2.7 V6 vs. 3.5 V6 TT PowerBoost Hybrid

[CiTY HuNTeR]

I am currently driving a dealer courtesy 2025 STX RWD with 2.7, while my new 2024 Lariat PB is at service to fix that stupid fold-down shifter (won't come up after parked overnight). I've only had my Lariat for 1 week before I had to leave it at the dealer, so my experience with that is kinda limited. Mine had under 500 miles, but the courtesy vehicle only had just over 1k miles when I got it. So, despite they got different trim, drive train, etc., it's kinda Fuji to Honey Crisp comparison (i.e., apple to apple).

Acceleration: Definitely, the 2.7 is slower. Wife has a VW ID4 dual motor EV, and I drive that a lot. The PB, unlike my previous Mavericks, accelerates very close to the EV (some tested low 5s, while the EV is high 4s, 0-60mph). Of course, I haven't used the full potential of it, since it's still so new. But for the same regular acceleration, I need to step down more on the gas pedal with the 2.7.

Handling: 2.7 is better. Again, it's an STX, so it is less equipped and much lighter. Also, the RWD made it lighter, and the suspension is also closer to the ground. But you can feel the front and the whole truck is also lighter, having a lighter engine and no lithium batteries (only 1.5kwh, but still it's a big chunk). They do have the same-sized 20" wheels, the only difference is my Lariat is FX4, so it got AT tires and softer (maybe?) tuned suspension. I felt the 2.7 drives more like a smaller truck; sometimes I forgot I was driving a big 150, it felt almost like my Mavericks. Oh, and both of them are supercrew with short beds, so no variation there.

Fuel economy: Both are very new, so the number could probably be better once they exit the break-in period. On my way back from the dealer, 80 miles away, I drove about 20 miles on a country road (limit +10) and 60 miles on I-16 (75mph blue cruise). I got an average of 23 mpg with my PB. But once I got back and tested the generator function for a few hours, my displayed mpg dropped to around 16mpg. The 2.7, after driving for 2 weeks and 500 miles, gets me 18mpg (I reset trip 1 after getting it) for my daily commute to work, and weekend trips to my hunting club, if I ease a little bit on the gas pedal, and do not remote start to cool down cabin like I'd do with my PB.

Summary: The fuel economy and the engine's quietness, along with the handling of the lighter engine, make me think it could be a good choice for the cheaper trims. This STX was selling for just over 42k, and I got my Lariat PB for 58k. Saving about 16k is probably good money for many. And I felt I could happily drive this truck, just like how I enjoyed my 2 Mavericks. However, the extra feature on the Lariat, such as Blue cruise and seat ventilation, better material on interior and quieter cabin from laminated side windows, as well as extra power, extra 7.2kw capability, made me feel I'd be happier in my truck once it gets back.

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[JCsTruck]

That PB is going to feel like a luxury rocket ship when you get it back. In Consumer Reports testing the PB averaged 20 mpg and their XLT 4x4 2.7 averaged 19 mpg so very close there but a 2WD should do even better. If I remember correctly the PB adds about 500 lbs to the curb weight with everything else being the same (3.5 engine). If you have 4x4 then add an additional 300 lbs.

Fun fact, the 5.0-liter V8 is only 10 lbs heavier than the 2.7-liter ecoboost engine.

 

[Goldeneye36]

Interesting comparison between the base engine and the top-tier engine (if you exclude the Raptor/R). I've never owned or driven a 2.7 but it seems to be an overwhelmingly loved engine, especially as a base. Coming from a gen 1 3.5 to a PB still blew my mind though.

One note, the STX looks like it actually has the 18" BAP wheels, same as my XLT BAP, vs the 20" on your Lariat. Might be part of the handling difference you felt since the smaller wheels save some weight.

 

[Buyer2021]

.... dual-pane side windows .....

Whaaat?

You may have SoundScreen laminated glass, but it is definitely not dual-pane, a totally different product not found in F150s.

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

Whaaat?

You may have SoundScreen laminated glass, but it is definitely not dual-pane, a totally different product not found in F150s.

Sound Screen is on the windshield.
On Lariat and above (at least for 24+ model years), you get sound isolating laminated glass on front SIDE windows on front doors. I rolled down the window to check when I bought mine. Regular window glass has a rounded top, and dual pane actually has an indented line in the center at the top of the glass. That's what I'm talking about. I think ford called it Acoustic Laminated Glass or something. I've seen those on the GV80. A common thing for luxury vehicles. Heard the new Tesla also got it. Not sure if KR or Platinum got that on the rear door as well.

Well, if you only consider the thick household window that has vacuum or air in between the 2 layers of glass, then yea, they are different. but no road vehicle have them (not talking about RV trailers etc). But these laminated windows are literally some fluid or gel kind thing between 2 pane of glass, so it is still dual pane of glass.

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

That PB is going to feel like a luxury rocket ship when you get it back. In Consumer Reports testing the PB averaged 20 mpg and their XLT 4x4 2.7 averaged 19 mpg so very close there but a 2WD should do even better. If I remember correctly the PB adds about 500 lbs to the curb weight with everything else being the same (3.5 engine). If you have 4x4 then add an additional 300 lbs.

Fun fact, the 5.0-liter V8 is only 10 lbs heavier than the 2.7-liter ecoboost engine.

