2027 Ford F-150 XLT
By Lorenzo Bianchi September 16, 2026
The 2027 F 150 XLT receives a newly designed grille and new wheel designs as part of Ford's exterior update.
BlueCruise equipped XLT models can use the new BlueCruise with Towing feature on compatible divided highways.
A new 3.0 liter EcoBoost V6 replaces the 2.7 liter as the standard F 150 engine and provides roughly 10 to 11 percent more torque in everyday driving.
The 2027 Ford F 150 XLT gets a focused round of updates as Ford revises its core pickup range for the new model year. There is a different face, new wheels, an updated engine lineup and, perhaps more importantly for owners who regularly pull a trailer, BlueCruise can now operate while towing.
Ford has not changed the basic role of the F-150 XLT. It remains one of the mainstream F 150 configurations, sitting between the work-oriented end of the range and the more heavily equipped upper trims.
New Grille Gives the XLT a Different Face
The most obvious visual change is up front. F-150 XLT receives its own newly designed grille for 2027, alongside separate treatments for Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. Ford says the redesign responds to customers asking for a modern interpretation of the F 150's familiar appearance.
Ford also provides no revised dimensions, suggesting the changes are concentrated on exterior detailing rather than altering the truck's fundamental proportions.
BlueCruise Can Now Work With a Trailer
For an F-150 XLT used regularly for towing, the technology update is more significant. BlueCruise with Towing allows hands free, eyes on highway driving while pulling a boat, camper or other trailer.
Ford says the system operates across more than 130,000 miles of pre-qualified divided highways known as Blue Zones. It will be available on every BlueCruise-equipped 2027 F 150, including F-150 XLT. Owners with an active BlueCruise subscription do not pay an additional charge specifically for the towing functionality.
Development involved thousands of miles of U.S. road testing as well as simulator work covering different trailer combinations and conditions.
3.0 Liter EcoBoost Becomes the Base Engine
A new 3.0 liter EcoBoost V6 replaces the previous 2.7 liter EcoBoost as the standard engine across the F 150 lineup. The two share their core architecture and the same peak capability, but Ford says the 3.0 reaches its pulling power sooner and produces roughly 10 to 11 percent more torque in the range used during normal driving.
The wider powertrain family includes a 5.0 liter V8 with 400 hp and 410 lb ft, a 3.5 liter EcoBoost with 500 lb ft and up to 13,500 pounds of towing, and the 3.5 liter PowerBoost Hybrid producing 570 lb ft.
The F-150 XLT also serves as the basis for the new 4x4 Crew Cab F 150 Carhartt Edition, giving Ford another derivative within the broader 2027 lineup.