Top Picks for the Best Year F-150
Photo Source/Copyright: Ford Heritage Vault
Ask ten truck people which F-150 year to buy and you’ll get eleven answers. Fair enough. The right model year really comes down to what you haul, what you spend, and how much tech you want riding shotgun, rather than just focusing on a specific number on a title. If you want to sort it out the way a good service advisor would, look at the generation first, and then look at the stuff showing up in your driveway.
Start With the Generation, Not the Year
Model years within the same generation share the same frame, body, and underlying engineering. They tend to behave similarly on the road and in the shop because of this. Pick the generation that best fits your life, and the specific year will almost pick itself.
| Generation | Model Years | What It’s Known For |
|---|---|---|
| 12th | 2009-2014 | Steel body; the 5.0L V-8 and 3.5L EcoBoost arrive in 2011 |
| 13th | 2015-2020 | Aluminum-alloy body on a steel frame; 10-speed automatic from 2017 |
| 14th | 2021-present | PowerBoost hybrid, Pro Power Onboard, standard 12-inch screen after the 2024 refresh |
Hitting the Sweet Spot with Used Models
The 13th generation is a massive treasure trove of value where a lot of used shoppers land. For 2015, Ford moved to an aluminum-alloy body, dropping weight without sacrificing toughness, while keeping the steel frame underneath. A 2018 refresh sharpened the truck’s styling and expanded the 10-speed automatic across more of the lineup.
Trucks from 2018 through 2020 are challenging to beat. They’re modern enough to feel current, but old enough that depreciation has already done the heavy lifting.
The 14th Generation Grows Up
For 2021, the 14th generation showed up featuring the PowerBoost full hybrid and Pro Power Onboard, which turns the bed into a 7.2-kilowatt (kW) jobsite generator on the hybrid. First-year trucks always have a few kinks to work out, but by the 2024 refresh, Ford had smoothed things over and made a 12-inch center screen standard.
Ford retired the long-running 2.7-liter EcoBoost for the newest models, leaning into updates that pull harder down low for the 75 percent of owners who tow. The newest updates include:
- 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6: The new standard engine boasting 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
- 5.0-liter V-8: Pushing 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, available again on Platinum and King Ranch trims.
- Maximum towing: Tops out at 13,500 pounds on a properly equipped SuperCrew 6.5-foot box 4×4 configuration featuring the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, Max Tow Axle, and Tow/Haul Package.
- BlueCruise with Towing: Available with no added fee beyond an active plan on every BlueCruise-equipped truck from XLT to Platinum, giving your hands a break on prequalified divided highways, even with a camper hitched up.
- Fresh styling: A redesigned grille and new wheels for XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum variants, plus a Carhartt package offered on the XLT 4×4 SuperCrew.
Kick the Tires Before You Buy
A thick folder of maintenance receipts beats a low odometer reading almost every time. If you’re looking at early 10-speed models from 2017 and 2018, many just need a software update to fix shift-quality complaints, while 2004 through 2008 trucks with the 5.4-liter three-valve V-8 can be great workhorses if they have documented spark plug and cam phaser work.
Keep this checklist handy:
- Service records: Regular oil changes are especially critical for turbocharged EcoBoost engines.
- Recall status: Run the truck’s VIN through the free NHTSA lookup.
- Warm test drive: Transmission shifts can feel completely different once everything is up to temperature.
- Four-wheel-drive (4WD) check: Engage 4-High and 4-Low before you sign anything.
- Hitch hardware: Wear here tells you how hard the truck has been worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which F-150 years are the best value?
A: Trucks from 2018 through 2020 are difficult to surpass. They feature the refreshed 13th-gen design, have already taken their largest depreciation hit, and include the 10-speed in most setups.
Q: When did the F-150 switch to aluminum?
A: The switch happened in 2015. The body was moved to aluminum alloy, while the frame remained high-strength steel.
Q: Is buying new worth it over used?
A: It can be, particularly if you tow often. The newest trucks feature the 3.0-liter EcoBoost and hands-free BlueCruise with Towing, neither of which you’ll find on older F-150 models.
Ready to Find Your Truck?
Got a trailer, a budget, and a hunch about which year you want? Bring us your requirements, and we’ll pull service histories on used trucks and park a new Ford F-150 right beside one so you can feel the difference. Schedule a test drive anytime.