2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

 

It might sound strange to suggest spending as little money as possible on a new vehicle. After all, what if you'd like more features? Who wants a stripped-down base model? We totally get it, but when it comes to the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, the all-electric F-150 pickup, we strongly believe that the truck's value plummets the higher up the price ladder you climb.

Having just spent some time in a range of Lightnings at the EV pickup's drive launch in San Antonio, Texas—read our first drive report here!—we were able to poke and prod everything from a base F-150 Lightning Pro work truck (we also have a specific first drive review of the Pro) all the way up to a nearly six-figure Lightning Platinum variant. Our hot take advice? Skip the Platinum, and probably the next-level-down Lariat, too. Here is the F-150 Lightning we'd buy:

Surprise, It's The XLT!

The 2022 Lightning lineup consists of the entry-level Pro, midrange XLT, slightly luxurious Lariat, and the full-boat Platinum trim. These four pickups range in price from $41,769 for the Pro all the way up to $92,669 for the Platinum. But here's the thing, within that yawning $50,000 gap between the lowliest and lushest Lightnings, there is only one key option you could really need: The extended-range battery pack.

The larger battery ups the output of the Lightning's dual electric motors from 452 hp to a healthy 580 hp, while maintaining the same 775 lb-ft of torque, and also kicks total driving range up from an EPA-estimated 230 miles to as much as 320. A $10,000 option on the F-150 Lightning XLT—it isn't yet available on the base Pro unless you're a fleet customer—as well as on the up-level Lariat, the bigger battery is standard on the top-dog Platinum. Only one caveat: Because the Platinum rides on flashy 22-inch wheels and is loaded with equipment (read: heavier), its EPA-estimated range drops to 300.