Ford F-150: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?
Most significant changes: The F-150 gets some new appearance and utility packages for 2022. The big news is the new electric-powered F-150 Lightning, which should go on sale this spring. A high-performance F-150 Raptor R will come sometime after that, possibly as a 2022 or 2023 model.
Price changes: Prices for 2022 are up slightly across the lineup from $430 to $1,230, depending on the trim level.
On sale: Now
Which should you buy, 2021 or 2022? Obviously if you want a Raptor R or Lightning, you need to opt for a 2022 (or possibly 2023) model and wait for it. Otherwise, the F-150’s higher-end King Ranch, Platinum and Limited trims are the only ones to get more standard content for the price hikes, so a model-year 2021 version will be cheaper and you won’t miss out on any extras.
Ford redesigned its F-150 pickup for 2021 with a new hybrid powertrain as well as a bunch of handy features and new tech that keep it competitive. Cars.com liked it so much, we named it our Best of 2021 vehicle — then bought one. (Follow our journey.) For 2022, the truck carries over with very few changes in equipment along with modest price increases across all trims.
Related: We Bought a 2021 Ford F-150: See How Much We Paid
Aside from the bread-and-butter trim levels, at least one new model will join for 2022 — the electric-powered F-150 Lightning, which should go on sale in spring 2022. A second vehicle, the Raptor R — a high-performance capstone to the off-road-oriented Raptor lineup — is expected to debut in the 2022 calendar year, though Ford hasn’t yet said whether it will be a 2022 or 2023 model.
Equipment
A new color choice joins the F-150 for 2022: Atlas Blue. Other changes for the new model year are limited to appearance and utility packages that are either new to the F-150 or available across trim levels for 2022.
The STX Black Appearance Package is now optional on XL models with Ford’s 101A equipment group. Also, the XLT Black Appearance Package is now optional on XLT 301A and 302A SuperCab and SuperCrew models. (Ford markets the F-150’s extended and crew cabs as SuperCab and SuperCrew, respectively.) In addition, the Lariat Black Appearance Package is now optional for 502A equipment groups.
A Platinum Black Appearance Package is newly available for F-150 Platinum models, and a Bed Utility Package is included on King Ranch, Platinum and Limited trims and optional on trims below them.
Pricing
Prices for 2022 are up slightly across the lineup. For example, the base XL trim in regular cab, rear-wheel-drive format starts at $31,685 — $700 more than the outgoing base model. All prices include destination.
Below are the starting prices for 2022, each with two-wheel drive, the base cab and the shortest bed available. In parentheses are price increases over the same trim level for 2021. Four-wheel drive is available across the lineup; the Raptor and Tremor models come standard with 4WD.
- XL: $31,685 ($700 increase)
- XLT: $38,325 ($1,230 increase)
- Lariat: $48,335 ($1,095 increase)
- Tremor: $52,430 ($1,230)
- King Ranch: $58,805 ($430)
- Platinum: $61,585 ($430)
- Raptor: $67,070 ($1,230)
- Limited: $76,030 ($1,230)
New Models Join the Lineup
The F-150’s lineup is expanding in different directions for 2022 and beyond with the addition of a new Raptor R model as well as the electric-powered F-150 Lightning.
After a redesign for 2021, Ford’s off-road-ready monster is adding a new Raptor R model that’s coming sometime in the 2022 calendar year. Details are slim, but Ford said it will feature a V-8 engine. There’s no word yet on pricing either, but expect it to start north of the $67,070 base price of the F-150 Raptor (non-R), which is powered by a turbocharged V-6.
On the other side is the highly anticipated F-150 Lightning pickup truck, Ford’s latest electric vehicle. Ford estimates the Lightning will put out 563 horsepower and 775 pounds-feet of torque from its dual-motor, 4WD battery-electric powertrain. In terms of range estimates, the automaker is targeting 300 miles of EPA-rated range for the Lightning’s extended-range version and 230 miles for the standard-range version.
Ford says the electric truck is moving to the final phase of preproduction testing, and customers can expect deliveries to start this spring. Prices will range from around $40,000 to $90,000 depending on trim level and equipment, before any state or federal tax credits.
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