Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $23,265 |
| Insurance (annual) | $2,601 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $2,625 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $618 |
| Tires (annual) | $450 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 20 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 18 / 23 MPG |
| Engine | 2.7L EcoBoost V6 |
| Horsepower | 325 hp |
| Torque | 400 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 6 passengers |
| Cargo space | 52.8 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 64 | 46 | +18 |
| Powertrain | 52 | 57 | -5 |
| Safety | 91 | 91 | +0 |
| Driver assistance | 16 | 46 | -30 |
| Livability | 67 | 59 | +8 |
The 2026 Ford F-150 scores 64/100 on cost of ownership — 18 points above the full-size trucks median. The Full-Size Truck class median 5-year ownership cost is $78,413 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: fuel or charging.
The 2026 Ford F-150 scores 16/100 on driver assistance — 30 points below the full-size trucks median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Ford F-150 scores 52/100 on powertrain — 5 points below the full-size trucks median. Key figures: 20 MPG combined, 325 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 F-150 keeps running costs in check with the lowest scheduled maintenance expenses among full-size trucks, and its bed delivers serious utility for work and recreation. On higher trims, Ford's driver-assistance package is competitive — though the base XL trim strips it back significantly. The trade-off is at the pump: fuel economy means fill-ups add up fast. For buyers who prioritize payload and low maintenance over fuel costs, the F-150 remains the default choice.
Best for
- Lowest scheduled maintenance costs among full-size trucks
- Spacious cargo room for work and recreation
- Strong resale value and five-star NHTSA safety rating
Watch out for
- Fuel economy means higher fueling costs than segment leaders
- Base trim strips back driver-assistance features significantly
2026 Ford F-150
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 F-150 keeps running costs in check with the lowest scheduled maintenance expenses among full-size trucks, and its bed delivers serious utility for work and recreation. On higher trims, Ford's driver-assistance package is competitive — though the base XL trim strips it back significantly. The trade-off is at the pump: fuel economy means fill-ups add up fast. For buyers who prioritize payload and low maintenance over fuel costs, the F-150 remains the default choice.
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by depreciation; tires is a minor share.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Modest driver-assistance capability, but highway support and parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Passenger space and everyday maneuverability, scored within its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its Full-Size Truck segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Crash-test protection combined with standard crash-avoidance features.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Ford F-150?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 earns a MotiveGrid Score of 69 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- Is the 2026 Ford F-150 safe?
- The Ford F-150 carries an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars. MotiveGrid's safety pillar pairs federal crash-test results with the standard active-safety equipment fitted at base price.
- What is the 2026 Ford F-150 safety score?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 91/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Ford F-150 include?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 scores 16/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Ford F-150 reliable?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 has an below average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 49/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Ford F-150 fuel economy?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 is EPA-rated at 20 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Ford F-150 rank among full-size trucks?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 is in the top 55% of full-size trucks on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Ford F-150 compare to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the full-size trucks segment.
- Is the 2026 Ford F-150 spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Ford F-150 scores 67/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other full-size trucks in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03