fortunately, the F-150 Lightning is a terrific F-150 — and a terrific truck. If yow will discover one to purchase for an affordable value and also you’ve received a deal with on charging for the way you’ll use it, it’s clearly a more sensible choice than a gas-powered truck.

However the Lightning shouldn’t be with out its points — Ford can’t make sufficient to fulfill demand, simply raised costs, and continues to be attempting to get sellers to cease marking out there items up by tens of 1000’s of {dollars}. After which there’s the software program. It is a very quick truck that can also be a maddeningly sluggish pc.

Photograph by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

I discuss to a number of automobile CEOs on the Decoder podcast, and there’s a giant concept that comes up persistently in all of these conversations: the notion that automobiles have gotten smartphones on wheels. Ford’s Farley was specific about it in his final Decoder look, saying that his aim was “a totally networked car… such as you stated, a pc on wheels.”

Reviewing the Lightning like a pc on wheels makes it clear that whereas there may be a number of code in fashionable automobiles, there nonetheless isn’t a number of thought of what makes a fantastic consumer expertise for a rolling pc. The Lightning is in some methods a stunning technical achievement — a dependable mass-produced EV pickup truck that claims 300 miles of vary and acceleration that permit me sustain with a brand new Corvette Stingray in an impromptu freeway showdown — but in addition a stopgap as Ford resets its whole software program technique round Android in partnership with Google.

That new Android-based software program isn’t transport on any Ford autos till someday subsequent 12 months, although, and possibly not on this technology of F-150s in any respect. Which means, for now, we’re taking a look at Ford Sync, which, effectively, it’s Ford Sync. Common F-150s have a 12-inch panorama heart display screen working Ford Sync 4; the Mustang Mach-E and the Lightning have a 15.5-inch portrait heart display screen working Sync 4A, which is similar as Sync 4 with the addition of touchscreen local weather controls and widgets that fill out the vertical top of the show.

The result’s that the software program expertise of the Lightning usually feels trapped up to now, with no clear path to the longer term as a result of Ford’s actual software program efforts lie elsewhere. The instrument cluster options the identical cryptic icons and basic menu structure Ford has utilized in its automobiles ceaselessly. That massive portrait infotainment display screen is woefully underutilized and the menu structure can really feel like a randomly generated maze with no vacation spot. (I’m severe: the highest two menu panels are labeled “Controls” and “Settings” however then the screens for particular person tabs underneath “Controls” have buttons labeled “Settings,” as if Ford’s designers all attended a seminar concerning the relative and evolving nature of all language.)

The display screen is laid out into 4 zones: there’s a menu bar space; what you would possibly name the app window; these widgets; after which the local weather controls. When you begin utilizing Sync 4A within the Lightning, you rapidly encounter two most important points: one, the entire thing can really feel extraordinarily sluggish; and two, the display screen is wildly underused in comparison with how massive it’s. You are able to do one factor at a time on the 15.5-inch display screen, and that’s actually it. There are oceans of pixels right here, however for some purpose, you possibly can’t have the map and the radio open on the similar time.

Photograph by Nilay Patel /The Verge

There’s a fast motion button to navigate again dwelling on the map widget, but it surely simply opens the map app full-screen, defeating the aim of the widget totally. I’d like to have CarPlay open to deal with my telephone and messaging alongside the radio, however that’s not potential, despite the fact that the show is clearly large enough to indicate each without delay.

All of that’s made worse by how sluggish all the things is. Switching between the radio and the map or the map and CarPlay is… sluggish. Swiping alongside the playing cards is fairly sluggish. The show can be responsive, and the video games are actually playable, however in most cases, it’s simply sluggish.

That is the purpose in any automobile evaluation the place many individuals are already drafting emails to me about simply utilizing CarPlay or Android Auto as an alternative of the inventory software program, however pals, CarPlay and Android Auto are not good at serving to EV homeowners navigate charging. If you wish to plot out a route with correct vary estimates and an efficient charging technique, you need to use the built-in nav — particularly since Ford has taken the time to arrange charging stations by velocity, and in search of out 150kW quick chargers is a crucial a part of the Lightning expertise as a result of the battery is so massive. Apple and Google are a good distance behind on this entrance.

