What You Need To Know About Ford Pickup Trim Levels

Ford rolls out some of the market’s most popular and useful pickup trucks. There is a good reason why the F-Series was once again the best-selling truck in the U.S.A. last year, and alongside this ever-popular model line, Ford offers compact pickup trucks, full-size trucks, and mid-sized trucks, all of which pack a punch in usability and versatility.

Most Ford pickup lineups are available in five main trims: the XL, the XLT, the Lariat, the Platinum, and the off-road-demolishing Raptor. However, some Ford truck lines are also available as the STX, the Tremor, the Lobo, and the King Ranch. But what does each Ford trim actually give you? We are going to take a look at exactly which models are available in what trims and what you get from each.

The Ford XL Trim

Entry-Level Doesn’t Mean Under-Catered

As the starting point for the Ford Maverick, Ford F-150, Ford Ranger, Ford F-250, Ford F-350, and Ford F-450, the XL trim is the most work-focused you can get. It is the base trim for the Ford pickup truck lineup, and while it is the entry-level trim, you get the most basic and functional configurations in and out of the cab.

For the most part, the Ford pickup truck XL trim comes equipped with the SYNC 4 infotainment system, basic climate controls in the shape of single-zone air conditioning or manual control, smartphone connectivity, cloth upholstery, work-oriented interior trims, a touchscreen (specific models have different standard sizes, though), and available four-wheel drive. The heavy-duty XL trucks (F-250 and above) are even more basically set up, with features like floor mats, different color schemes, and seating upholstery options only available in higher trims.

The Ford XL pickup truck trim is for those of you looking for functionality over luxury. Prices are always the lowest across all the Ford pickup truck lines, and generally, the smallest and least powerful available engine options are available under its hood.

The 2025 Ford Maverick XL boasts an MSRP of $29,840; the Ford Ranger XL will set you back $35,245; the Ford F-150 XL costs $40,045; the Ford F-250 XL has a starting price of $47,395; the Ford F-350 XL costs $52,490; and the Ford F-450 will cost you $67,050.

The Ford STX Trim

A Ford F-150-Only Full Trim

For the 2025 MY, the Ford F-150 is the only model available with STX as a full trim, not just an appearance package (which it is for the HD Ford trucks). Positioned between the base trim and the XLT, the STX offers a little more versatility, tech, and comfort in the F-150, but doesn’t go full hog.

Starting prices are around the $45,500 mark, and for that money, you get the option to ride in a Regular Cab, SuperCab, or CrewCab, with both two-wheel and four-wheel drive available. The STX has transformed from an appearance package for the F-150 to a full trim, and is for those of you looking for one of the most famous truck nameplates on the market, but don’t need all the bells and whistles of the higher trims.

Inside, you get sport-cloth bucket seats, a 12-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen, a digital instrument display, and selectable drive modes. There are two engine options for the 2025 Ford F-150 STX: a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 that can kick out 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, or a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 good for 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque.

So, for slightly more money, you can either choose to have the higher towing capacity of 12,900 pounds when equipped with the optional V8, or you can opt for a relatively fuel-efficient full-size pickup truck, with FuelEconomy.gov saying that the 2.7-liter EcoBoost-equipped F-150 can achieve a combined mpg rating of 21 mpg (19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway).

The Ford XLT Trim

Everything Entry-Level Ford Pickups Have, But More Features And Comfort

The next step-up in main trims from the Ford XL trim is the Ford XLT trim. Here, you’ll get everything the work-focused base trim offers, but with more features and comfort additions. All Ford pickup truck models are available as the XLT trim, and with the higher-specced interior and tech options come with a higher starting price.

• 2025 Ford Maverick XLT. MSRP: $32,340.
• 2025 Ford Ranger XLT. MSRP: $37,270.
• 2025 Ford F-150 XLT. MSRP: $48,290.
• 2025 Ford F-250 XLT. MSRP: $51,295.
• 2025 Ford F-350 XLT. MSRP: $52,600.
• 2025 Ford F-450 XLT. MSRP: $67,195.

The XLT trims come equipped with upgraded tech, enhanced exterior styling, and nicer interior materials. For example, the Maverick XLT is the best bang-for-your-buck Maverick trim there is due to it only being slightly more expensive than the XL, and you get a lot more features compared to the base trim, such as 17-inch aluminum wheels to replace the XL’s steel wheels, power-operated side mirrors, and more optional extras.

You can choose to add the XLT Luxury Package, which gets you eight-way power seats, remote start, LED bed lighting, and a 400-Watt inverter. The F-150 XLT can be beefed up with the Black Appearance Package, which gets you 6-inch running boards, gloss-black wheels, and a dark interior finish. The Ranger XLT can be upgraded with the Sport Appearance Package, and the Super Duty can be finished with the Premium Package. Overall, the XLT features more at build as it is available with more options.

You generally also get additions like LED headlights and taillights, slightly more upscale interior features in the shape of carpet floor mats, premium cloth upholstery, body-color or chrome accents, better access to assistance packages, better safety tech (blind-spot monitoring), and more everyday usability compared to the work-focused XL.

The Ford Lariat Trim

The Mid-Tier Ford Trim In Terms Of Tech, Capability, And Luxury

Sitting in the mid-tier is the Ford Lariat trim. This is the trim you are likely to go for if you want more than the basic, slightly more capability, and a touch more class to your truck, without stepping into luxury pickup truck territory.

This trim is available for the F-150, Maverick, Ranger, F-250, F-350, and F-450. Generally, you’ll find upgrades such as larger screens still running the SYNC 4 system, improved upholstery (usually ActiveX or leather-trimmed seats), dual-zone climate control, upgraded wheels and lighting, and enhanced driver-assistance tech in the shape of 360-degree cameras in the Super Duty models.

For example, the 2025 Ford F-250 Lariat comes equipped with a 12-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen, a Bang & Olufsen eight-speaker sound system, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, remote start, and a remote tailgate release. Likewise, the 2025 Ford Maverick Lariat offers more than the value-friendly XLT; you still get the same hybrid mill and city-friendly grit, but there is a clear upgrade inside and out, with 19-inch machine-painted wheels, dual-zone climate control, and Ford Co-Pilot 360 all included.

For the almighty Ford F-150, you also get a beefier engine as standard in the Lariat trim. In the F-150 XLT, a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 good for 325 horsepower is equipped as standard, whereas in the Lariat, a 400-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 mated to four-wheel drive comes as standard. This is only the case for the F-150; the other trims still come equipped as standard with the same engine as you’ll find in the XLT trims. Of course, though, with more tech and a little more class, the prices do start higher.

The Ford Tremor Trim

Limited Model Lines, But A Good Step Toward Off-Road Readiness

Available as a full trim for the 2025 Ford F-150 and the 2025 Ford Maverick or as a package for the Super Duty lineup, the Ford Tremor trim is the more mud-munching option without going full Raptor. In the Ford F-150, you get four-wheel drive as standard, paired with off-road-tuned suspension, underbody protection, all-terrain tires, and beefed-up, purposeful body enhancements, such as:

• Distinctive grille.
• Reinforced bumpers.
• Unique badging.

The Maverick is also available as the Tremor, and turns this already very handy compact truck into a small force to be reckoned with on the rough stuff while also giving the wallet-sensible XLT trim a run for its money. You get higher ground clearance (9.1 inches), off-road suspension with a 1-inch lift, Trail Control, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, the option for a perky 2.0-liter mill good for 250 horsepower, and, again, unique body stylings that make the Maverick stand out a little further in the mud. You also get an option to up the Maverick’s towing capacity from 2,000 pounds to a hefty 4,000 pounds.

Starting prices for the 2025 Ford Maverick Tremor and 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor are $42,690 and $67,510, respectively. However, you can also add the Tremor Package as an option for the F-250, F-350, and F-450 for the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims.

This will cost you approximately $4,500 to add, but you will then benefit from more off-road-ready suspension, an electronic locking rear diff, skid plates, rugged tires, and the ideal blend of comfort, immense workability, and some off-road prowess for weekends in the wilderness.

The Ford Lobo Trim

The Unique Street-Fighting Ford Truck

If you are in the market for some pangs of excitement, this year’s Lobo trim should have you well covered. It is only available as a full trim for the Maverick, but it can be added to the F-150 as a package. For the Maverick Lobo, you get all the compact usability of the Maverick, but a much more performance-truck feel to the ride. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four that kicks out 238 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed auto box and all-wheel drive. However, what makes the Lobo stand out is the other engineering tweaks.

The suspension has been lowered by around half an inch up front and more than an inch in the rear; you get monotube rear dampers derived from the Tremor, and dual-piston front calipers borrowed from the European Focus ST, so not only do the black roof, ‘turbofan’ 19-inch wheels, and the blacked-out interior accents make it look sporty, but it is genuinely setup to carve some canyons.

“The 2025 Ford Maverick doubles down on the formula that has made the truck a success since day one. Practical, cleverly designed, and frugal, the Mav is a right-sized vehicle for many folks who wouldn’t otherwise even sniff a truck purchase. The Maverick Lobo really extends the goodness of the model then, opening the audience up to a performance truck fanbase that has been ill-served in recent years.”

Review of the 2025 Ford Maverick Lobo by Seyth Miersma – Hot Cars

For the 2025 Ford F-150, the Lobo is an optional package for the STX. It is available with the 400-horsepower 5.0-liter Coyote V8 under the hood, but you also get a dropped rear suspension (by about 2 inches), a more aggressive stance, and some serious street truck looks with gloss-black 22-inch wheels, a cowl-style hood, dual exhaust tips, a full ground-effects kit, and a very distinctive grille.

