Last year, you could choose from several full-size trucks trucks for less than $30k. But with the increase in the manufacturing price, all automakers had to increase their MSRPs. Ford eliminated its last sub-$30k full-size truck by adding more than $3k to its sticker price. However, the 2023 F-150 XL is still the cheapest modern half-ton you can buy.
How much was a 2022 Ford F-150 XL?
In early 2022, Ford announced the MSRP of its F-150 XL at $29,990. This was before destination fees and other surcharges. By the end of the year, Ford had raised the MSRP to $31,520.
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Truck manufacturers have held on to the $30k MSRP for years. Here’s an illustration: For 2000, the F-150’s MSRP was nearly $20,000. But the same year, the Big Mac cost $2.39. While the price of a burger has more than doubled, the entry-level F-150 has only crept as low as $30k. You could call it the $5 foot-length of the truck world.
How did Ford keep prices so low? Eliminating all possible features. The 2022 Ford F-150 XL had no carpeting or floor mats. It had automatic emergency braking, like all F-150s, but no cruise control. It even had casement windows.
You might be surprised by how much Ford increased the MSRP of the F-150 XL between early 2022 and 2023. But the extra dollars have allowed Ford to bring its entry-level half-ton into the 21st century.
How much does the 2023 Ford F-150 XL cost?
As of this writing, Ford is listing the MSRP for the 2023 F-150 XL at $33,695. The experts in edmunds Figure that with fees, you can expect to pay close to $36,380. This is a dramatic increase from the 2022 MSRP of $29,990.
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Although the XL is the entry-level F-150, Ford has filled version 2023 with technology. It features selectable drive modes, a shift-on-the-fly transfer case, wiper-activated headlights, an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen, cruise control, and last but not least, power windows and door locks.
What setting do you get for the MSRP of this truck? The entry-level F-150 XL comes with a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 that makes 290 horsepower. It has a two-door regular cab and 2WD. Like every F-150, it also comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
How much do full-size pickup trucks cost in 2023?
There isn’t a half ton pickup available for under $30k. At $33,000, the F-150 XL is the cheapest modern truck, though Ram still makes its fourth-generation 1500 as the “Ram Classic” for just over $30,000. Several other automakers have phased out the regular two-door cabs and thus their MSRPs are over $36k.
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Technically, the cheapest half-ton MSRP right now is the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic, at $30,235. This is far from a 2022 truck, though. It’s actually a new-build 2018 Ram 1500 aimed at fleet owners in need of a two-door pickup. Ram has yet to release a 2023 Classic.
Chevrolet’s last truck under $30,000 was its 2021 Silverado 1500 “Work Truck” or WT. Other automakers did away with the regular two-door cab and thus had to drop the $30,000 price tag a long time ago. Here’s how the 2023 pickup truck prices stack up:
| Setting | Manufacturer Advertised MSRP | Edmunds Estimated Total | |
| Ford F-150XL | regular cab (2 doors) | $33,695 | $36,380 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT | regular cab (2 doors) | $35,600 | $37,395 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Pro | regular cab (2 doors) | $37,200 | $38,195 |
| Ram 1500 “Classic” (2022) | regular cab (2 doors) | $30,235 | $31,445 |
| Ram 1500 Dealer | Quad cab (small 4-door) | $37,090 | $38,295 |
| Toyota Tundra SR | Double cab (small 4-door) | $36,965 | $38,000 |
| Nissan Titan S | King Cab (suicide tailgates) | $39,700 | $41,495 |
Read about the cheapest 4-door full-size pickup below, or check out the best $25,000 used trucks in the video below:
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