Need help deciding!! FX4 with the 3.5 Ecoboost or the 5.0 Coyote

[Deleted member 11970]

Hello everyone, currently have a 2022 Tacoma and I’m looking to get a F150 next year due to my growing family and I absolutely can’t stand the new tundra and what they’ve done to it. I’m considering the lariat fx4 with either the 3.5 eco boost or the 5.0 coyote. I’m leaning towards the 3.5 eco boost because I’ve heard that the new 5.0 now has an oil pump belt and cylinder deactivation which to me doesn’t seem like it will be reliable in the long run. Anyone have any input? Thanks in advance!

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[Scoobtay]

You’ll get various answers, but the overall key is either one is a great choice. Ecoboost is faster, tows easier, and sounds worse. The coyote runs cooler, sounds better, and is quite a bit slower.

If it’s a family hauler, drive them both and see which you like better. They’ll both be giant rocket ships compared to a Tacoma

 

[Kodiak]

My opinion since you asked. Coming from a Tacoma to a F-150 will be a light years jump in truck. My Tacoma (2009) was reliable as can be but could not even sniff my 2022 Lariat PB. There is quite a year difference between your 2022 and 2009 but still the difference will be huge.

If this Lariat truck is to be a family hauler you should skip the Fx4 and just get the 4x4. The Fx4 will give you some more heavy duty shocks but you will feel that every day in your family hauling activities. Unless you do a lot of off roading, skip this and just get the regular 4x4 Lariat and you will have a cushy ride on the road that you and your family will love. Lariat also gets you 4A if that hasn't changed recently. I also think Fx4 raises the already high ground clearance and this could make it more difficult for short women/people/children to get in.

I do not know the home power situation in your area but if you are prone to losing power, the 3.5 Powerboost could really help you. In fact IMHO this PB is such a great truck that unless you have some specific need for heavy towing or off roading, I would not get another truck of any manufacturer that does not offer something like PPOB (Pro Power On Board). With this you will also get a heavier duty frame if that is something that appealed to you about that Fx4 package.

So my recommendation for your situation would be a 2025 Lariat 4x4 PB. It is a cushy dream to drive and is one of the most versatile trucks you could own. Luxury at a not so killer cost, and something that will serve a family for a long time. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dmac]

The 5.0 is slower from a stop and at altitude vs the 3.5.

If you drive your truck hard, or tow all the time, the 5.0 will get better mileage. Otherwise mpg is about the same.

I have seen zero issues reported so far due to cylinder deactivation or the wet belt.

The 3.5 is fast as hell and super quiet. Most bugs seemed to have been worked out starting in 2021, notably the cracking valve covers and problematic phasers.

Can't go wrong. I would have a hard time deciding since the new 5.0 isn't flex fuel capable anymore.

 

[jakearb]

Unless you're in high altitude a lot, both engines are great. I'd personally go with the 3.5 eco for the acceleration. I could care less about the engine sounds. Both 2.7 and 3.5 ecoboost engines are super quiet cruising, I like it.

 

[Ricksc]

I have the 3.5 eco with fx4 package. I felt it was to soft of a ride. I upgraded coil overs and rear shocks now it feels like a truck not a car. I suggest you drive them all and make your choice.

 

[24STX5.0]

For the highest selling truck in the US, you'd have heard of issues with the 5.0 cylinder deactivation and wet belt after three and a half model years if there were going to be issues. By contrast, the much lower selling 3rd gen Tundra, put into production a year later, is already getting full engine replacements. Turbo engines, particularly those with not one but two turbos, have way more moving parts to go boom.

And if going fast is your thing, Whipple the 5.0 and destroy every 3.5 on the road.

As far as economy, I got 24.0 mpg and 776.1 miles on my last tank of gas in my 5.0 (actual, not the dash display).

 

[PBXL]

It wasn't on your list but Powerboost! At least test drive one I guess.

 

[Csvt18]

The wet belt in the 5.0 is Kevlar and what Indy race cars use. I doubt it’s going to have issues unless you beat the crap outta it like an Indy motor. Almost impossible.

 

[JExpedition07]

There is not much difference in raw unbridled acceleration between the 3.5 EB and 5.0 V8, they are both mid 5’s 0-60 by several accounts. The real spread is about 0.3-0.4 seconds or maybe a front door. The 5.0 is faster from a roll and the 3.5 is faster from a dig. Either way not enough to get out in front in traffic. The difference is the 3.5 will have more partial throttle acceleration, not so much wide open. A lot of people confuse this when they make statements like “much slower”.

Whats the goal of the truck? For me the 5.0 is just about the best, I often tow a boat combo weighing in at 5,000 lbs and a double axle enclosed trailer. The 410 lb ft from the 5.0 is more than enough power to tow both easily and it gets a lot better mpg than the 3.5 EB towing. I don’t think I’d buy an EcoBoost over the 5.0 for towing and running a business out of it like I do. The PowerBoost is much more compelling, but I like V8’s too much to big a non-V8 version admittedly. Lol.

 

[Deleted member 11970]

Thank you all for your replies! I’m honestly going to use it as a daily driver. Occasionally I’ll tow the family boat once a year which is about 7k pounds and then my father in laws boat here and there which is around 8.5k pounds. I could care less about noise as my driveway is right next to mine and my wife’s bedroom and I leave for work early in the morning and have a newborn that sleeps in a bassinet near our bed haha. I don’t really want to modify the engine or powertrain at all and would mostly keep it stock.

 

[Eskram]

The real spread is about 0.3-0.4 seconds or maybe a front door. The 5.0 is faster from a roll and the 3.5 is faster from a dig. Either way not enough to get out in front in traffic. The difference is the 3.5 will have more partial throttle acceleration, not so much wide open. A lot of people confuse this when they make statements like “much slower”.

You just described usable torque.

 

[JExpedition07]

You just described usable torque.

The 300 lb ft the 5.0 supplies off idle is plenty of usable torque for my use case. That pulls my boat and enclosed trailer off from the light just fine, and does so getting 15% more efficiency than the 3.5 EB. Only thing the 3.5 EB would do for me is pull more cash out of my wallet.

 

[ChemGuy]

Judging by your described use case, any of the 3 (5.0, 3.5EB or 3.5PB) will be more than enough truck for you.

I bought a 5.0 because it's what I wanted. The only advice I'd give is go drive them and buy whichever one feels best to you.

 

[ptr0687]

I bought the 5.0 because in the event it breaks I will have an easier time fixing it myself than a 3.5. The 5.0 has less stuff that could break.

My first Ford pickup when I turned 16 was a v8 so that helped me make my decision too.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Hello everyone, currently have a 2022 Tacoma and I’m looking to get a F150 next year due to my growing family and I absolutely can’t stand the new tundra and what they’ve done to it. I’m considering the lariat fx4 with either the 3.5 eco boost or the 5.0 coyote. I’m leaning towards the 3.5 eco boost because I’ve heard that the new 5.0 now has an oil pump belt and cylinder deactivation which to me doesn’t seem like it will be reliable in the long run. Anyone have any input? Thanks in advance!

well, that’s something you’re gonna have to figure out kind of for yourself. However, I traded my 23 Tacoma double cab short bed sport on a 24 super crew short bed Powerboost XLT. Rides better, handles better, towing and payload capacity, much higher, even more comfortable.

Best decision I made in a while. I’ve been averaging 24 to 26. Keep in mind I live in North central Indiana, roads here posted 55 or 60

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