Prices for the Maverick Lobo start at $37,625, and prices for the F-150 STX Lobo start at just shy of $60,000. If you are looking for a truck from the severely undercatered performance street truck market today, there is little that comes up against either the Maverick or F-150 Lobo.

The Ford King Ranch Trim

A Comfortable, Themed, And Premium Pickup Choice

The Ford King Ranch trim is only available for the F-150, the F-250, the F-350, and the F-450, and while the model line is limited, it does offer a huge amount of unique luxury and a warm-feeling build in the cab. Starting prices for a F-150 King Ranch are $74,095, while the Super Duty King Ranch trims have a price range of between $76,975 and $92,590. With prices like that, you know you’re getting some level of service from it.

In a slightly Western-themed way, the King Ranch trim offers a distinctive blend of plushness, old-timey charm, and capability. For the F-150 King Ranch, DelRio leather seating with King Ranch embroidery sits in the cabin; genuine wood trim accents flow around the interior, and power-deployable running boards and 20-inch chrome wheels finish off the bulking look on the outside. You can choose to add the potent 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 to the F-150 King Ranch, while a 12-inch productivity screen, HUD, and the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite are included.

The Super Duty King Ranch trims also deliver high-end comfort and style while still maintaining their strong work ethic. For example, the 2025 F-250 King Ranch gives you plush Kingsville Antique-effect leather, the Bang & Olufsen Unleashed audio system with 14 speakers, chrome accents, and premium cabin touches, all while still coming equipped with either the 7.3-liter gas V8 or the 6.7-liter diesel mill.

The King Ranch trim is more than just a fancy glow-up; it is a fully luxurious and unique build that is only really rivaled by the Ford Platinum trims for plushness and comfort.

The Ford Platinum Trim

The Epitome Of Luxury In Ford Pickup Trucks

For both the F-150 and Ford Super Duty lines, the Platinum trim is the epitome of luxury you’ll find in a pickup truck. Under the hood of the F-150 Platinum sits a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that puts out 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, while an optional HO 3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 is also available, and ups the output to 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet.

Both the interior and exterior of the Ford Platinum trim take things to luxury pickup truck levels, with 20-inch gloss-black wheels, power-deployable running boards, and SuperCrew body styles painted in unique and premium color schemes. Inside, the same level of luxe is applied, with high-end leather surfaces, an available Bang & Olufsen rig, massaging seats, and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving all featured.

The Platinum option also takes the Super Duty lineup to new heights of luxury, all while still holding onto what is great about it: its work ethic. The F-250, F-350, and F-450 Platinum models come equipped with body-color bumpers, power-deployable running boards, LED lights, memory power-adjustable pedals, leather seating surfaces, and luxury trim accents around the cabin.

Beneath all the finery, though, you still get an ultra-rugged, fully-boxed steel frame, aluminum cab and bed, and very useful engine options in the shape of a 7.3-liter gas V8 good for 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque, and the 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo-diesel V8 that can help you tow up to 40,000 pounds when equipped in the F-450 with a gooseneck fitted. It is the best of both worlds: luxury and toughness.

The Ford Raptor Trim

Nothing Says Off-Road Prowess Like A Raptor

As possibly one of the best off-road pickup trucks ever created, the Ford Raptor and Raptor R trims are the pickup truck world’s mud-munching and desert-dashing hero. If you are looking for trail-readiness and rough-stuff capability, it has to be the Ford Raptor trims.

This snarling trim is only available for the 2025 Ford Ranger and the Ford F-150, with starting prices of $56,070 and $79,005, respectively. This year’s Ranger Raptor boasts a bi-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that shifts out 405 horsepower under the hood. You get a ten-speed automatic transmission mated with full-time four-wheel drive, a reinforced ladder-frame, and specially-tuned dampers and heavy-duty suspension components to handle rock crawling and high-speed desert runs. Skid plates, all-terrain tires, and selectable drive modes, including ‘Baja Mode,’ mean you can take this very versatile mid-sized truck pretty much anywhere.

Moving up in size and capability, this year’s Ford F-150 Raptor comes equipped as standard with a HO 3.5-liter V6 good for 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, but can also be upgraded as the Raptor R, with a 720-horsepower/640-pound-foot supercharged V8. You won’t be left wanting for off-road goodies in either the Raptor or Raptor R; you get long-travel suspension, Hi-Lo 4×4, FOX Live-Valve shocks, adaptive damping, heavy-duty skid plates, Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist, and drive modes like Baja, Rock Crawl, and Off-Road.

According to owners who have left a review on J.D. Power, the F-150 Raptor has been very well-received, with an overall rating of 82 out of 100, while the Ranger Raptor does very well itself with a 5-star rating on Kelley Blue Book. Whether you are into jumping dunes or crawling through the woods, either the F-150 Raptor, F-150 Raptor R, or Ranger Raptor have you very well-covered for hardcore ability.

Sources: Ford, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, and Kelley Blue Book.