San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Ford SUV and truck lineups for 2023 include Bronco, F-150 Lightning EV
Ford Motor Co. continues to offer its most-comprehensive lineup of trucks and sportutility vehicles ever, with a large variety to choose among in the 2023 model year.
Last year, Ford has introduced its new Maverick compact pickup, which is the lowest-priced new pickup and one of the lowest-priced new vehicles overall for sale in the U.S. market.
Ford also has reintroduced its Bronco full-size sport-utility vehicle after a nearly quarter-century absence, including the reincarnation of the classic two-door model, and the first four-door version ever.
Also in the lineup is the all-new Bronco Sport, a compact crossover with many of its big brothers’ styling cues, including four-wheel-drive systems for off-road adventuring.
These are the flagships of Ford’s current collection of sport utility and crossover utility vehicles, which also include the full-size Expedition SUV, midsize Explorer SUV, midsize Edge crossover, compact Escape crossover, and special Mustang Mach-E allelectric compact crossover.
All of these are joined in the lineup by the Ford truck collection, which includes the best-selling F-150 full-size half-ton pickup (including the new F-150 Lightning EV), three-quarter-ton F-series Super Duty pickups (entering a new generation for 2023), the midsize Ranger pickup, and the new Maverick.
Ford Bronco
Ford rolled out the re-invented Bronco full-size sport-utility vehicle two years ago after a nearly 25year absence, including the classic two-door version and the first four-door model.
They are the flagships of an all-new family of rugged Ford off-road vehicles.
Ford says the new, all four-wheel-drive Bronco brand is “Built Wild and ready to deliver thrilling experiences with its heritage-inspired style,
engineering and smart off-road technology, plus innovative features to help outdoor enthusiasts create adventures in the most remote corners of the world.”
The big Broncos are traditional body-on-frame truck-style SUVs, based on the F-150 pickup architecture. But the Bronco Sport is a unibody vehicle based on the Ford Escape compact crossover.
Bronco owners can choose from an extensive lineup of more than 200 factory-backed accessories for maximum personalization, enabling dealers to provide outfitting-on-demand for each customer’s individual adventure needs.
Up to seven driver-selectable modes are offered including Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand, with Baja, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl for offroad driving. Two 4x4 systems are offered on all Bronco models, a base version with a two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case, and an optional advanced system with a two-speed electromechanical transfer case with auto mode.
The big Broncos have best-in-class 11.6-inch ground clearance, maximum 29-degree breakover angle and 37.2-degree departure angle, plus best-inclass water fording capability of up to 33.5 inches.
Also part of the new Bronco family is the Bronco Sport, which is smaller and significantly different from the bigger Bronco. It’s a unibody-style “crossover” utility vehicle based on the architecture of the compact Ford Escape. It’s not like the previous generation’s Bronco II, which was a body-on-frame SUV based on Ford’s compact pickup.
The Bronco Sport could be considered the “Pepsi Light” of the Bronco lineup, but it does come with standard four-wheel drive and some light off-road capabilities, even though it isn’t quite the same as its bigger sibling. There are four Bronco Sport trim levels.
Although it’s essentially a car underneath, the Bronco Sport does share some of the big Broncos’ styling cues, and its four-wheel-drive systems are suited to some quasi-serious off-road adventuring.
Two engines are available. The base engine, which comes in the Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks models, is a 1.5-liter EcoBoost inline three-cylinder, producing 181 horsepower and 190 foot-pounds of torque.
Also offered is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, cranking out 245 horsepower and 275 footpounds of torque.
Both engines run on gasoline and come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Ford F-150
Ford’s popular F-150 light-duty pickup got a major redesign for 2021, along with its first-available fullhybrid drive system.
The optional 3.5-liter V-6 PowerBoost hybrid powertrain produces 430 horsepower and 570 footpounds of torque, the most torque ever in an F-150.
With power upgrades to the optional 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine, the F-150 equipped with that engine can tow up to 14,000 pounds, 800 pounds more than the 2020 model.
Ford also makes the F-150 Lightning EV – an all-electric vehicle – with up to 240 miles range on a single full battery charge. It debuted in spring 2021.
Overall, the F-150 has a “customer-focused” design that makes the truck more productive and more connected, with standard over-the-air updates, touch screens, and Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technology, along with available Interior Work Surface, Tailgate Work Surface and class-exclusive Max Recline Seats.
F-150 is built on a fully boxed high-strength steel frame with a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and box.
There are six engine options, including a 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel V-6 with 250 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque.
Base is a 3.3-liter normally aspirated gasoline V-6 with 290 horsepower and 265 foot-pounds of torque.
Also offered are a 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 with 325 horsepower and 400 foot-pounds of torque; the 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 with 400 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque; and a normally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 with 400 horsepower and 410 foot-pounds of torque. All come with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Trim levels include XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch. An FX4 off-road package is offered on most four-wheel-drive models.
Ford announced improvements for the F-150 Lightning models built starting last fall 2022, including a boost for its standard range battery models to an EPA-estimated 240 miles, and the addition of Pro Trailer Hitch Assist technology.
An industry first, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist automatically controls steering, throttle and brake inputs to make hitching trailers easier.
Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is standard with the Tow Technology Package, which is available on Pro, XLT and Lariat trims and standard on certain Lariat trims and the Platinum trim.