Ford F-150 Lightning – 2022 Test Drive Review

The 2022 Ford Lightning is an excellent start for EV Trucks.

Ford Lightning Angle Shot

The good folks at Ford Motor Company brought me the brand new F-150 Lightning to drive for seven days. Naturally, I was excited to experience the thrilling electrified power of the Ford Lightning, the fastest-accelerating F-150 to date. I tested the Lariat Lightning with a Dual Motor, Standard Range Battery, and Max Trailer Tow Package.

Exterior

Looking at the truck, you could not tell if it was a standard gas-powered F-150 or the electrified Lightning. Besides the side rear Lighting badge and unique lit-up grille, everything else screams just a typical F-150. Would the Lightning have benefited from a more radical and exciting design? Probably, but this truck is aimed at current F-150 owners and early EV adopters. Even where the engine would have sat, a normal-looking hood with a grille still exists. When you open it, you find a large frunk that offers additional cargo of up to 400 pounds.

Ford Lightning Frunk

Out of the colors I have seen, this Smoked Quartz exterior has to be my favorite. With its metallic paint, it goes from a deep blue to an onyx. The headlight and taillight designs are the most radical features of the truck. The wheels have been a polarizing styling choice among the audience, with many calling them straight-up ugly, but they have grown on me, and I am certain its design is based on functionality over appearance.

Exterior Rating: 7.5/10

Ford Lightning Interior

Interior

I do like the interior of the F-150s. Previously I had an F-150 King Ranch Hybrid, which blew my mind inside and out. I even stated that the hybrid variation is more practical than the lighting. The interior of the Ford Lightning is no different than a Gas powered F-150. It is just as complimentary and roomy, giving your rear passengers plenty of legroom. The materials used are quality, and nothing feels out of place. Your truck’s command center is the extra-large infotainment tablet full of settings and features. The fold-out workstation is also a must-have for anyone that does office work on the go.

Interior Rating: 8/10

Ford Lightning Sean Tajipour

Performance

The Ford Lightning lives up to its name when it comes to performance. It comes standard with dual motors and all-wheel drive. Unfortunately, our truck was the standard battery version, giving us less range and power. The Electric motors provide 452 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. A 0-60 mph in the mid-4-second range is possible when equipped with an extended-range battery. Normal and Sport mode full throttle is a lot of fun and an experience I have never felt in a truck below. The immediate power from the electric motors is such a thrill and makes such a heavy vehicle feel light and nimble. The truck’s lower center of gravity offered impressive handling I have never experienced in a truck before. No other truck compares when turning. It has a maximum payload capacity of 2,235 pounds in the standard-range model with 18-inch wheels and a maximum of 10,000 pounds of available towing capacity on XLT and Lariat trucks with the extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to test its towing capability and how much of a strain it puts on the battery, but I would refer to my friends at Pickup Truck + SUV Talk.

Performance Rating: 9/10

2022 Ford Lightning Verdict

The Ford Lighting is the first mainstream electric truck to hit the streets finally, but many parts of the country may not be ready for fully electric work and recreational trucks. Even though it lives up to its name with its performance, the charging infrastructure is still the problem. For at-home charging, your options are using 110 and 220-volt outlets. If you charge at home with a 110, expect about 14% of charge in 24 hours. Out in the wild, you will have to find a charging station capable of charging quickly. Ford advertises 15% to 80% of battery capacity in 44 minutes, but I did not experience that. The closest and faster-charging station for me was an EVgo at HEB, where I charged $18 per hour, and it took me two hours to go from 33% to 90%. The MSRP of the truck tested is $81,099.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Grand Wagoneer Review