As Chevrolet prepares to launch the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax, its competition has taken to the offensive. Case in point, the Ford F-150 will offer its 3.0L Power Stroke V6 diesel engine for the mid-range XLT trim level. XLT is the most popular model for the pickup truck, which holds the title of America’s best selling vehicle. The addition of Power Stroke V6 to the XLT means that the diesel engine is available on 75 percent of F-150 pickup truck variants.
Currently, a base Ford F-150 XLT starts at $34,160. Previously, the lowest level the Power Stroke was offered was the F-150 Lariat trim, which commands an MSRP of $41,700. Meanwhile, the F-150 King Ranch exceeds $52,000. But there’s still a premium that one must pay to get the 3.0L Power Stroke.
The Power Stroke V6 is a $4,995 option in place of the base 3.3-liter V6, and $4,000 in place of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. It’s another $3,000 over the 5.0-liter V8 engine option.
To get the Power Stroke on the Ford F-150 XLT, the $4,345 equipment group 302A must be first selected. Does it include a diesel engine? No. But it unlocks heated and power-operated front seats, remote start, 18-inch wheels and chromed trim.
That means the cheapest diesel-powered model, a F-150 SuperCab 4×2 with 302A, starts at $46,255. Which still means it’s priced out of being an honest work truck, and more of a personal trophy. This means that the 2020 Silverado Duramax will undercut the Ford by over $5,000 when it launches.
Lastly, the 3.0L Power Stroke diesel is only available on SuperCab (extended) or SuperCrew (four-door) models. All diesels are paired with Ford’s 10-speed automatic. Ordering is said to be available now.
The 3.0L Power Stroke produces 250 horsepower at 3,250 rpm, and 440 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm. Ford touts that the F-150 Power Stroke carries best-in-class diesel towing (11,400 lbs) and best-in-class diesel payload (2,020 lbs), and a best-in-class EPA-estimated rating of 30 highway mpg. But the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax, which has more power and torque on paper, along with a rebooted Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, are not on the market yet. So Ford’s measurements are currently based on a class of one.