2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, despite being a groundbreaking electric vehicle, maintained a familiar appearance akin to its gas-powered siblings. It was available in three trims in Canada: XLT, Lariat, and Platinum, with the Pro grade reserved for fleet customers. The Lightning was distinguishable by its LED headlight bar and a faux grille, while the rear featured subtle badges. Inside, the Lightning offered ample space, with front and rear legroom surpassing many two-row crossovers. The interior was a blend of practicality and comfort, with ergonomic design and optional features like a panoramic sunroof and a 9.6-kWh Pro Power Onboard power supply. The Lightning also boasted strong air conditioning and ventilated seats, enhancing comfort during hot days. A unique feature was the interior work surface, which transformed the centre console into a workspace.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, a midsize truck, offered a more compact alternative to full-size pickups. It had a robust stance with an upright grille and tall bed, available in various trims including SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Pro. The TRD Pro trim, tested in bright Solar Octane paint, featured off-road enhancements like skid pads, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a unique grille. Inside, the Tacoma ranged from basic to well-appointed, with our TRD Pro featuring Softex leather-trimmed upholstery and heated front seats. The physical controls for climate and infotainment were user-friendly, even with gloves on. Despite its rugged exterior, the Tacoma's interior was a mix of practicality and comfort, though rear legroom was limited.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was powered by dual electric motors, delivering 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery, along with a remarkable 775 lb-ft of torque. All models featured all-wheel drive, and the extended range battery offered a range of 515 kilometres. The Lightning's acceleration was impressive, though its weight affected handling on winding roads. It featured an independent rear suspension for better packaging of the battery packs. Charging options included 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, with fast charging available at DC stations.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, offered decent city driving performance but lacked quick acceleration. The TRD Pro's off-road suspension handled rough city streets well, though it tended to wander on paved roads. Fuel economy was average for the segment, with our TRD Pro delivering 14.4 L/100 km. The Tacoma faced increased competition from newer models, and its technology felt somewhat outdated.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning featured a 5.5-foot bed with ample tie-down points and a 400-litre Mega Power Frunk for additional storage. It could serve as a backup generator with Ford Intelligent Backup Power, powering a household for up to three days. The Lightning's towing capacity was 4,535 kilograms, with a payload capacity of 907 kilograms, though these figures affected driving range. Onboard scales helped manage payload weight.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma offered various configurations, with the access cab featuring clamshell doors and a six-foot-one-inch bed, while the double cab provided more interior space. The double cab's rear seats were tight on legroom, but the front seats offered good space and cubby storage. The short bed accommodated gear for a ski trip, though the steering wheel's limited extension posed challenges for tall drivers.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came with a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4, with higher trims featuring a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. The Lariat trim included a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo. The infotainment system included games for entertainment during charging.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. The interface was simple but outdated, with wireless charging available on higher trims. Our test truck had a six-speaker JBL audio system and two USB-A ports, though it lacked some advanced tech found in competitors.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 ADAS, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included Ford BlueCruise for hands-free driving on designated roads.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma featured Toyota Safety Sense, with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure alert. Our TRD Pro included blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera, though it lacked some advanced safety features found in other Toyotas. The Tacoma received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests.