Got to test a 5.0 coming from a 2.7

[jakearb]

In case anyone might still be on the fence picking between these 2 engine options, I wanted to share my experience. So here's a short biased option of mine.

I own a 2023 STX 2.7. I've put about 72K miles on it in the past 2 years. Last week, I was able to snag a 2025 XLT 5.0 as a rental car for a few days. It was very similar to the truck I own, crew cab short bed 4x4.

First impression of the V8 is obviously the sound. It's hard to beat revving a big ol engine to 6K, or even just hearing it startup and idle.
As far as general driving though, I can't say I liked it more than the 2.7. I felt like you had to give it wayyy more gas before the truck really wanted to go. I was even near sea level with the 5.0 and I drive my 2.7 at high altitude in Colorado. The 2.7 gets all that torque right up front from the turbos, which I felt like was much better for 95% of driving.
Now passing at 75mph, perhaps the 5.0 is much better, but the 2.7 isn't bad there either.

I wasn't necessarily unimpressed with the 5.0, but I still think I would take the 2.7 personally where I live.
The lie-o-meter on the 5.0 said 15mpg, whereas my 2.7 is usually around 22-23. Not sure how accurate those are as I've never actually hand calculated.

Again, that is my 300 mile test drive opinion on the 5.0 vs my current truck. I'm sure the 2025s also drive different than my 2023.
Note, I never tow and don't really plan on it either so that wouldn't be a factor and I understand the 5.0 tows a lot more.

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[dbtgt]

I had the same experience. I was given a SCREW 5.0 Short Bed FX4 to drive for 2 weeks as a loaner while my '21 3.5 Ecoboost was in for repairs. While the 5.0 sound was good and it made good power in the higher RPMs, it felt doggy to me in regular day to day driving around town. Had to put my foot in it and get above 3000 RPM to get it to scoot! That experience helped me decide that I was going with the Ecoboost again in my '24. I love the torque in the lower RPMs that the Ecoboost delivers.

 

[powerboatr]

A few weeks ago
I had a stx 2024 2.7 crew cab 4x4
For a loaner about 2 weeks
I had never driven one with 2.7
It was torquey little dude
And lie o meter at 70 was reading high 24s

I filled it up...
Drove just under80 miles to turn it in.
Fuel gauge still read full...and dte was still climbing, when I dropped it off.
I was impressed at it's great driving manners and pep
My only complaint..was stx was noisey inside
Lots of hollow road noise

 

[jakearb]

A few weeks ago
I had a stx 2024 2.7 crew cab 4x4
For a loaner about 2 weeks
I had never driven one with 2.7
It was torquey little dude
And lie o meter at 70 was reading high 24s

I filled it up...
Drove just under80 miles to turn it in.
Fuel gauge still read full...and dte was still climbing, when I dropped it off.
I was impressed at it's great driving manners and pep
My only complaint..was stx was noisey inside
Lots of hollow road noise

I thought the 2025 rental XLT was louder than my 2023 STX in terms of road noise....however it was very windy most of the time i was in the 2025 and my actual truck has H/T not A/T tires.

 

[National Superbike]

My experience as well... I test drove a 24 RCSB with the 5.0 and was just a bit underwhelmed. I do actually prefer my 2.7 for the kind of driving I do- No significant towing, just hauling some bikes in the bed occasionally. Stillen posted in the 2.7 forum that they now make a tuner that adds 90ish RWHP and Tq to the 2.7. That's crazy...

 

[adaycj]

Similar experience a few years ago. I drove a 2019 2.7l for years. I towed almost 40k with that truck, and a lot of it was near max. My truck broke, and I borrowed a 2019 5.0l for a 24 hour round trip. 12 hours west, pickup a trailer, 12 hours back. The 5.0l sounded sweet. But it didn't tow quite a well, and the MPG was exactly the same as far as I could tell. I've got no hate for the 5.0l, but it really didn't seem like a premium option over the smallest V6.

 

[jakearb]

Similar experience a few years ago. I drove a 2019 2.7l for years. I towed almost 40k with that truck, and a lot of it was near max. My truck broke, and I borrowed a 2019 5.0l for a 24 hour round trip. 12 hours west, pickup a trailer, 12 hours back. The 5.0l sounded sweet. But it didn't tow quite a well, and the MPG was exactly the same as far as I could tell. I've got no hate for the 5.0l, but it really didn't seem like a premium option over the smallest V6.

That's a good way to describe it honestly. Wouldn't consider it a premium upgrade from the smallest engine option now.
The 5.0 does sound sweet getting on the freeway though...

 

[Dakar09]

It's all in the throttle and gear ratios. I ASSURE you that a Banks Pedal Monster and 3.73 rear axle will change your mind. They completely numb the 5.0L responsiveness from the factory, likely to squeak out a few more MPG. You need to wake it up a bit.

