2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost Review

This is not a typical truck review.

We will not be digging deep into payloads, towing capacity, gear ratios, or cab layouts. This is a review for those contemplating truck ownership for the first time. Those who like the appeal of all a truck has to offer, but aren’t necessarily tied to needing a truck by trade, lifestyle, or hobby.

This one is for the folks looking to step up from large crossovers and SUVs into something with a large cabin and an open bed. Pickup trucks are far and away the best-selling vehicles in North America and for good reason. There are countless ways to configure these trucks, and countless reasons to buy them.

For those that truly want it all, there’s trucks like the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost. If there’s an option available on a pick-up truck, it’s probably on the Limited. Looking at the exterior, the trim comes equipped with features like LED Mirror mounted spotlights, a power tailgate with work surface, a tailgate step, LED lighting all around, power retractable running boards, sprayed in bedliner, twin moonroofs, and a power rear sliding window.

On the safety front, there are auto high beams, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, post collision braking, a lane-keep system, blindspot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and more.

Inside, it’s more luxury vehicle than work truck. A few highlights include a 12-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, rain sensing wipers, power adjustable pedals, power tilt and telescope steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a B&O sound system, onboard WiFi, and a digital gauge cluster. The dual power front seats are equally plush, with heating and ventilation, while the outboard seats in the rear are heated as well.

Not only does it pamper occupants inside, but the F-150 with the Supercrew cab offers all the space in the world. Front seat passengers get 40.8-inches (1,037 mm) of headroom, while rear seat riders get an impressive 40.4-inches (1,026 mm). Legroom is equally cavernous, as those up front get 43.9-inches (1,115 mm) of space and those in the back get nearly the same amount, at 43.6-inches (1,108 mm).

Whether it’s five adults, a family of four, or just a couple out on the town, there’s so much room inside. Passengers sit high up off the road, with a commanding view of their surroundings. The dual pane moonroof only extenuates this airy feeling.

As mentioned, most pickup trucks are offered with a plethora of bed lengths, engine choices, and cab configurations. Thankfully, the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost makes things easy. It’s only available with one engine, one transmission, one drivetrain, one rear axle ratio, one cabin size, and one bed length.

The Supercrew Limited Powerboost with the 5.5-ft. bed comes powered by Ford’s 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine mated to a full hybrid system. It produces 430 hp, and 570 lb-ft. of torque. That’s a decent bump over the regular 3.5-liter turbo V6, making the Powerboost the second most powerful engine available in a F-150 behind the Raptor.

Running on regular grade gasoline, it sends power through a ten-speed automatic transmission to a traditional 4X4 system with a two-speed transfer case. It offers 4-wheel high, 4-wheel auto, 4-wheel low, and 2-wheel drive. There are also selectable drive modes for various road conditions, and/or while towing.

As the figures suggest, power in this truck is great. No matter the Ford’s speed, there’s plenty to spare. Sadly, we were not able to see how towing affects the hybrid drivetrain. But for those interested, the Limited Powerboost can tow up to 12,700 lbs. (5,761 kg) when properly equipped. That’s down 1,300 lbs. (591 kg) from the highest rated towing capacity for a Supercrew 5.5-ft. bed with the regular 3.5-liter turbocharged non-hybrid engine.

But this isn’t the model or trim one would choose for serious and/or constant towing. This is the F-150 someone selects that needs occasional towing of a moderate-sized camper trailer or a boat.

Under normal driving conditions, the hybrid system never remains in pure electric drive for long. But the F-150 is capable of leaving a complete stop without having to wait for idle stop/start to engage the engine. It makes for very seamless driving.

Officially, the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost is rated at 23 mpg (10.5 L/100 km) city, 23 mpg highway 10.4 L/100 km highway. During our time with the truck, we were not sniffing anywhere near those official numbers. Our week involved mixed city and highway driving, with some brief remote engine start usage.

Even if our real world fuel economy numbers were a bit low, there’s plenty of driving range on the Limited Powerboost. The hybrid drivetrain receives an upgraded 30.6-gallon (98 L) fuel tank. That’s 4.6 gallons (11 L) more than the regular Supercrew, enabling the pick-up to travel further between trips to the gas station.

This biggest adjustment for someone coming from an SUV to a truck has to do with the vehicle’s size. Our Supercrew test truck with the 5.5-ft bed measures in at 231.7-inches (5,884 mm) in length. For comparison, that’s over two and half feet longer than a Honda Pilot or Nissan Pathfinder. Heck, it’s even 10-inches+ (254 mm) longer than Ford’s own Expedition Max.

Add in a 79.9-inch (2,030 mm) width and 77.2-inch (1,962 mm) height, and the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost requires a lot of room to maneuver. Prospective buyers not acclimatized to half ton pickups may want to try taking one on a test drive to a local shopping center or supermarket. Once there, try parking in a few tight spots to see how manageable it is for them.

A final point on the truck’s size has to do with the retractable running boards. These are a must (or a set of fixed running boards) for those with younger children. With the boards deployed, our seven-year tester-in-training had no issue climbing inside the back of the F-150.

Pick-ups have come a long way over the past decade or two. They drive more car-like than ever. Our 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost features an independent front suspension and adaptive steering. But this still is a truck and includes a leaf-spring rear suspension set-up.

On the road and unladen with payload, the rear suspension is a bit jittery over bumps – a perennial pickup truck driving trait. Handling is adequate, thanks in part to the 22-inch wheels wearing 275/45R22 tires. But the 5,515 lbs. (2,502 kg) F-150 doesn’t respond to changes in direction as well a crossover, or even large SUV. There’s still a gap between how smooth the open-bed Ford drives and say, a similarly sized, body on frame SUV like the Chevrolet Tahoe.

That stated, the F-150 is easy to operate. The controls require little effort, and on the freeway, the truck stays straight in its lane, without needing minor corrections. The brakes are great, providing nice pedal feel and quick deceleration.

As we’re reviewing a truck attempting to be all things to all people, the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost includes the capability of being utilized as a work truck. But think of it more as a mobile office/power bank than a dirt and equipment hauler.

Starting inside, the gear shifter can fold down into the center console at the push of a button. The allows the center console lid to split in half and foldout, creating a large flat workspace. It’s perfect to place a laptop computer on and do a bit of work. There’s even a 110V outlet in the center dash to keep the computer charged.

Speaking of charging, the Powerboost includes the 7.2 kW Pro Power Onboard. It transforms the truck into a mobile generator, with several outlets located in the pickup bed, including a 400W outlet.

For more traditional truck activities, the Limited includes onboard scales, which features light bars within the truck’s taillamps to let drivers know how close they are to the 1,830 lbs. (830 kg) maximum payload weight.

For those that will tow, there’s smart hitch, Pro trailer hitch assist, and pro trailer backup assist. Inside, the truck has a fully integrated trailer brake controller.

A truck that has everything short of the kitchen sink isn’t going to come cheap, and this pickup is a bit pricey. The 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost starts at a price of $86,805 (all price include destination charges) in the United States. The only options added to our test vehicle are the bed spray liner and the Azure gray metallic paint. But due to the microchip shortage features like active park assist 2.0, the multicontour seats, heated steering wheel, and advanced security pack, are all omitted. This almost makes the pricing a wash, with our as tested price coming in at $87,530.

In Canada, the starting price of the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost is $108,380. With the options added and unavailable features omitted, the total as tested comes in at $108,815.

For a daily driver and/or family vehicle, the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited Powerboost fills the void and then some. It’s as spacious, luxurious, and powerful as most people would ever need. But there are some drawbacks to truck ownership that not everyone may be ready to deal with. There’s also the the cost of entry.

Our advice, unless a few of the trucks added benefits, such as towing, the open bed, or the power bank are needed, it might be worth checking out an equally large, well equipped, but more livable SUV. But if you’re really set on the truck lifestyle, and want the best of the best, this F-150 is worth a serious look.

FAQs

How much is the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited?

The 2023 Ford F-150 Limited starts at a price of $86,805 in the United States including destination charges. In Canada, it starts at $108,380. 

How many miles per gallon does a 2023 Ford F-150 Limited get?

The truck is rated at 23 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. During our testing we were only able to average 15.1 mpg. 

Does the F-150 hybrid need premium gas?

No it does not. It is capable of running on regular grade gasoline.