All of this slowness isn’t thus far exterior of the realm of automobile software program experiences that it’s a deal-breaker, however Ford’s insistence on utilizing touchscreen local weather controls within the Lightning is an actual miss. Initially, there are not any good touchscreen local weather controls on any automobile; buttons are at all times higher. Second, Ford’s personal gas-powered F-150s have bodily buttons beneath the display screen for the local weather controls, as does the fleet-oriented Lightning Professional work truck. The issue was already solved, however Ford has taken good and quick buttons and changed them with a sluggish and distracting contact interface that’s fancy for the sake of being fancy.

Switching on the seat heaters requires a number of faucets and swipes. There’s a slider management to vary the fan velocity. Altering which vents are energetic opens an in depth render of the truck’s inside, which isn’t all that helpful. Different F-150s allow you to alter all of this stuff with onerous buttons, that are vastly easier to make use of.

Photograph by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

It’s the identical with the varied cameras. My very own late mannequin F-150 has a tough button above the display screen to open the cameras, which I exploit the entire time to park in tight spots and usually navigate the factor, however on the Lightning, opening the cameras takes a number of faucets on the display screen. And after you have the cameras open, the menu to modify between them retains closing itself for some purpose, despite the fact that there’s loads of room on the show to simply keep open on a regular basis.

I can hold going. The menu bar on the prime of the infotainment display screen is plagued by unlabeled standing icons, like an unloved Android telephone. Inserting your telephone on the wi-fi charger causes a telephone icon to look within the menubar with none clear indication of what it represents. And utilizing the wonderful driver-assistance techniques is an train in determining info the truck doesn’t appear eager about telling you.

Ford’s whole suite of driver-assistance tech known as “BlueCruise,” which is deeply complicated as a result of it implies that all the things from boring previous cruise management to full-on hands-free driving is technically “BlueCruise.” Whenever you activate adaptive cruise management with energetic lane help and it feels just like the truck is driving down the freeway in hands-free mode, that’s BlueCruise, despite the fact that it unhappily beeps at you when you take your arms off the wheel for quite a lot of seconds. Full hands-free driving is barely out there on main highways mapped by Ford; the map is pretty complete at this level.

However as a result of it’s all referred to as “BlueCruise,” nothing within the Lightning tells you which of them particular capabilities are really out there at any explicit second; it simply says “BlueCruise.” To determine it out, you simply have to modify on the cruise management and see if the little “hands-free” icon seems. I needed to electronic mail Ford to make clear all of those numerous modes; nothing on the huge 12-inch instrument cluster or the middle display screen actually made any of them clear.

All that stated, the hands-free driving system works nice when it’s out there. I used it for 2 300-mile highway journeys, and the system is assured and regular and usually made me need to get a Lightning instantly.

Look, a few of this is sensible — altering how an iconic car works is hard to do, and the brand new pc simulating elements of the previous system to ease generations of F-150 homeowners into the longer term is a protected path. However most of it looks like Ford didn’t know what to do with the large quantity of display screen actual property within the Lightning, so it selected to not do very a lot in any respect.

Photograph by Nilay Patel /The Verge

Annoyances with the software program apart, the Lightning is in any other case a terrific EV and a fantastic truck. I did a bunch of truck stuff with it, together with hauling our trash to the dump, and it dealt with all of it with aplomb. In day-to-day use, it acts identical to an everyday F-150, which is nice.

However press the pedal down, and it strikes. This is without doubt one of the quickest manufacturing vans ever made: the official zero to 60mph time is 4.3 seconds and Automobile and Driver examined it at simply 4. That’s sooner than my F-150 Raptor and sufficient to beat the ridiculous 700-horsepower Ram TRX in some checks. The one persistently sooner truck is the Rivian R1T, which may go from zero to 60mph in 3 seconds.

My Raptor is a giant truck that may go quick, however the Lightning is one thing else. It has that on the spot, clean EV torque regardless of how briskly you’re going with not one of the downshifts or drama of a fuel truck. Driving an everyday EV is a enjoyable change from common automobiles, however driving the Lightning is a large change from different vans: issues this massive don’t often transfer this rapidly, and the large battery and decrease heart of gravity mixed with the impartial rear suspension hold it planted even over tough bumps that make the rear finish of my truck bounce in all places. It must be one of many best full-size pickups on the earth to drive, and you’ll smoke anybody wanting costly sports activities automobiles and different quick EVs principally everytime you need. I adore it.

Photograph by Nilay Patel /The Verge

After all, gunning the Lightning throughout city eats up vary, and which means you need to cope with charging, each at dwelling and out within the wild. You completely want a Degree 2 charger at dwelling with the Lightning because the battery is big and attempting to cost it with a regular 110 outlet netted lower than one mile of vary per hour, which could as effectively be nothing.

