2026 Ford F150 Regular Cab

It isn’t just that the Ford F-150 is the 1/2-ton truck with the most payload and towing capacity. What’s especially impressive about this truck is that Ford strives to make that capability easy to take advantage of. This truck is known for its innovative tech, much of which is aimed at making towing and getting work done easier. In addition, while the truck is hard at work, the driver and passengers alike can enjoy a spacious cabin with as many luxury features as the budget allows. This is such a capable, well-rounded truck that it’s our highest-rated full-size pickup, and the KBB Best Buy Award winner in its segment for 11 years running.

In addition to three cab configurations and three bed lengths, the vehicle features two twin-turbo V6 engines, a V8, a hybrid powertrain, and an electric option that has been discontinued for the 2026 model year (the Ford F-150 Lightning is reviewed separately). You can choose from eight trim levels, ranging from a basic work truck to off-road specialists, street trucks, and luxury rides. Once you pinpoint your budget, it’s easy to find the right combination for your needs.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size pickup trucks, including the Ford F-150.

The BlueCruise hands-free driving system is now available on more trim levels, as is the digital instrument cluster. Avalanche, Argon Blue, and Ruby Red replace Atlas Blue, Rapid Red, and Space White. New options include a Platinum Satin Appearance package and an XLT Chrome package. A 5G modem is now standard, and the Ford Connectivity package comes free on all F-150s for a year.

When it comes to the Ford F-150, the 4-wheel-drive STX SuperCrew is the most popular choice.

The Ford F-150 is the second most affordable 1/2-ton truck for 2026, after the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, which is less expensive by about $400. The GMC Sierra 1500 kicks off in the $40K region, and the Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra, which are not available as regular cabs, start at about $43K.

Before buying a new F-150 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tundra tends to have the strongest resale values, but the F-150’s resale values are quite respectable.

Regardless of which of the many engine options you go with, the Ford F-150 moves with authoritative thrust provided by either a turbocharged V6, a hybrid V6, or a good old-fashioned V8. Once you choose the engine that fits your demands and your budget, every F-150 drives with the confidence that comes with a full-size truck. The more powerful engine options make it feel a little lighter than it really is.

The F-150 trim levels in the heart of the market feel refined and composed. The off-road-biased Tremor and Raptor are also surprisingly comfortable on the road and are fantastic in the dirt and on the rocks. The off-roaders, however, are wider and do feel bigger on the road than the rest of the F-150 line.

Fuel Economy

With rear-wheel drive (RWD), the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 returns 21 mpg combined, and the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 manages 20 combined mpg. Those numbers drop one mpg with 4WD. The 5.0-liter V8 nets 19 combined mpg. These numbers are competitive with the rest of the segment.

The hybrid drivetrain with standard four-wheel drive (4WD) achieves 23 combined mpg. All F-150 engines are fine with regular gasoline.

The 2026 Ford F-150 offers seating for up to six in certain trim levels, but for most trims, seating capacity is five. Regular cab trims can seat two or three, depending on trim level.

The F-150 offers a wide array of trim levels and features, starting with the work truck XL and moving up to luxe King Ranch and Platinum grades. The F-150 comes standard with a 12-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster. Features such as Power Onboard, which allows your truck to serve as a generator, and safety features that account for a trailer while you tow, as well as systems that make it easier to back a trailer into a spot at the campground, are all available. And the tech Ford offers is not only helpful but also easy to use.

If you’re looking for a work truck, you can get a 40/20/40 cloth bench seat, but moving up from there, the options get quite luxurious, with available Alcantara suede as well as heated, cooled, and massaging power seats with memory. Features like Bang & Olufsen audio, adjustable pedals, and wireless phone charging also add to the experience. Plus, the rear seat in the SuperCrew cab is especially roomy, with a flat floor in all three seating positions. That also makes it easy to fit gear in the cab.

The squared-off front and split headlights is a styling theme that is also seen in the rest of the F-Series line, as well as on the Ranger. It’s a great look that looks tough and is uniquely Ford.

With three cabs – Regular, Super Cab (extended cab) and SuperCrew (crew cab) – and three bed lengths, there are a lot of appealing combinations. However, if you want the 8-foot bed, you can only get it in the regular cab XL. The 6.5-foot bed is available with more cabs and trims, but the most popular combination by far is the SuperCrew with the 5.5-foot bed.

Grille and wheel designs vary by model, and wheel sizes range from 17 to 22 inches. As you would expect, the type of tire matches the trim level’s purpose. The XL gets functional all-season tires, while the King Ranch and Platinum ride on 20-inch all-terrains. There are 16 different wheel options.

There are even different tailgates to choose from, with the option of the Pro Access Tailgate that splits to make it easier to reach the bed with a trailer hooked up. Other options include a power-up/down tailgate and an integrated tailgate step.

The F-150’s visual personality can vary quite a bit depending on the trim. The King Ranch and Platinum trims exude luxury. The Tremor and Raptor models convey ruggedness. The unique F-150 Lobo combines street truck aesthetics with performance, featuring a lowered suspension and exclusive styling.

Pro Power Onboard
If you were considering buying a separate generator, Ford’s Pro Power Onboard may save you some money. This onboard generator is available across the trim lineup. The most robust version, with 7.2 kilowatts, can run a plasma cutter, angle grinder, TiG welder, air compressor, and work lights – all at the same time. This version is available with the hybrid. The 2.0-kilowatt size is available with gas-powered variants, and the 2.4-kilowatt version comes standard on the hybrid.

Towing Tech
Ford’s Pro Trailer Back Up Assist lets you back in a trailer by turning a knob. The F-150 is also available with a tire pressure monitor for each trailer tire. The truck’s blind-spot system takes into account your trailer. And these are only a few examples of the tech that helps when towing with an F-150.

Pro Access Tailgate
If you are towing, the available Pro Access Tailgate has a side-hinged inner section that opens to the side. It can open out a full 100 degrees, but there are also detents at 37 and 70 degrees. This makes it easier to reach, load, and unload gear from the bed while a trailer is hooked up.

Off-Road Machines
No, the Raptor isn’t for everyone, but it is a fantastic purpose-built off-roader with an impressive list of features and a well-engineered suspension. There are two levels of Raptor, plus the mind-boggling supercharged 720-horsepower Raptor R. And if you want to spend less on your off-roading adventures, the Tremor is a stout trim level that’s $14K cheaper than the Raptor.

BlueCruise
Feeling smoother and more natural, this partial self-driving feature lets you take your foot off the pedal and your hands off the wheel. There are more than 130,000 miles of North American highways that BlueCruise works on — and a light on the dash shows you when BlueCruise is available. BlueCruise works to ensure the driver is active; the driver’s eyes have to remain engaged and alert. BlueCruise is optional on all trims except the XL work truck.

The excellent base engine is a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 option produces 400 hp and 410 lb-ft.

There are two versions of the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. The first has 400 hp and 500 lb-ft. This is the engine that provides the highest towing capacity. In the Raptor, the High Output version generates 450 hp and 510 lb-ft.

The hybrid V6 creates 430 hp and 570 lb-ft – that’s more torque in all but the Raptor R’s engine – yet is also the most fuel-efficient choice in the lineup. It’s a smooth drivetrain, and easy to forget it’s a hybrid.

The beastly supercharged 5.2-liter V8 in the Raptor R makes 720 hp and 640 lb-ft.

All variants use a 10-speed automatic transmission. RWD is the default configuration; 4WD is optional. Four-wheel drive is standard in the hybrid, Tremor, Raptor, and Raptor R.

Payload and Towing

You don’t have to settle for a regular cab to get the maximum towing capacity in the 2026 F-150. Here, you can get that 13,500-pound tow rating with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 in the 4WD SuperCrew with the 6.5-foot bed, plus the Max Trailer Tow Package. This means you have the potential for the most versatility in that truck – the ability to seat the most people and tow the heaviest trailer. If you are interested in the PowerBoost hybrid, it can tow up to 11,200 pounds. For the maximum payload of 2,440 pounds, look for the 2026 F-150 with the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6.

Those best-in-class numbers are followed by the Chevy Silverado 1500’s 13,300 and 2,260 pounds, which are slightly lower than those of the GMC Sierra. Next on the list is the Toyota Tundra, which can tow up to 12,000 pounds (1,940 payload), and the Ram 1500, with a maximum payload of 2,360 pounds (11,610 towing).

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ford’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, and that includes roadside assistance. These terms are typical among mainstream manufacturers, although General Motors and Toyota also include some form of free scheduled maintenance. Hybrid batteries are protected for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This generation of F-150 was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), using its old testing protocol, with the proviso that the truck is fitted with LED headlights, which became standard across the line last year. But it also scored well in crashworthiness categories. However, the 2026 model has not yet been tested. The 2026 F-150 took the maximum 5-Star overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standout safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring.