Six Years of Fantastic Ford F-150s

The Ford F-150 has been America’s favorite truck for more than 40 years, which is a legacy no other pickup can even come close to matching. For the most part, you’re not going to find trucks going back quite that far at your favorite Certified Pre-Owned Ford F-150 dealer, though a wide range of model years is common. A Gold Certified F-150 has to be less than six years old, which means you’re looking at the latest and greatest models within this category. That being said, there have been a surprising number of updates and amazing additions over the last six years, making these an incredible selection of vehicles.

The 2016 Ford F-150

Checking out the 2016 Ford F-150 might not seem like traveling too far back in time, but the differences between it and the most recent models can be pretty startling. A lot has happened in the last six years or so, and you’ll see that the model year you choose can definitely have a big impact on the sorts of features you get. This doesn’t mean the 2016 model is in any way inferior or bad; it is a fantastic truck, and a pre-owned model from this year can save you money while giving you one of the best pickups on the road.

Four engines were available on the 2016 Ford F-150, starting with a 3.5L Ti-VCT standard engine, then moving up from there with three more options that deliver truly impressive performance. All four engines were paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, though the three optional ones featured a more responsive SelectShift system. Here’s the kind of power these four engines could deliver:

• 3.5L Ti-VCT V6: 282 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque
• 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque
• 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque
• 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque

The available 5.0L Ti-VCT engine offered the highest payload at up to 3,270 lbs, and the incredibly powerful 3.5L EcoBoost engine can handle up to 12,200 lbs of maximum towing when equipped with the Trailer Tow Package. We’ll see that Ford has found ways to improve upon these numbers a bit over the last six years, but not by a huge amount. This means that even going back as far as possible with a Gold Certified F-150 still gets you a truck that can handle a massive amount of weight, more than even some current models of other pickups.

Technological features on the 2016 model were already quite impressive, including a factory-integrated trailer brake control for safer towing. Ford’s available Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology lets you easily maneuver the 2016 F-150 while backing up and towing: you simply turn a control knob to indicate how you want the trailer to turn with you, and the advanced system does the rest. The 2016 model was updated with Ford’s latest SYNC 3 software and featured a standard 2.3-inch instrument display and 4.2-inch infotainment screen; higher trims boosted those to an 8-inch infotainment screen and 8-inch LCD in the instrument cluster.

2017 Ford F-150 Updates

In many ways, the 2017 Ford F-150 is quite similar to the previous model year, with many of the same great features and options. There was a huge mechanical update this year, however, for the most-powerful engine offered on this pickup: the 3.5L EcoBoost. Performance was greatly enhanced thanks to an updated, second-generation version of the engine that increased output to 375 hp and a massive 470 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the other engines continued to use a 6-speed automatic.

While the updated engine delivers a lot more power than the one from the previous year, making it a lot of fun to drive, it’s worth noting that this didn’t boost the towing or payload capacities for the F-150–there’s only so much that can be done without updating the engineering of the truck. There were also a number of other nice updates for 2017, including the addition of a Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert and trailer coverage to help keep you safe even while towing.

2018 Ford F-150 Updates

For the 2018 model year, the Ford F-150 received some major exterior updates that completely refreshed its look with redesigned taillamps, tailgate, front grille, bumpers, and more. The exterior update might be the first thing you notice, but the most important change is that every engine was updated for 2018. An all-new engine was introduced as the starting option, the next two options were updated for improved power and fuel efficiency, and nearly every engine was paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission – only the starting engine retained the 6-speed automatic. These updates resulted in major improvements to performance:

• 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque
• 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque
• 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque
• 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque

Not only did this boost in power make the 2018 F-150 more fun to drive, but it also resulted in the 3.5L EcoBoost engine having a towing capacity of up to 13,200 lbs–a full 1,000 lbs higher than previous years. A 3.0L diesel engine became available late in the life cycle of the 2018 model, but we’ll look at it in more detail for 2019 when it was available from the start of the model year. New safety and driver assistance technology also became available this year, including Active Park Assist and adaptive cruise control.

2019 Ford F-150 Updates

If you’re a fan of diesel engines, then the 2019 Ford F-150 is definitely the one to look for. While a diesel was available late for 2018 models, you’re likely to find it more easily on a 2019. This is a fantastic 3.0L Power Stroke V6 turbo diesel that delivers 240 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with the 10-speed automatic that’s standard on most of the other engines. The diesel engine for the 2019 model could handle more than 11,000 lbs of maximum towing capacity and offered the best fuel economy for this pickup. This year also introduced a high-output version of the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, offered only on the Raptor and Limited trims, which boosted performance to 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque for an exhilarating drive.

2020 Ford F-150 Updates

There weren’t a lot of huge changes for the F-150 in 2020 due in large part to the fact that the 2021 model was the start of a new generation. The engines remained the same with the same fantastic performance and capability on offer. Most of the changes involved increased options on a variety of trims, such as the diesel engine being offered on more trims and greater access to improved technology and driver assistance features.

2021 Ford F-150 Updates

With the launch of a new generation, the 2021 Ford F-150 features a number of huge updates and massive changes that really set it apart. Six engines are available for this model, and while they include some of the previous options, the high-output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine has been replaced with an all-new hybrid V6 engine. This is one of the most powerful and impressive engines ever offered on the Ford F-150. Best of all, every engine for 2021 comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, even the standard engine. Their performance, across the board, is excellent:

• 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque
• 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque
• 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque
• 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque
• 3.0L Turbo-Diesel V6: 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque
• 3.5L Hybrid V6: 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque

These updates and other engineering improvements have resulted in boosted capability as the 2021 F-150 can handle up to 14,000 lbs of towing and 3,325 lbs of maximum payload. There are also numerous technological improvements for the 2021 model, including a Pro Power Onboard system featuring up to six outlets to provide power to just about anything: from reciprocating saws and laser printers to TVs and blenders. There have also been significant updates to the interior: a 4-inch screen in the instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment display are now standard features. When you look at higher trims, you find 12-inch infotainment and 12-inch instrument displays along with an available 18-speaker B&O sound system, heated front and rear seats, and advanced safety features. If you’re looking for the most impressive performance and latest features in your Gold Certified Ford F-150, then a 2021 model can’t be beat.