Prolonged-range Lightnings like our evaluation unit include Ford’s 80-amp Cost Station Professional, which requires skilled set up and permits the Lightning to function a backup energy supply in your dwelling in case of a blackout, however since I solely had the factor per week, I simply plugged Ford’s 30-amp journey charger into my 240-volt dryer outlet and it charged simply advantageous in a single day, at round 15 miles of vary an hour. Plugged right into a 150kW DC quick charger, Ford says you possibly can go from 15 to 80 p.c in 41 minutes. The truck maxes out at 155kW, so attempting to find the uncommon 350kW charger isn’t actually value it.

At 100% cost, the Lightning reviews its vary at 325 miles, however that quantity rapidly drops as you drive round, particularly the place I dwell within the mountains. You may plan journeys within the FordPass cellular app and ship them to the built-in nav, which can plot out chargers alongside your route. These charging stops are locked in when you set a route; it could be good if the system would provide you with extra choices alongside the way in which.

Charging on the highway is usually dealt with by Ford’s app and charging community; the corporate has been constructing out its community because the Mach-E got here out final 12 months, and issues are enhancing however nonetheless often spotty. You may type out there chargers by charging velocity within the app and on the built-in nav. Chargers within the Ford community might be activated in your telephone however not within the truck for some purpose. Importantly, I had no issues utilizing plug-and-charge at supported stations, which mechanically prompts a charger and handles billing simply by plugging in. And, after all, you possibly can simply pay with a bank card in order for you. And whereas I charged at a number of Electrify America stations that labored effectively, there have been the standard damaged chargers and glitches in getting issues began. There’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go, however issues have began enhancing in significant methods since we reviewed the Mach-E.

Photograph by Nilay Patel /The Verge

One of many massive benefits and drawbacks for Ford is that it already makes and sells a number of F-150s, and it will probably hold the prices of Lightning down by utilizing a number of F-150 elements in it. Ford doesn’t must reinvent the wheel: the Lightning makes use of the F-150 steering wheel. The seats are simply the F-150 seats. The wipers have already been designed.

All that half reuse means Ford can theoretically hold the prices of the Lightning down because it’s already scaled manufacturing means up. However batteries are nonetheless onerous to supply, and the corporate simply reopened orders with newly raised costs to account for the availability points. The bottom Lightning Professional that’s designed to be a piece truck now begins at $46,974. The XLT trim, which is the bottom shopper mannequin, begins at $59,474. Our evaluation unit is a top-of-the-line Platinum, which has each luxurious choice you possibly can consider and a sticker value of $96,874, which is $20,000 greater than a equally optioned fuel F-150 Platinum. These are Ford’s costs, although; sellers have been marking Lightnings means as much as $150,000 and extra.

That’s really the most important drawback with the Lightning: it’s kind of unattainable to purchase. Whereas some clients are beginning to get their early preorders and Ford is ramping up manufacturing as quick as it will probably, Farley advised me that the corporate gained’t have the ability to construct sufficient Lightnings to fill the entire preorders, not to mention meet demand. The aim is to construct 150,000 Lightnings a 12 months, however proper now, there simply aren’t sufficient batteries to get there. Ford is investing in battery crops, increasing the Lightning manufacturing facility, and hiring extra individuals, but it surely’s all simply going to take time.

Till then, both you’re caught ready on the preorder listing till subsequent 12 months otherwise you’re preventing it out with sellers. Ford’s attempting to get all of these sellers again in line, however there’s a number of historical past there and a number of challenges alongside the way in which. But when the Lightning goes to truly be as vital of an EV correctly, Ford’s received to determine all of that out.

Photograph by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

In the long run, there’s two methods to take a look at the Lightning. First, it’s a terrific electrical F-150 that may ease a number of truck homeowners into an EV. And in that means, it’s an enormous success. If I might really discover one to purchase for an affordable value, I’d commerce in my gas-powered F-150, points with the software program apart. (I might plan to instantly commerce it in once more as soon as the model with Android-based Sync comes out, although.)

However that software program factors to Ford’s greater problem, which is that the Lightning typically feels caught between two worlds. Proper now, it’s very a lot a truck with a sluggish pill in it. Letting this factor actually be a pc on wheels would take the Lightning from actually good to traditionally nice.