 

[KingDavid]

You put it in sport mode or tow/haul mode? If you kept it in those modes, then cylinder deactivation never kicked in and that bumps up the mpg by quite a bit. Did you fill up with 93 or e85? The 5.0 sucks on 87. Runs best performance wise on straight e85 (more hp/tq) and 93 for mpgs. Gearing also makes a noticeable difference in performance; 3.31 vs 3.73. Did you try launching in 4x4 with advancetrac off?

 

[gagliano7]

I own 5.0 and coming from a GM 6.2 I miss that torque driving around and towing. Still love the engine especially when passing someone. Just no replacement for low end torque like the 2.7 and 3.5.

 

[JumboJVT]

This is the same as my recent experience testing driving the 5.0 and 3.5 (only engines available in a 157). Both felt pretty numb off idle to 20 or so compared to my current '16 5.7 Tundra (3.73's in the 5.0; the stock Tundra gears are 4.30's). But the 3.5 got over that numbness sooner and with less drama than the 5.0. As to running 93 in the 5.0, at almost a buck more a gallon around here, I'll be darned if I'm buying 93 to drive 25K per year. Ordered the 3.5.

 

[Dakar09]

Your not going to beat the low end of forced induction engines with a naturally aspirated V8. Conversely, rhe 2.7L becomes anemic at higher speeds and in heavier towing modes. While I'm very happy with my 5.0L, I'm not going to run 36 gallons of 93 octane to give it a bit more pep.

Bottom line is these are different beasts for different applications. Me? I'd get the 5.0L again in a heartbeat. I love me a good old V8 whenever it's an option.

 

[TopOMichXL]

I had a 2019 RCSB 2.7 3.73 4x4, and it was a blast to drive.
I now have a 2024 RCSB 5.0 3.73 4x4. It too, is a blast to drive. I love the sound and the truck just feels more like a truck, for whatever reason.
I find I sometimes miss the low end torque of the 2.7. It just seems that for 90% of the driving that I do, the 2.7 was more fun to drive.
The other times, the 5.0 is a lot of fun to drive. It really gets along when you get the rpm’s over 3500.
I planned to try a 5.0 anyway, I had not owned a V8 since 1984, but Ford made the choice of an engine for the RCSB an easy choice, for the current model years.

 

[v8440]

The 5.0 is indeed numb and sluggish in normal mode unless you stomp it. Now, even in normal mode, put it in 4 hi and launch it against the torque converter and it gets to stepping. But yeah, with normal driving in normal mode, the stock tune does a very good job of hiding what low end torque it does have.

 

[Aonarch]

In case anyone might still be on the fence picking between these 2 engine options, I wanted to share my experience. So here's a short biased option of mine.

I own a 2023 STX 2.7. I've put about 72K miles on it in the past 2 years. Last week, I was able to snag a 2025 XLT 5.0 as a rental car for a few days. It was very similar to the truck I own, crew cab short bed 4x4.

First impression of the V8 is obviously the sound. It's hard to beat revving a big ol engine to 6K, or even just hearing it startup and idle.
As far as general driving though, I can't say I liked it more than the 2.7. I felt like you had to give it wayyy more gas before the truck really wanted to go. I was even near sea level with the 5.0 and I drive my 2.7 at high altitude in Colorado. The 2.7 gets all that torque right up front from the turbos, which I felt like was much better for 95% of driving.
Now passing at 75mph, perhaps the 5.0 is much better, but the 2.7 isn't bad there either.

I wasn't necessarily unimpressed with the 5.0, but I still think I would take the 2.7 personally where I live.
The lie-o-meter on the 5.0 said 15mpg, whereas my 2.7 is usually around 22-23. Not sure how accurate those are as I've never actually hand calculated.

Again, that is my 300 mile test drive opinion on the 5.0 vs my current truck. I'm sure the 2025s also drive different than my 2023.
Note, I never tow and don't really plan on it either so that wouldn't be a factor and I understand the 5.0 tows a lot more.

Two things, rear end gearing makes a big difference. 3.31 vs 3.73. 3.73 in the 5.0 feels really peppy off the line.

Transmission adaptation. It is hard to jump in something like a rental and compare it to another truck. The adaptation is probably a hot mess on that rental.

Those two items might be why you felt like you needed to give it way more throttle to accelerate. Obviously elevation and you being used to a twin turbo V6 is a factor, but the 5.0 has plenty of power even at elevation.

Bonus: 7k redline on the Coyote, it feels wild revving a truck out that high. Peak HP is at 6k though.

I'd pick the 2.7l if I drove a lot of highway miles, it is a great engine and gets impressive MPG for a half ton.

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