2020 Ford F-150 Review

The 2020 Ford F-150 is a perfect example of the tough yet modern full-size pickup truck. It has the guts to tow and haul at the top of its class, yet it also offers a wide range of luxury and technology features. The combination makes it one of the most versatile trucks available and justifies the F-Series as the top-selling vehicle on the market.

A lot of the F-150's appeal comes from its wide range of configurations. On basic work trucks, the base 3.3-liter V6 is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. All other engines — including a fuel-efficient turbodiesel, two turbocharged V6s, and a tried-and-true V8 — are equipped with a quick-shifting 10-speed. Depending on your needs, some versions excel in towing, comfort, fuel economy, or off-road performance.

Ford has invested heavily to keep the F-150 updated with the times. In addition to its lightweight all-aluminum body, the truck offers a selection of advanced technologies. Standard on all models is a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and most trim levels come with the Sync 3 infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen. Pre-collision assist with automatic braking is also standard equipment. New for 2020, the Ford Co-Pilot360 safety suite comes on the Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trims.

The F-150 is a well-rounded truck with few compromises for a full-size pickup. But it's been a while since this version first launched in 2014, and you should note that competitors offer newer models. In particular, the Ram 1500 goes above and beyond with its smoother ride quality and innovative storage areas. The Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are also freshly redesigned. But if you look at the F-150 for its advanced technology and user-friendliness, you won't be disappointed.

Notably, the 2020 Ford F-150 is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

What's it like to live with the F-150?

The F-150 has been the truck sales leader for decades, so every new F-150 is massively important. That's why we bought a bright blue Lariat for our long-term fleet when this generation launched in 2015. While we liked the truck overall, we were unimpressed by the new 2.7-liter engine's real-world fuel economy compared to its EPA numbers. When the 2018 model bowed with a new transmission, we decided to buy another F-150 in nearly the same configuration, in part to see if the fuel economy improved. To read about how the economy improved — or didn't — read our long-term F-150 test, where we also covered everything from performance to long-distance seat comfort.

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What’s new

• Advanced driving aids now grouped into packages, with some standard on Lariat and above models and others on the Limited model
• New appearance packages for XL, XLT and Lariat trims
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot is now standard
• Part of the 13th F-150 generation introduced for 2015

Pros & Cons

• High towing and payload capacities are ideal for work or play
• Comfort and safety tech runs the gamut from blue-collar basic to luxury living
• Multiple engines deliver a balance of power and fuel economy
• Raptor model's gonzo off-road ability
• The ride can be rough with an unladen bed
• Fell short of some fuel economy estimates in our real-world testing

Rankings & Research

The 2020 Ford F-150's #1 ranking is based on its score within the Full-Size Pickup Trucks category. Currently, the Ford F-150 has a score of 9.1 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 49 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.

Is the Ford F-150 a Good Truck?

Yes, the Ford F-150 is an excellent full-size pickup truck. It offers six capable and powerful engines, rides smoothly, and can tow and haul more than every rival. Inside, this Ford provides plenty of space, and it's available with lots of infotainment and driver assistance features. It also has one of the highest predicted reliability ratings in the class. One of the F-150's most notable downsides is that a few rivals are more upscale on the inside.

2020 Ford F-150 Dimensions

• Length: 17 feet, 5.3 inches to 20 feet, 10.5 inches
• Height: 6 feet, 3.1 inches to 6 feet, 6.5 inches
• Curb weight: 4,069 to 5,697 pounds

Should I Buy the Ford F-150?

If you're in the market for a full-size pickup, then yes, you should buy the F-150. It delivers on every front, and it's competitively priced. That's not to say it’s the only truck in the class worth considering. The Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 are also fine choices.

Should I Buy a New or Used Ford F-150?

The 2020 F-150 belongs to a generation that began with the 2015 model year, and there have been a few noteworthy changes since. Ford refreshed the F-150 for 2018, improving its towing and hauling capacities, adding extra power for select engines and making the 10-speed automatic transmission more widely available. For 2019, the Limited trim got a new engine (the same high-output EcoBoost powertrain that's in the Raptor), while the Raptor received new shocks. Ford also added some driver assistance features like forwarding collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection to the standard features list.

For 2020, Ford makes the 10-speed automatic transmission standard with all engines (a six-speed automatic came with select engines in the 2019 F-150). Also, the lower trims are now available with more engine options than in previous years.

You can potentially save thousands of dollars by buying an older F-150, and many of the trims are largely the same as the new F-150, going back to the 2015 model year.