Ford F-150 XLT LWB 2023 Review

There are two model grades of the 2023 Ford F-150 in either short (that is, regular) or long wheelbase guise, the latter adding 300mm between the front and rear wheels and extending the load tray by the same amount.

At the entry level (if you can call it that), the 2023 F-150 XLT is priced from $106,950 plus on-road costs for the short-wheelbase model, while the LWB driven here adds $995, taking the total to $107,945 plus ORCs.

Further up the line, there’s the Ford F-150 Lariat – which we’ve also reviewed from launch and is expected to be the most popular model grade – starting at 138,950 plus ORCs for the SWB, or $140,945 in LWB form.

Importantly, the F-150 XLT has a useful price advantage over its two main rivals – the RAM 1500 Big Horn (from $119,950 plus ORCs) and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 (from $124,000 plus ORCs).

The 2023 Ford F-150 XLT comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, a seven-speaker audio system, powered driver’s seat, partially powered front passenger seat (it has manual recline), smart key entry as well as keypad PIN entry, dual-zone climate control, tyre pressure sensors and digital radio tuning.

There’s a tow kit with a 70mm tow ball, associated wiring and a tow brake controller, while the spare wheel is technically a space-saver with a diameter of 18 inches – although it’s the same width as the standard tyres on the ute.

Step up to the F-150 Lariat and there’s a far more generous spread, starting with a lot more chrome on the wheels, side steps, bumpers and grille.

There’s also partial leather trim, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, exterior zone lighting, panoramic sunroof with powered shade, power sliding rear window, memory settings for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, 360-degree camera, power steering column adjustment, illuminated vanity mirrors and an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Ford Australia’s F-150 is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that also extends to commercial use (most don’t).

Service intervals are every 15,000km/12 months and the cost of capped price servicing is $429 per service for the first four years or 60,000km.

The 2023 Ford F-150 gets six airbags – dual front, front side and side curtain – and an emergency assist system that can automatically contact emergency services in the event of a crash.

There’s also autonomous emergency braking (AEB), however the system on the XLT uses only cameras whereas the Lariat uses cameras and forward-facing radar. The latter can see through fog or rain whereas a camera may be obstructed.

Both also get blind spot monitoring, but the Lariat adds a raft of features due to the fitment of additional sensors. That includes stop-and-go functionality to the cruise control, lane centring, evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition and a 360-degree camera.

The F-150 hasn’t been tested by independent crash-test authority ANCAP.

The 2023 Ford F-150 gets FordPass Connect, which allows remote connectivity via a smartphone app. As well as monitoring things such as fuel level and location, it also allows the car to be locked and unlocked remotely.

There’s also the latest SYNC 4 operating system.

The F-150 XLT gets an 8.0-inch infotainment screen and partial digital instrument cluster, as well as USB-A and USB-C ports in the front and rear. The central screen incorporates Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.

The F-150 Lariat steps up to a fully digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment screen that better fills the expansive centre of the dash.

It also gets another pair of USB-A and USB-C ports in the centre console.

The basic seven-speaker sound system on XLT is just that. The 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen found on Lariat is fuller and richer, although somehow we expected it to be bigger and bolder – like the rest of the car. At least there’s added crispness and some energetic bass.

Under the bonnet of the 2023 Ford F-150 XLT is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm of torque.

While it doesn’t have the marketing ring of a V8, it’s got V8-like levels of oomph. Even better, in fact, because that full 678Nm is available from just 3100rpm, which is right in the meat of where it becomes useful.

In the XLT, the V6 sounds generic V6, with the free-revving nature rewarded with a zingy but uninspiring note.

It’s a shame it lacks the V8-like snarl of the Lariat models, even if the additional beefiness is synthesised rather than out of the exhaust.

Claimed average fuel use on the combined cycle (city/highway) for all versions of the 2023 Ford F-150 is 12.5L/100km and, impressively, it’s tuned to run on regular unleaded.

There’s also a 136-litre fuel tank, which should make it easy to get 1000km-plus from a tank.

At times we saw figures lower than the claim, although much of our driving was on country roads and freeways.

Even so, it was remarkably easy to get close to the official claim, although we suspect more stop-start around town may have it balloon the other way.

Make sure you’re good at judging gaps and the extremities of the vehicle because the 2023 Ford F-150 XLT is B-I-G. It requires finesse on tighter streets and could get draining around town.

But on a freeway or meandering country road it feels right at home.

In long-wheelbase guise there’s almost four metres between the front and rear wheels. Plus, it sits quite high and is relatively softly sprung, so makes for a comfy cabin.

Large bumps are disposed of with ease while potholes and other lumps are a mere inconvenience. It’ll pound over just about any surface with little deflection.

Oddly, it’s successive smaller bumps that upset the comfort equation most, teaming with the ladder frame shimmying that utes do so well to create unwanted jiggling.

Still, it’s relatively quiet and the V6 is beautifully suited to the task of shifting circa-2.5 tonnes.

There’s loads of muscle where you need it most, right in the middle of the rev range. Squeeze the throttle and the 3.5-litre engine unleashes the full 678Nm.

If you need more, then keep it planted and it’ll happily rev harder to muster 298kW.

We also did a short tow test with a three-tonne caravan, something the V6 didn’t have the slightest issue shifting.

The effortless grunt makes accelerating a snip, to the point where the rear tyres can slip as they fight to contain all the grunt.

For that reason, the full-time four-wheel drive system of the Lariat would make more sense for towing, adding some reassurance on slippery surfaces.

In either model there’s a Tow/Haul mode that holds gears more appropriately for towing, while also downshifting sooner when braking.

The 2023 Ford F-150 is a four-wheel drive with decent hardware for heading off-road, although it’s not designed to tackle tracks and obstacles as gnarly as a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux would.

That’s partly due to the size – in particular the length – which can lead to scrapes underneath, especially at its extremities.

That said, the F-150 will certainly venture beyond the blacktop, not that we tested it on our road-based launch drive.

Think of it as a truck that has added traction for gravel, snow or hard-packed sand rather than a machine to go tackling big treks such as the Simpson Desert.

When it comes time to loading it up, the 2023 Ford F-150 XLT LWB can’t carry as much weight as the smaller utes we’re very familiar with.

This XLT LWB model has the highest payload of the four variants on offer, although at 794kg it’s far from spectacular. By the time you have the family onboard or a trailer out the back, you’ll have a lot less of that payload remaining to play with.

When towing the full 4.5 tonnes the payload drops to 344kg.

However, that load area is enormous for long or chunky items, the additional 300mm of the long wheelbase adding to its usefulness. If you’re carrying trail bikes, for example, you can line two up side-by-side without having to drop the tailgate.

In the rear load area there are smaller lower tie-downs in each corner, and for more serious loads the quartet of bigger brackets held in by a key lock will do the job nicely.

The tailgate also has two clamp mounting points as well as an inbuilt tape measure in metric and imperial.

The spray-in tub liner adds protection and helps stop things sliding around as much.

In the corner of the tray sides are clip-out blanks that allow easy access to mounting points for accessories.

The 2023 Ford F-150 XLT is huge on the outside and just as huge on the inside.

Up front, the broad cabin allows for a wide centre console that also has loads of storage.

There are cubby holes and binnacles spread throughout the cabin, from multiple layers on the doors to the sides of the centre console. It’s difficult to imagine a time when you’d ever fill up all those holes, even with all the paraphernalia that can accompany a family – or grey nomads – on a road trip.

In the rear it’s just as vast, with loads of legroom, albeit with a high-ish floor that will have taller knees raised.

Fitting three across the back seat is not an issue and the ample headroom cements it as a comfortable tourer.

One disappointment is a lack of overhead grab handles, with the pillar-mounted alternatives not always easy to reach.

As for materials and finishes, neither trim level mounts a particularly solid case to convince you of the six-figure price of entry.

There’s loads of grey and some older-school plastics. Chrome finishes don’t have a particularly classy appearance and the grey seat trim of the XLT is hardy and supportive but, again, not up with the latest for style.

The small 8.0-inch screen on the XLT also looks out of place on such a vast dashboard. There’s a logical selection of menus and sub-menus as well as a large chunk of the screen devoted to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2023 Ford F-150 XLT LWB is certainly not for everyone, primarily due to its size – and its steep price.

It’s not the sort of vehicle you’d want to be guiding around tight city streets regularly.

But keep it to its natural environment – country roads and freeways – and it’s far more palatable.

The excellent V6 and vast cabin mount a solid case for those wanting to hit the open road.

2023 Ford F-150 XLT LWB at a glance:
Price: $107,945 (plus on-road costs)
Available: November 2023
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol
Output: 298kW/678Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 290g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested