2016 Ford F-150 features six trim levels, four engine options, three cabs sizes, and three bed lengths. And the best part is, the 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L V6, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and 5.0L V8 engines are available in the base XL trim, so you won’t have to spend much to get the best performance.
Key Points
- The 2016 Ford F-150‘s six trim levels include the more basic XL, the daily-driver XLT and Lariat, and the luxurious King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited.
- All four engines (3.5L V6, 2.7L EcoBoost, 5.0L V8, and 3.5L EcoBoost V6) are available in the base XL trim.
- A six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel/four-wheel drive are standard, no matter the trim, engine, or cab/bed length.
- The Lariat offers the best overall value, but if you keep your eyes open for a good deal, the top-tier Platinum and Limited trims can be had for less than the King Ranch.
F-150 XL is Available with All Cab and Bed Configurations, and Most Engine Options
This is your entry-level trim, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited in your options. The two-door regular cab, four-door SuperCab, and roomy SuperCrew are all on the table. You can take the 5.5-, 6.5-, or eight-foot box, and you can go with split or bucket seats up front. All engine options are also available on an XL, be it the naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 or the twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6.
This is one of the neat things about the F-150: higher trim levels do offer more features, but you don’t need to upgrade to a King Ranch or a Limited just to get a roomy cab for the family or a V8 engine under the hood. You can essentially build your Ford however you like from the ground up.
Basic features include AM/FM, manual climate control, tow hooks, one LCD screen up front, everything you expect in a 2016 full-size, but absolutely nothing you don’t. The XL is pretty bare-bones, which makes it ideal for a work truck, but a bit sparse for a daily driver.
Kelley Blue Book pricing starts at around $27,000 if you’re going for-sale-by-owner, and goes up to around $32,000 for a CPO in good condition.
F-150 XLT Adds Optional EcoBoost V6 Engine, a Unique Front Grille, and Several Interior Upgrades
With the XLT, you can have any cab, box, and engine you like. Everything is up for grabs.
Upgrades over the XL include Sync with voice recognition, an extra LCD screen, Pro Trailer backup assist, remote keyless entry, and a unique front fascia.
The XL is an awesome work truck. But, if you’re looking for an F-150 to serve as your family get-around vehicle, you can think of the XLT as the entry-level trim.
You can expect the KBB price to average around $6,000 over the XL.
F-150 Lariat Welcomes a Bit of Luxury, with Standard Heated and Cooled Front Seats, Eight-inch Touchscreen
With the Lariat, you’re losing the regular cab option, and your engine options are limited to the 2.7L and the V8. In exchange, you get heated and cooled leather seats up front, and the driver gets power lumbar support. Add to that, Sync 3 with an eight-inch touchscreen, some nice ambient lighting, a rearview camera, and a black leather steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls.
If you want a more comfortable ride for the family, or you wanna flex on your buddies with a truck that’s just as suited to work as it is to play, here you go.
The Lariat offers excellent value, with a more basic SuperCrew RWD model holding a fair purchase price of about $33,100.
F-150 King Ranch Showcases a Unique Interior Scheme, Most Creature Comforts, and a Standard V8
The 2016 Ford F-150 King Ranch offers unique Antiqued Mesa Brown leather-trimmed seats with heating and cooling and 10-way power. What’s more, a heated split bench in the back, Sync 3 with eight-inch touchscreen and 10 speakers, and a leather/chrome shifter.
Outside the cab, you get some nice fog lamps, running boards, a chrome grille, deep-tinted glass, and rear parking sensors.
The King Ranch is SuperCrew only, meaning you won’t be able to equip it with an eight-foot box, and it comes standard with the V8 engine. The King Ranch is the costliest in the lineup, ranging from about $40,000 to $45,000.
F-150 Platinum and Limited Trims are Similar/More Equipped to King Ranch but Cost $4,000 to $5,000 Less
The Platinum is basically a King Ranch in terms of the box, cab, and engine options, but with 20-inch wheels over the King’s 18, BLIS blind-spot and cross-traffic warning, and some styling differences like a silver grille and black leather seats.
Alongside the Platinum, you have the Limited, which is almost the same trim, but with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine, SuperCrew cab, 5.5-foot box, and 22-inch wheels for roughly the same price, $35,000 to $40,000.
2016 Ford F-150 Lariat Trim Stands as the Most Practical Purchase of the Pickup’s Lineup
If Ford can be faulted for anything here, it’s that they offer so many options that it can get to be a little overwhelming.
Our take: if you want a bare-essentials work truck, get the XL with a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6. If you want a solid all-arounder, get the Lariat with a 2.7L. For a more luxurious ride, put the Limited and the Platinum on your list, and grab whichever one you can get for a great price.
Photos: Ford
