2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Review

Ford’s F-150 Lightning made its debut in 2022 and has gone on to become the country’s best-selling electric pickup truck. The F-150 has been one of the US’ best-selling vehicle lines over the past 40 years, and Ford faced supply shortages in recent years due to the electric version’s demand. This demand surplus led to the full-size F-150 Lightning going global and entering the world’s number one EV (electric vehicle) market, Norway. The Ford F-150 Lightning is still in its first generation with the model’s 2024 production year.

MotoPickers Rating: 8.8/10

Starting at $62,995, the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning debuts its flash trim, which bundles all of this truck’s best tech, like a 15.5” infotainment display, the largest battery pack, and Ford’s semi-autonomous BlueCruise tech facilitating hands-free driving. BlueCruise is now available on all extended-range F-150 Lightning models.

Other changes include the introduction of the F-150 Lightning Platinum Black special edition, which manifests sleek styling via a matte-black wrap, dark 22” wheels, a dark grille, and dark badging. Drivers can power their onboard generator upon unlocking this Ford, where it previously required the pickup to be completely on. Our review will examine the 2024 F-150 Lightning’s quick acceleration, efficiency, comfortable cabin, and available features while also highlighting its potential drawbacks, such as cost and towing.

The 2024 F-150 Lightning’s rivals include:

• Chevrolet Silverado
• Rivian R1T
• Hummer EV Pickup
• Tesla Cybertruck
• RAM 1500 REV

Our review’s aim

Our review will include comparisons to these competitors to more accurately determine whether the F-150 Lightning’s title of America’s best-selling electric truck is in danger and whether you should consider a rival. Keep reading to learn more about this popular all-electric pickup.

Exterior spotlight

The 2025 F-150 Lightning retains the spirit of pickup truck strength with a fully boxed steel frame that resists twisting forces like feedback from driving on uneven terrain. This sturdy steel frame also helps provide additional crash protection for passengers. Regarding utility, Ford offers an available tailgate work surface, with this model featuring clamp and tie-down materials for securing longer items. Those needing to work past sunset might consider optional LED zone lighting, which illuminates this vehicle’s perimeter.

Color choices for the 2024 F-150 Lightning include:

• Avalanche
• Agate Black
• Antimatter Blue
• Carbonized Gray
• Iconic Silver
• Oxford White
• Rapid Red
• Star White

This full-size pickup’s dimensions are worth noting with their ability to optimize form and function in more areas than one. The 145.5” wheelbase contributes to the 2024 F-150 Lightning’s low center of gravity, fostering a smooth ride feel. Its 232.7” length is eye-catching but can still fit in most garages. If you’re worried about inconvenient entries and exits with a full-size truck, this Ford offers available running boards and well-placed handholds. However, its 8.4” of ground clearance is moderate for this segment.

Rival exterior snapshot

Chevrolet’s competing Silverado EV similarly offers perimeter lighting but contains a longer wheelbase. While a more extended wheelbase decreases maneuverability, it increases cabin size. In terms of durability, Rivian’s R1T and RAM’s 1500 REV are quality alternatives, but Tesla’s Cybertruck is the toughest with its stainless steel exoskeleton.

Interior close-up

Ford’s F-150 Lightning has seating for five passengers. This seating can include an optional power driver seat with a memory function for recalling preferred settings and side-view mirror positions. Ford complements the F-150 Lightning’s tailgate work surface with an available interior work surface, which provides a table-esque component to supply the cabin with more versatility.

In addition to a long wheelbase, drivers can provide the 2024 F-150 Lightning with a more airy atmosphere via the available panoramic glass roof. In the base XLT grade, dual-zone automatic climate control comes standard, along with an auto-dimming rearview mirror that adjusts to reduce glare from tailing vehicles’ headlights. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather, and the seats have cloth upholstery.

While the 2024 F-150 Lightning’s bed isn’t covered in its standard configuration, we’ll highlight its bed capacity in this review’s interior section. The bed contains a cargo box volume of 52.8 cubic feet (cu. ft.), and the frunk (front trunk) features 14.1 cu. ft. of space. This frunk area is waterproof and contains multiple power outlets. Moving into a 2024 F-150 Lightning Flash supplies a heated steering wheel option, while the Lariat trim contains ambient lighting and standard leather upholstery.

This Ford’s peak trim heightens passenger comfort with leather-surface front seats with heating and ventilation. The driver’s seat also has a 10-way power adjustment control instead of the lower grades’ 8-way. Chevrolet’s Silverado EV, Rivian’s R1T, and Hummer’s EV Pickup have seating for five passengers.

Tesla’s Cybertruck and RAM’s 1500 REV provide cabins with a six-passenger capacity. Those seeking a minimalist interior design will prefer the Tesla Cybertruck, while drivers prioritizing durability may want to consider Rivian’s R1T and Hummer’s EV Pickup. Our biggest issue with the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning’s interior is its use of cloth upholstery in certain trims, which seems unfitting given the vehicle’s $60,000-plus starting price.

Power and performance

One of the 2024 F-150 Lightning’s most impressive performance traits is its quick acceleration. With the extended-range battery, this Ford can travel from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.8 seconds. Horsepower ranges from 462 to 580, and torque registers at 775 lb.-ft. Naturally, the all-electric F-150 Lightning is more efficient than many gas-powered trucks, with 73-78 MPGe in the city and 60-63 MPGe on the highway.

However, the F-150 Lightning has a lower towing capacity than a gas F-150 at 5,000 to 8,500 lbs. You can raise this towing capacity to 10,000 lbs. with the available max towing package, but it would still fall short of a gas-powered 2024 F-150’s peak towing capacity of 13,500 lbs. Drivers also need to consider that towing will reduce the F-150 Lightning’s range.

This Ford’s pro power onboard feature provides a mobile power source with up to 9.6 kW of available power. You can optimize this mobile power connectivity with up to 11 available power outlets. In addition to regenerative braking, the 2024 F-150 Lightning provides a one-pedal drive mode, which allows you to accelerate and decelerate through the accelerator pedal, helping to reduce fatigue behind the wheel. Available drive modes include Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Snow/Wet.

Tesla’s Cybertruck provides the quickest 0 to 60 MPH acceleration at 2.6 seconds via Beast mode, but you’ll have to pay over $120,000 to acquire this power. Rivian’s R1T also contains quality acceleration with its 3-second 0 to 60 MPH time. Chevrolet’s Silverado EV and RAM’s 1500 REV contain similar towing capacities as the F-150 Lightning and the pricey Hummer EV Pickup can produce up to 1,000 horsepower.

Tech overview

Ford equips the 2024 F-150 Lightning with quality center touchscreen sizes at 12” or the optional 15.5” version. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complement these displays, and drivers can receive higher audio quality with the available 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen (B&O) sound system.

During our review’s introduction, we mentioned that all 2024 F-150 Lightning extended-range models can equip BlueCruise. This cutting-edge tech provides hands-free driving capability on highways at normal speeds and stop-and-go traffic alike. While BlueCruise can help reduce driving fatigue, it’s vital to understand that it’s Level 2 self-driving tech. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rates a vehicle’s self-driving or autonomous driving capabilities on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.

This electric Ford pickup’s optional 360-degree view via four cameras around the truck can increase your environmental awareness. FordPass Connect gives you complimentary access to remote vehicle commands, so you can perform actions like locking/unlocking doors and scheduling engine starts from your smartphone.

While most new models have these remote capabilities, some aren’t standard. The 2024 F-150 Lightning’s SYNC tech provides enhanced voice recognition, connected navigation, and updates on travel factors like traffic and weather. Ford provides this pickup with wireless over-the-air software update compatibility.

The F-150 Lightning’s optional display is one of the largest amongst its competition, but Tesla’s Cybertruck takes the lead with a 17” central touchscreen. Still, the Cybertruck doesn’t contain Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, and Tesla doesn’t look to be changing course with this decision anytime soon. The other rivals mentioned during our review, which include the RAM 1500 REV, Hummer EV Pickup, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and Rivian R1T, all support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety capabilities

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hasn’t yet rated the 2024 F-150 Lightning’s crash protection. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave this Ford its highest crash protection score of five stars.

In addition to a rearview camera, core standard safety features within the 2024 F-150 Lightning include:

• Blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert/trailer tow coverage
• Intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering
• Pre-collision assist
• Lane keeping system
• Speed sign recognition
• Reverse sensing system
• Active park assist

The blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert/trailer tow coverage allows you to receive the same level of blind-spot protection with an attached trailer as you would without. Intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering tech keeps you at a safe distance from the car you’re following with automatic braking and acceleration and within your lane so you don’t drift outside road markings. If you do drift, the lane keeping system will alert you with audible and visual notifications.

Pre-collision assist initiates automatic emergency braking when sensing a potential collision with a cyclist, car, or pedestrian. Speed sign recognition communicates posted road speed limits on this Ford’s central display, and the reverse sensing system will alert you of obstacles in your reverse driving path. Active park assist detects open parking spots and provides automatic steering assistance while you accelerate and brake into the space.

Suppose you engage BlueCruise technology behind the wheel of this electric pickup. In that case, its Level 2 autonomy requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road to remain alert for emergencies requiring manual intervention. Tesla’s Cybertruck poses similar requirements for users of its Full Self-Driving tech, which isn’t actually fully autonomous, despite its name.

Trim guide and owner considerations

The 2024 Ford F-150 is costly despite recent price cuts. Below is a list of each trim’s starting prices in addition to some of their highlights.

F-150 Lightning XLT – $62,995

A base F-150 Lightning XLT trim provides plenty of features, such as an interior work surface, 20” dark carbonized gray alloy wheels, and extended running boards.

F-150 Lightning Flash – $67,995

The F-150 Lightning Flash supplies drivers with a heated leather steering wheel, the larger 15.5” central touchscreen, and an extended range battery.

F-150 Lightning Lariat – $76,995

Lariat trim buyers receive heated and ventilated front seats, unique rear lighting, and a memory driver’s seat.

F-150 Lightning Platinum – $84,995

The peak Platinum trim delivers 14 high-quality speakers, the option to apply the platinum black package with darkened exterior accents, and the max towing package.

Warranty info

Ford gives 2024 F-150 Lightning buyers a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, whichever comes first, and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.

Final verdict

Tesla’s Cybertruck has generated the most buzz out of any electric truck, but it’s easy to see why Ford’s F-150 Lightning is the country’s best-selling EV pickup with its 2024 production year. This popular electric model is well-equipped with standard features, offers a plethora of available add-ons, and contains equal parts utility and style—a balance that’s not easy to achieve in the pickup segment.

The F-150 Lightning is also far less expensive than the Cybertruck’s debut Foundation Series model. Tesla will release a less expensive rear-wheel drive (RWD) Cybertruck, but this vehicle won’t be available for ordering until 2025. Noteworthy practical features within this Ford include its frunk, with almost double the capacity of its Cybertruck counterpart, and an onboard mobile power unit. The 2024 F-150 Lightning is a fine choice for an all-electric pickup and is worthy of an 8.8/10 overall rating.