That sounds about right. 800lbs makes a big difference in driving. Also, I think the extra weight primarily comes from the Lariat bells and whistles vs. STX. You can see that from the payload rating. I think the STX was like 17xx lbs, and my Lariat was just over 1500lbs.

Yes, the new 2024 Lariat actually surprised me with how many features it offered. I guess it "surprised" Ford as well, so they removed many of them from the 2025 model Lariat.

These include, but are not limited to, real leather seats (2025 got fake leather vegan seats), no electrically adjustable steering wheel, no lights around USB ports, no wired-in keypads, no wood trims, and they even removed some hard buttons on the 25s (that top row above the screen). I didn't know any of these until I bought my 24. Now I felt I was lucky doing it over a 25.

I got XL on both of my Mavericks, a hybrid and an AWD. Because I felt that's the best value. Even the $40k Lariat doesn't have 360 camera or seat ventilation (for 2024), and it has the base version of lane centering and ACC. But the XL actually offered a lot more features such as auto hold brake, and something you can activate with ForScan which made them extra value. But for F150, higher trim gives you a lot more. So guess I'm gonna make my butt a little happier living in the South.

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

Interesting comparison between the base engine and the top-tier engine (if you exclude the Raptor/R). I've never owned or driven a 2.7 but it seems to be an overwhelmingly loved engine, especially as a base. Coming from a gen 1 3.5 to a PB still blew my mind though.

One note, the STX looks like it actually has the 18" BAP wheels, same as my XLT BAP, vs the 20" on your Lariat. Might be part of the handling difference you felt since the smaller wheels save some weight.

I agree. I was never really looking into it if I did not have mine in service. I was primarily only looking into the PB.
My friend has one with 2.7 for many years and loved it. Some reviewer (TFL I think) said it drives like a sports car.

 

[Buyer2021]

On Lariat and above (at least for 24+), you get dual-pane laminated glass on front SIDE windows on front doors.

In the auto glass industry, "dual-pane" refers to two edge-bonded panes separated by a void filled with argon or other inert gas. This extremely expensive glazing yields the highest levels of acoustic attenuation. You do not have that.

You have what is known in the industry as "single-pane" windows consisting of multiple glass layers and one or more synthetic-film layers, engineered for improved acoustic attenuation compared to 'standard' laminated glass, but still it's all laminated together to make a "single-pane" with no separating void.

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

In the auto glass industry, "dual-pane" refers to two edge-bonded panes separated by a void filed with argon or other inert gas. This extremely expensive glazing yields the highest levels of acoustic attenuation. You do not have that.

You have single-pane windows consisting of multiple glass layers and one or more synthetic layers, engineered for improved acoustic attenuation, all laminated together with no separating void.

ok, so tell me, which car or truck on road has the true "dual pane" window as you said, that has a void in between? I only see that on my house window. Don't tell me RVs because they build like house not road vehicle.

What you said doesn't sound like an auto industry thing, but rather a house builder industry definition

 

[KBKEITH]

Interesting comparison between the base engine and the top-tier engine (if you exclude the Raptor/R). I've never owned or driven a 2.7 but it seems to be an overwhelmingly loved engine, especially as a base. Coming from a gen 1 3.5 to a PB still blew my mind though.

One note, the STX looks like it actually has the 18" BAP wheels, same as my XLT BAP, vs the 20" on your Lariat. Might be part of the handling difference you felt since the smaller wheels save some weight.

As a previous owner of two F-150s with the 2.7, I can say it is very impressive. It makes a surprising amount of low end torque and is really a hoot to drive. Great all around engine.

 

[Buyer2021]

ok, so tell me, which car or truck on road has the true "dual pane" window as you said, that has a void in between? I only see that on my house window. Don't tell me RVs because they build like house not road vehicle.

Mercedes, for one, offers (or has offered) true "dual-pane" automotive side-window glazing on certain of their models as a catalog-listed optional top-line acoustic package. That's where I first encountered and learned about this, seen first-hand on an S-Class at a dealer a few years ago, the windows were remarkably thicker than those on the S-Class with the standard acoustic package. That prompted further research to learn more.

I'm sure Rolls and some other very high-end manufacturers offer similar.

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

Mercedes, for one, offers true "dual-pane" side-window glazing on certain of their models as a catalog-listed optional top-line acoustic package. That's where I first encountered this.

I'm sure Rolls and some other very high-end manufacturers offer similar.

Yes, on Mercedes bus.

 

[Buyer2021]

Yes, on Mercedes bus.

Please see my edited / expanded post, I was referring to S-Class cars.

Why are you fighting / making light of the opportunity to learn something new to you about the automotive world, most folks on forums such as this welcome that?

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

Please see my edited / expanded post, I was referring to S-Class cars.

Why are you fighting / making light of the opportunity to learn something new to you about the automotive world, most folks on forums such as this welcome that?

Maybe because I'm not trying to be the most "terminology correct" person on the Internet? Most people get what I meant. This laminated acoustic glass is what's most luxury vehicles use, other than maybe the few 2 you've mentioned that most people probably would never buy.

I'm not getting into automotive industry so it doesn't matter of some terminology on some rare cases. Whatever it's called we're all defined by people, and terminology changes all the time. Ok, to make you happy, you are most correct person on the Internet. Happy?

 

[Eskram]

Drive a 5.0 and you'll appreciate the torque of the 2.7 even more..

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