The Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck doesn't need an introduction. It has been the best-selling pickup truck in America and the best-selling light-vehicle model of any kind in the United States for several decades. To maintain that enviable and lofty position, Ford makes a concerted effort to develop and offer F-150 sub-models that meet the unique needs of particular groups of consumers. The Ford F-150 Tremor is just such a vehicle.
To create the Tremor, Ford engineers start with the time-tested bones of the F-150—its fully boxed steel frame, aluminum alloy body, and varied powertrains—then modify and accessorize the truck to give it even more appeal to off-road enthusiasts. Ford offers several F-150 all-terrain-oriented sub-models and packages ranging from the FX4 to the Raptor and Raptor R. The F-150 Tremor is, arguably, the most well-rounded of them all, equally adept as a day-to-day transportation appliance and, as a competent all-around off-road vehicle.
Ford has offered the F-150 Tremor package since it introduced the current-generation F-150 for the 2021 model year. Initially, Ford offered it with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine as its only powertrain. More recently, the automaker added the tried-and-true normally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine as a second option, much to the delight of traditional pickup truck buyers everywhere.
Beyond the engine choices, here are the key differences between the 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor reviewed here and the 2021 Ford F-150 reviewed earlier:
For 2023, the Ford F-150 lineup offers buyers eight trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited, Tremor, and Raptor. The Tremor and Raptor are the two dedicated all-terrain trims. Pricing for the base Tremor starts at $62,865, including the $1,895 destination charge. It features the 5.0-liter V8 engine with automatic stop/start technology, heated front seats, and an 8-inch productivity screen in the instrument cluster. The Tremor with the High package, which adds $7,525, is the subject of this review.
Previously, JD Power reviewed the 2021 Ford F-150. This review focuses on the F-150 Tremor variant and how it potentially impacts overall consumer appeal.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The Ford F-150 competes in the Large Light Duty Pickup market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 89 percent of new Ford F-150 buyers are male (the same as for the segment), and the median age of a new F-150 buyer is 59 years (vs. 56).
As part of the APEAL Study, owners rated the F-150 in 10 primary categories. Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the vehicle to their least favorite:
In the 2022 APEAL Study, the F-150 ranks second out of five Large Light Duty Pickup models.
In the following sections, our independent expert analyzes an F-150 Tremor equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle's price was $74,040, including the $1,895 destination charge.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Ford designed and engineered the 2023 F-150 to offer superior all-around off-road capabilities. The automaker's engineers made extensive modifications to the standard F-150 to achieve those capabilities while making the price of the vehicle still accessible to a broad range of buyers. One fundamental change they made relates to wheels and tires. Ford equips the 2023 F-150 Tremor with high-profile 275/70R18 all-terrain tires on 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels. The knobby tread and sidewall profile give the Tremor excellent off-road traction, and the bonus is they aren't noisy on pavement, even at highway speeds.
Ford modified the suspension to complement the tire/wheel change and to deliver more robust performance in difficult off-road situations. Unique Tremor control arms and front knuckles replace the standard suspension pieces. The Tremor features off-road shocks front and rear, and the rear shocks bear visible Tremor branding.
Of course, the F-150 Tremor uses a 4WD system. The 2-speed automatic 4x4 drivetrain also offers neutral towing capability, allowing you to flat-tow the truck behind another vehicle. At the rear is an electronic locking differential. All Tremors use a 10-speed automatic transmission; those with the interior Work Surface option offer a fold-away shift lever. Choosing that option provides a fold-down, hinged flat surface that is otherwise in the center of the armrest.
Ford equips Tremors with hill-start assist and hill-descent control to aid its all-terrain prowess. Ford engineers added Rock Crawl to the F-150's already long list of selectable drive modes. They also include Normal, Eco, Sport, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Deep Snow/Sand, and Mud/Rut. Other more sophisticated electronic aids are currently the victims of the supply-chain woes that are troubling many carmakers.
A significant change for the 2023 model year is the availability of Ford's veteran 5.0-liter V8 in the Tremor. While there is a great deal to like about the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine that was the original motor specified in the F-150 Tremor, there is also much one can say for the availability of the normally aspirated 5.0-liter as an off-road power plant. One advantage is its relative simplicity versus the twin-turbo V6. Even including the complexity of automatic engine stop/start functionality, the V8 will likely be easier to fix on the trail than the V6. Further, the V8 is time-proven for its toughness.
