If you’ve ever wondered what MPG people actually get in the real world with an F-150 (not the perfect “manufacturer numbers”), you’re not alone.
One owner summed it up perfectly:
“I average 13 in the city and 17 on the highway in the 5.0 on 35s.”
That one line kicked off a massive discussion where owners shared real numbers across different engines, trims, tire sizes, and setups — from stock trucks to lifted builds on 35s… and even PowerBoost hybrids and Lightning EVs.
Let’s break down what people are really seeing.
Quick Answer: What MPG Are F-150 Owners Getting?
Here’s the general trend based on owner reports:
- 5.0 V8 (stock-ish): usually 17–21 MPG combined
- 5.0 V8 on 35s / lifted: usually 11–17 MPG
- 2.7 EcoBoost: commonly 20–24 MPG
- 3.5 EcoBoost: commonly 17–22 MPG
- PowerBoost Hybrid: commonly 21–27 MPG
- Towing: often drops to 9–15 MPG
- Lightning EV: around 60 MPGe
So yes… your MPG can swing wildly depending on your build and driving style.
5.0 V8 MPG (Stock vs Lifted vs 35s)
The 5.0 is loved for reliability and sound — but once you add bigger tires and lift kits, fuel economy drops fast.
Stock / Mild Setup MPG
A lot of owners with stock tires or small mods report:
- 17–18 MPG average overall
- 20 MPG highway
- 21 MPG mixed driving
One owner said:
“2023 5.0 — 17 mpg street, 20 mpg highway.”
Another one mentioned:
“2018 V8 average 21 mpg.”
So if your 5.0 is mostly stock, the numbers can actually be pretty solid.
Lifted + 35s MPG
This is where the pain starts.
Multiple owners with lifts and 35s report:
- 11–13 MPG city
- 15–18 MPG highway
One guy with a 6″ lift and 35s said:
“15mpg hwy on 2018 5.0 with a 6″ lift and 35″ tires.”
Another:
“16.5 mpg with a 2014 5.0 super crew on 35” KO2’s.”
And the original poster’s setup (5.0 on 35s) was:
- 13 MPG city
- 17 MPG highway
That’s extremely common for that build.
2.7 EcoBoost MPG (The Mileage King for Gas Trucks)
If there’s one engine that consistently gets praised for MPG, it’s the 2.7 EcoBoost.
A lot of owners report:
- 20–23 MPG combined
- 23–26 MPG highway
- 17–19 MPG city depending on tires and traffic
Examples from the discussion:
- “Average 21 on 2.7.”
- “2018 2.7 4×4… Avg 23.4 mpg, mix of highway & city driving.”
- “2020 2.7… 20.6 mpg.”
Even with 35s, some still pull decent numbers:
“2.7 EB with 35s… about 20ish highway, 16 in town.”
That’s impressive for a full-size truck.
3.5 EcoBoost MPG (Strong Power, MPG Depends on Your Foot)
The 3.5 EcoBoost is a monster for towing and power, but MPG changes a lot depending on driving habits.
Most owners are around:
- 17–20 MPG average
- 22–24 MPG highway if driving calm
- Less in winter or with heavy throttle
Examples:
- “3.5 mix of highway and city: 17.3 winter, 19 summer. Leveled on 33s.”
- “2023 3.5EB… Mid-14s in the city, highway about 22–23.”
- “2018 3.5 EB… 17 mpg overall, 22 mpg unloaded freeway.”
So it’s not “bad MPG”… but it’s very sensitive to speed, boost, and traffic.
PowerBoost Hybrid MPG (Why Everyone’s Jealous)
PowerBoost owners were basically flexing the whole thread.
Many reported:
- 21–25 MPG combined
- 23–27 MPG highway
- 28–31 MPG city (yes really)
Some highlights:
- “22.6 mpg hand calculated… leveled with 33’s.”
- “I average 25mpg. 22 Powerboost… Stock tires.”
- “2023 PowerBoost… 24 avg in the cold, 28 in the summer.”
- “PowerBoost GANG GANG.”
One owner even said they can push 30 MPG on certain trips when driving carefully.
If MPG matters and you still want truck power, the PowerBoost seems to be the sweet spot.
Towing MPG (Reality Check)
Towing is where MPG gets ugly, no matter what engine you have.
Common towing MPG numbers mentioned:
- 9 MPG towing
- 12–15 MPG towing
- 13 MPG towing a trailer
- 7 MPG towing (5.0)
One guy summed it up best:
“Unless towing then 9mpg.”
So if you tow often, don’t expect miracles — even with a hybrid.
Why MPG Numbers Are All Over the Place
A really smart point came up in the comments:
You can’t compare apples to oranges.
MPG depends heavily on:
- 2WD vs 4×4
- Tire size (33 vs 35 vs 38)
- Tire type (AT vs MT)
- Lift kit vs leveling kit
- Gear ratio (3.31, 3.55, 3.73)
- Driving speed (65 vs 80 mph is huge)
- Wind / temperature (winter MPG drops)
- Idling time (remote start, warming up)
- Towing and payload
- Fuel type (E85 hurts MPG)
- Tune and mods
One owner even said the odometer and speed bias can throw off MPG calculations, so some prefer hand-calculated MPG at the pump.
Full Tank Range: How Far Can You Go?
The original poster answered the “range” question like this:
“About 450 miles give or take… sometimes closer to 500, sometimes closer to 400.”
That’s a realistic range for many setups depending on tank size, tires, and highway vs city driving.
The Bottom Line: What MPG Should You Expect?
If you want a simple cheat sheet:
Best MPG Choices
- PowerBoost Hybrid: best overall MPG for a gas truck
- 2.7 EcoBoost: best MPG for non-hybrid
Most Fun / Classic V8 Feel
- 5.0 V8: great engine, but MPG drops hard with 35s and lifts
If You Tow Often
- 3.5 EcoBoost: great towing power, MPG depends on driving style
If You Want the “Lifted on 35s Look”
Expect:
- 11–13 city
- 15–18 highway
That’s normal. You’re not doing anything wrong — big tires and lift kits are just expensive on fuel.
Your Turn: Drop Your MPG Setup
If you’re reading this and you’ve got an F-150, share yours like this:
- Engine:
- Tire size:
- Lift/level:
- City MPG:
- Highway MPG:
- Towing MPG (if you tow):
Because honestly… these real-world numbers help people way more than brochure stats.
