Dozens of new battery-electric vehicles will reach U.S. showrooms this year. None has generated as much interest as the Ford F-150 Lightning, reviewed here, that’s just gone into production.
There’s good reason for all the excitement considering this all-electric version of America’s bestselling truck starts at less than $40,000. Yet it offers extended range, plenty of muscle, and lots of features, especially on premium versions like the Lightning Platinum.
Here’s our hands-on first-drive review of this hotly anticipated vehicle.
A personal disclosure: I have a Lightning on order. So when I got the chance to fly down to San Antonio for my first drive, I jumped at the chance — not only to review the new pickup but to decide whether I was making the right choice. A little hint before I get into the details: I’m not canceling my order.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Review
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - driving 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - driving](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-driving.jpg)
A brutal Texas sun had sent temperatures soaring to record highs as I climbed into my dark-blue Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum edition. I’d been waiting for this opportunity for more than a year, ever since Chief Engineer Linda Zhang took me out for a ride at the Ford Proving Grounds north of Detroit.
Ford was early to electrify its lineup, offering up a mix of hybrids, plug-ins (PHEV), and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). But the original offerings didn’t fare all that well, especially all-electric models like the Focus EV. They were slow, stodgy, and offered marginal range.
But the automaker found religion a few years back when company officials created Team Edison, which, essentially, was assigned the task of taking on Tesla. Its first project, the Mustang Mach-E, is now one of the bestselling BEVs in the U.S.
Ford Struggles to Meet Demand
Like most manufacturers, Ford will eventually go all-electric with its entire lineup. But it’s starting by focusing on icon models like Mustang and, now, the F-150.
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - with tent 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - with tent](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-with-tent.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - driving on muddy trail Ford F-150 Lightning - driving on muddy trail](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-driving-on-muddy-trail.jpg)
A Cautious Approach to Design
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - front design 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - front design](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-front-design.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - frunk Ford F-150 Lightning - frunk](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-frunk.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - frunk storage space Ford F-150 Lightning - frunk storage space](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-frunk-storage-space.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - on rocky trail 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - on rocky trail](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-on-rocky-trail-700x467.jpg)
An Inside View
![Ford F-150 Lightning - interior view Ford F-150 Lightning - interior view](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-interior-view.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - interior - work station Ford F-150 Lightning - interior - work station](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-interior-work-station.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - interior - display Ford F-150 Lightning - interior - display](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-interior-display.jpg)
A Luxury Pickup
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum - parked by tree 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum - parked by tree](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-Platinum-parked-by-tree.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - in field 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - in field](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-in-field.jpg)
Powertrain Options
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - platform 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - platform](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-platform.jpg)
![Ford F-150 Lightning - driving - towing Ford F-150 Lightning - driving - towing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-driving-towing.jpg)
F-150 Lightning: A Sports Car With a Bed
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - rounding corner on trail 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - rounding corner on trail](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-rounding-corner-on-trail.jpg)
Cruisin’
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - driving downhill 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - driving downhill](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-driving-downhill.jpg)
2022 F-150 Lightning Utility Trumps All
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - loaded cargo REL 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - loaded cargo REL](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-loaded-cargo-REL.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - towing boat 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - towing boat](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-towing-boat.jpg)
Charging the F-150 Lightning
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charging 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charging](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-charging-700x407.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charger and back-up system 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charger and back-up system](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-charger-and-back-up-system.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - providing power REL 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - providing power REL](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-providing-power-REL.jpg)
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charging a Mach-E 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - charging a Mach-E](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-charging-a-Mach-E.jpg)
Heading Off Road
![Ford F-150 Lightning - driving on rocky road Ford F-150 Lightning - driving on rocky road](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/Ford-F-150-Lightning-driving-on-rocky-road-700x438.jpg)
F-150 Lightning First Drive Wrapup
![2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - with outdoor accessories and gear 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning - with outdoor accessories and gear](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/05/2022-Ford-F-150-Lightning-with-outdoor-accessories-and-gear-700x467.jpg)