The specifications show that the twin-turbo V6 and the normally aspirated V8 offer 400 horsepower. The turbo motor does have an advantage in peak torque—500 foot-pounds to 410 foot-pounds for the V8. And the twin-turbo V6 delivers its torque lower in the rev band.
Regarding fuel economy, the Environmental Protection Agency says the F-150 Tremor with the twin-turbo V6 delivers 18 mpg combined. In comparison, the V8 gets 17 mpg combined. In everyday driving and on the trail, few will notice a significant difference between the performance of twin-turbo-V6-equipped Tremors and those with the V8.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Inside the 2023 F-150 Tremor, the design changes aid both functionality and looks. The most important of these additions to serious off-roaders is the surround-view camera system that offers perspectives that drivers could otherwise not see from the driver's seat. The system is beneficial when the vehicle must negotiate a narrow trail or crest steep hills. An 8-inch (or 12-inch, depending upon the package) "productivity screen"—part of the Tremor's extensive digital touchscreen displays—complements the camera system. Ford fits all Tremors with its Sync 4 infotainment system—one of the industry's best—and with a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
Overhead, Tremors offer a built-in 6-position auxiliary power switch bank that allows owners to add winches, air compressors, off-road lighting, and other accessories and switch them on and off from the cabin. Ford's optional Pro Power Onboard system provides 2.0 kilowatts of auxiliary electric power via an outlet in the bed to power tools at the job site or equipment at the campsite.
All Tremor models offer buyers unique, branded seats. In Tremors with the High package, as was the test vehicle, Ford covers the seats in leather and adds a second color through the perforations. Heated and ventilated, they are handsome and comfortable, power-adjusting 10 ways. The High package also includes a power-sliding rear window, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor sports both functional and aesthetic design changes. You might describe the headlight system as both. The LED projector headlights give the Tremor a unique "light signature" and point in the same direction as the front wheels. They dim and resume high-beam operation automatically. All Tremors also feature zone lighting and a cargo lamp integrated into the center high-mounted stop light (CHMSL).
With its "active orange" accents, the substantial grille is unique to the Tremor, as is the vehicle's "power bump" hood. All Tremors include "active orange" tow hooks front and rear. The tailgate is power-locking and has a remote release. The side mirrors offer auxiliary lights, and they are heated and power-adjust. The unique Tremor-style step bars aid entry into and exit from the high-profile pickup.
So that the outside world can immediately grasp that you are driving a special off-road vehicle, Ford designers scattered Tremor logos and name badges tastefully across the vehicle's exterior. Most use "active orange" as their secondary color, with black or dark gray more prominent. While less obvious, skid plates for the fuel tank, transfer case, and front differential protect vital systems from rocks and debris.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor is an all-terrain vehicle with serious off-road capabilities, exceptional power, and an impressive set of electronic technologies. The torque from its two available powertrains will get the job done on the road, on the trail, and in places without any trails. While one should applaud the high tech of the twin-turbo engine, we can also celebrate the decision to offer the venerable 5.0-liter Ford V8 in the Tremor.
In hundreds of miles of use, I found the powertrain flexible, smooth, and potent. While drivetrains using internal-combustion engines transmitting power through a geared transmission will never be as smooth as electric power, the shifts in the F-150 Tremor with the V8 are almost imperceptible. Additionally, the fuel-saving stop/start system never proved the least bit annoying. Like a good baseball umpire, it simply remained invisible.
While it is tempting to tout the F-150 Tremor for its off-road capabilities—and they are many—one must remember that most off-road vehicles spend the bulk of their time on pavement. One surprise is how well the Tremor performs in that mode. Around town, its substantial mass is its only impediment. It maneuvers easily, accelerates and brakes smoothly, and even proves relatively easy to park thanks to its 360-degree and rear backup camera systems.
On the highway, the F-150 Tremor makes the most of its crew cab configuration with a roomy interior, exceptional rear-seat legroom, and the handiness of storage under the fold-up rear seat cushion. It tracks well on the highway and proved precise in narrow California high-occupancy-vehicle lanes and through twisty mountain passes.
All of this emphasizes the fact that the 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor is a superior multi-use truck. It will perform well as any everyday personal use vehicle. It will suit the needs of many in the trades. And it offers excellent off-road capabilities. This multi-use excellence comes at a cost. But you can easily justify the cost as the Tremor pickup is three vehicles in one.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack is currently the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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