Ford F-150 Hybrid Among Wards 2024 10 Best Engines

When it launched for the 2021 model year, the 3.5L V6 PowerBoost engine gave us the very first hybrid Ford F-150 in history, and quickly became a customer favorite thanks to its high output, thrifty fuel economy, and the also-new Pro Power Onboard generator, which provides enough juice to power an entire home for days at a time. The very first Ford F-150 hybrid also earned a spot on the 2021 Wards 10 Best Engines list, a feat that it has now repeated for the new year.

The Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid has once again landed on the Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems list for 2024, following a few revisions that were part of the pickup’s refresh for the same model year. Wards editors evaluated 34 nominees this time around, trying to determine the best of the best, as it has done for 30 years now, looking at factors including horsepower, torque, NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), management, observed efficiency, and new technology.

With all of that data crunched, the Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid once again made the cut on this top 10 list, along with the 2024 Ford Mustang GT/Dark Horse and its 5.0L V8 Coyote powerplant. Additionally, the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning landed on this same list back in 2022, thanks to its pair of powerful electric motors.

“With the electrified market mix shifting to a blend of battery-electrics and hybrids, our list truly reflects – and predicts – where propulsion system development is headed as the industry continues its transition from internal-combustion power to full electrification,” said Bob Gritzinger, WardsAuto editor-in-chief. “Our judges are equally excited about the wide range of propulsion systems on our 30^th annual list, whether in the form of a battery-electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or internal-combustion-powered vehicle. It’s truly a fantastic time to be able to sample and appreciate the variety of powertrains the industry has to offer.”

As Ford Authority previously reported, the 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid features some key changes aimed at improving powertrain smoothness, such as the elimination of both starters – instead using the hybrid battery to complete that task – as well as executing 300 software enhancements developed using data gathered from hundreds of development test miles.