Pro Power Onboard essentially turns the Ford F-150 into a generator on wheels, making the pickup a prime choice for owners who need extra power at a jobsite, racetrack, or filming location. That’s exactly what led Tom and James of Throttle House to lease a 2023 Ford F-150 Lariat PowerBoost – the hybrid version of the pickup – for their day-to-day operations. Now, two years in, Tom and James spent some time discussing their experience with the hybrid pickup, and it’s been a mixed bag for the pair.
Unfortunately, their 2023 Ford F-150 was broken into twice at no fault of the pickup’s – it was user and equipment error to blame. Beyond that unfortunate reality, though, Tom and James say that there’s actually a lot to love about the hybrid F-150.
It’s quick, especially for its size, featuring 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque, and it’s really easy to drive. It rides better than the Ram 1500 that they replaced with the F-150, and it’s massive. It’s got all the bells and whistles for comfort, but, unfortunately, the reality is it just hasn’t “had a good time” in terms of wear and tear.
Simply put, they’ve driven the 2023 Ford F-150 into the ground. It’s been a race car hauler and mobile film studio, but it’s been a “workhorse.” Tom says he wouldn’t opt for all the extras again because he doesn’t like the idea of a “luxury truck,” and when the lease is up in a year, he’s probably not going to buy a second F-150.
“To conclude, this has been a fine truck,” Tom says. “The truck has not been perfect.” While the pickup has performed well for its assigned duties, it just hasn’t left a good impression on Tom or James, simply because it’s trying to hard to be something it doesn’t need to be.
They’re not alone in their dislike of the F-150 Hybrid. The pickup landed itself on Consumer Reports‘ list of least reliable vehicles, although at least Tom and James came to the same conclusion as Car and Driver, which found that the F-150 consistently bests the Ram 1500.
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Love my ’23 PB XLT. Just ordered a ’25!