Tom’s Guide review & first look at Platinum Black Edition: “I drove the Ford F150 Lightning — and all other EVs are ruined for me”

[Pdxguy]

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/i-drove-the-ford-f150-lightning-and-all-other-evs-are-ruined-for-me

Also see their Lightning Platinum Black Edition in-person video.

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[TaxmanHog]

The video shows him talking about 1PD yet the drive mode screen displays it OFF, I know we've discussed the probability that even with it off there is still some regen happening. If it was actually on while he was test driving, then the B-roll cut in shots were poorly selected, I give this review a 1 out of 10 for continuity of production

 

[kjhall]

I never use 1PD, but there is always significant regen happening, very similar to my Volt's. The truck even gives you a regen score every time you brake to a stop. I sometimes argue with the judges when I don't get 100%

 

[jefrank]

With 1pd off you regen when you coast at above 47mph and when your foot is on the brake. Getting 2.2-2.3 mi/kwh without 1pd, even with pretty significant highway driving at 75-78mph

 

[MRButtler]

The video shows him talking about 1PD yet the drive mode screen displays it OFF, I know we've discussed the probability that even with it off there is still some regen happening. If it was actually on while he was test driving, then the B-roll cut in shots were poorly selected, I give this review a 1 out of 10 for continuity of production

Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet

 

[intensifi]

Who is Tom?

 

[brewski]

With 1pd off you regen when you coast at above 47mph and when your foot is on the brake. Getting 2.2-2.3 mi/kwh without 1pd, even with pretty significant highway driving at 75-78mph

I get that with 2PD driving and significant 80mph highway driving.
I'll make the bold statement that one isn't more efficient than the other...
BUT...
I think the act of 1PD driving lends itself to more efficient driving techniques.
If you 2PD drive like you always have, you likely won't maximize your regen gains.

 

[casanewt]

Nothing like doing a review and espousing about a feature that has been around for years. So many "journalists" with so little knowledge. I was just watching a Lightning review the other day where the guy was acting like AWD was an option. It was a fairly major channel as well.

 

[RedLightning86]

Ol' Tom was fairly naive about EV's, but I agree with him about how great the Lightning is. I just got back from 25 day bucket-list family vacation to Europe. Had planned to use a Tesla Model Y the whole time, for ease of charging, and because I couldn't get a big enough Hyundai EV or Mach-E (which use Apple Car Play). And I wanted to try a Tesla out, since they essentially got EV's off the ground and into orbit.

Long story short - we hated the Tesla. Using the screen for everything, such as popping Frunk and trunk, sucked. Opening it with the stupid card, sucked, always took a lot of tries. (Couldn't use Tesla app with a rental). Got locked out once with the stupid card inside it. Fortunately, I had left a window down just far enough to get the tower's long door-unlock into it. Tesla's vaunted OTA updates don't happen on rentals, so the mapping info was over a year old.

Worst of all was Cruise Control, which amounted to EITHER just basic speed/and shake wheel if crossing line, OR Autopilot-FSB. Autopilot-FSB was terrible; it would try to wrench the wheel out of your hands and swerve HARD if it didn't like that you were close to whatever it was looking at. It would get too close to other cars, and then beep and disconnect. But some other times, it would brake for no reason at all. Couldn't leave it on for more than 15 mins without cussing at it, and pulling over to turn it off.

The 3 things we liked about the Model Y was all the room for a family of 4, each with a suitcase and a pack, and a bag of souvenirs that kept getting bigger. And Superchargers were everywhere it seemed, and charging was as easy as backing into one, tapping the lid, which opened it, and plugging in. And of course lack of noise or smell.

But those weren't good enough. After 4 days, we took the Tesla back and got a gas BMW X3 wagon for the rest of the time. Noise, smell, and only rudimentary cruise control, crappy phone/Car Play integration that only worked randomly, and it didn't even have electric seats! And I was so glad to be back yesterday and drive my quiet, NORMAL, Ford Lightning, with Blue Cruise that works smoothly everywhere, and Apple Car Play that just works!

So yeah, even though he is EV naive, I can see why the Tom's reviewer was so happy with the Lightning. And would have been happy with any other Lightning, I think. The Lightning driving experience is just heads and tails above the competition, I think.

 

[jefrank]

If you 2PD drive like you always have, you likely won't maximize your regen gains.

I agree that this is probably true for most people. I've always tended to coast up to lights and stop signs rather than using my brakes aggressively - why wear those things out more quickly than needed? - but I see a lot of people who stay on the gas until they suddenly decide they need to brake.

 

[Revenge]

I agree that this is probably true for most people. I've always tended to coast up to lights and stop signs rather than using my brakes aggressively - why wear those things out more quickly than needed? - but I see a lot of people who stay on the gas until they suddenly decide they need to brake.

I personally always have it in the Sport setting. Reminds me of driving my old manual transmission vehicles. If you are not on the throttle there is a load on the motor and you gradually slow down. It matches my driving style where if I am off the throttle I am most likely wanting to start slowing down. Normal mode feels like a standard ICE vehicle and just coasts when I am fully off the throttle.

 

[jefrank]

I personally always have it in the Sport setting. Reminds me of driving my old manual transmission vehicles. If you are not on the throttle there is a load on the motor and you gradually slow down. It matches my driving style where if I am off the throttle I am most likely wanting to start slowing down. Normal mode feels like a standard ICE vehicle and just coasts when I am fully off the throttle.

Threw Sport mode on yesterday, the regen is more than I want since I still drive ICE vehicles too. Maybe someday.

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