- The cheapest hybrid Toyota Tundra is $54,915
- The entry-level Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost starts at $47,685
- Is a hybrid pickup truck worth the money?
The age of hybrid pickup trucks is upon us. If you’re dreaming of a hybrid 2023 truck, you have several options. But the Ram 1500’s eTorque technology is technically just a “mild hybrid” system. And while the Ford Maverick is very efficient, it is a compact truck. The only two full-size, fully hybrid pickup trucks available are the Ford F-150 PowerBoost and the Toyota Tundra i-FORCE MAX. Because Toyota is only offering its hybrid powertrain on mid-trim trucks, you can’t get into one for less than $54,915. An entry-level Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost, on the other hand, starts at $47,675.
The cheapest hybrid Toyota Tundra is $54,915
2022 Toyota Tundra Limited | Toyota
Ordering a hybrid Toyota Tundra is a tad bit complicated. That’s because Toyota is not offering its i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain on the Tundra SR work truck, or even the entry-level Tundra SR5. If you want to order a hybrid Tundra, you’ll have to start with the Limited trim.
Toyota is currently advertising the 2023 Tundra Limited with an MSRP of $49,465. But that price is for a pickup truck with a smaller “double cab.” Because Toyota installs the i-FORCE MAX’s Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery under the truck’s rear seat, the smaller cab isn’t going to cut it. So first, you’ll have to upgrade to the “CrewMax” configuration. If you go for the smaller 5.5-foot bed, your new MSRP will be $51,515.
The Tundra Limited normally ships with Toyota’s new twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6. Upgrading to the hybrid i-FORCE MAX powertrain costs $3400, for any trim of the truck. At the time of writing, Toyota’s advertised MSRP for a 4×2 Tundra Limited i-FORCE MAX is $54,915.
The entry-level Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost starts at $47,685
Ford F-150 | PowerBoost
Ford is doing things a little differently with its first hybrid F-150 powertrain. You can actually order the PowerBoost engine upgrade on any trim level of the F-150, which we definitely approve of. This choice may target work-truck buyers interested in the PowerBoost’s class-leading onboard power outlets.
Like the Tundra, only the F-150 with the big cab (the Ford SuperCrew) is available as a hybrid. Ford still offers a two-door (regular cab) F-150 XL. Ford advertises the 2023 XL regular cab at $33,695, but the SuperCrew configuration will set you back at least $40,640.
The regular F-150 XL comes with Ford’s naturally-aspirated 3.3-liter V6. Ford actually has a different upcharge for the PowerBoost hybrid engine depending on trim. So if you were springing for the F-150 King Ranch, adding the PowerBoost would only cost you $2500. If you were purchasing an F-150 Lariat, you’d only pay $3,300 extra for the PowerBoost. But for buyers of the XL and XLT, Ford actually tacks on an extra $4,495 for the hybrid engine.
So all told, for the 2023 Ford F-150 XL with the PowerBoost, Ford is currently advertising a $47,675 MSRP. That’s quite a bit less than the Tundra, but we wish Ford only hit XL buyers with the same upcharge as King Ranch buyers.
Is a hybrid pickup truck worth the money?
2019 Ford F-150 | Ford
Obviously, the cheapest hybrid Toyota Tundra is an even larger investment than the cheapest Ford F-150 hybrid. Are either of them a smart buy?
Andre Smirnov of TFL Truck bought a Ford F-150 XL PowerBoost to drive daily. After one year, he concluded that not every PowerBoost buyer would recoup their investment. This is because the PowerBoost does little to improve the F-150’s highway MPG. What it does improve is the truck’s efficiency during stop-go driving.
Next, see the PowerBoost’s MPG and find out whether a hybrid Ford F-150 is a smart buy for you, or watch Smirnov’s thoughts on investing in a full-size hybrid truck in the video below:
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Keyword: Here’s The Cheapest Full-Size Hybrid Pickup Truck on the Market