Ford Super Duty gets a redesign for 2023, while the Escape gets a mid-cycle refresh.
Tremor off-road package for Maverick, Heritage Edition packages for F-150, Bronco and Bronco Sport.
Last year for Ford Edge and Transit Connect, EcoSport gone.
The Ford Motor Company has recently launched its first mass-production electric vehicles, and is working on keeping its lineup of crossovers, SUV and pickup trucks up to date. However, it has decided to stop investing heavily in autonomous vehicles, likely a sign that this technology is more complex than previously imagined.
Like pretty much every other manufacturer, Ford has been struggling with microchip shortages, supplier constraints and production issues, but is still enjoying strong sales in many popular categories. Here’s what to expect from Ford in 2023, with models listed in alphabetical order.
Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco added the 400-horsepower, desert-focused Raptor edition as well as the Everglades edition during the 2022 model year, and for 2023, the Bronco benefits from two more trim levels, the Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition with retro-style white tops and grilles. Also, Azure Gray and Robin’s Egg Blue replace Cyber Orange and Desert Sand paint colours. Available and two-door and four-door configurations, aside from the new Raptor, buyers can choose the standard turbo 2.3L four with 275 horsepower (300 with premium fuel), or move up to the twin-turbo 2.7L V6 with 315 hp (330 with premium). Even a seven-speed manual gearbox is available for hardcore enthusiasts, along with a 10-speed automatic.
Ford Bronco Sport
As with the bigger Bronco, the Ford Bronco Sport also gets new Heritage and Heritage Limited editions for 2023, along with a Black Diamond Off-Road package and a Graphics package. There are five new paint colours, while two of the 2022 model’s hues have been dropped. The seat and outside mirror position memory feature is now standard on more trim levels, and the rearview camera washer has been removed. Powertrain choices include a turbocharged 1.5L inline-three (181 hp) and a turbo 2.0L four (250 hp).
Ford EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport was the brand’s subcompact entry in a hotly contested market, but after being introduced for the 2018 model year, sales never really took off. The little crossover has left the North American market, with no direct replacement planned.
Ford Edge
For the Ford Edge’s final model year in North America, a new interior appearance package is available for the performance-focused ST, and the Titanium trim gets ActiveX synthetic seat upholstery instead of leather. The midsize, two-row Ford Edge is still motivated by a turbocharged 2.0L four with 250 horsepower, while the Edge ST boasts a twin-turbo 2.7L V6 that’s good for 335 hp.
Ford Escape
The popular Ford Escape gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2023, with new interior and exterior styling, a new trim level lineup as well as SYNC 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and Alexa Built-In. The S, SE, SEL and Titanium grades are replaced by Base (U.S. only), Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, ST-Line Elite and Plug-In Hybrid. The base turbo 1.5L inline-three develops 180 hp, while the available turbo 2.0L four produces 250 hp. Fuel economy-minded shoppers can also choose a hybrid system with the 2.5L engine and 192 combined horsepower, or a FWD-only, plug-in hybrid system with a combined output of 210 horsepower.
Ford E-Transit
The fully electric Ford E-Transit arrived in 2022. The rear-wheel-drive delivery van, chassis cab and cutaway variants are equipped with an electric motor developing 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, in addition to a 67 kWh battery pack, good for an estimated driving range of 108 to 126 miles (174 to 203 km), according to the chosen configuration. Changes include the addition of a white noise backup alarm, reverse speed limiter, a right-hand-side door delete and passenger seat delete packages, among other minor equipment reshufflings.
Ford Expedition
The full-size Ford Expedition SUV is scheduled to receive an overhaul for the 2024 model year, so in the meantime, very few changes are in store for 2023. Among them is a one-pedal driving feature for the recently released Timberline variant. Still offered in regular-wheelbase and extended-wheelbase Expedition MAX configurations, the SUV features a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 developing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque—although the Platinum edition gets upgraded to 400 hp, while the Timberline and Stealth Performance Edition variants get 440 horsepower.
Ford Explorer
The midsize three-row Ford Explorer gets no significant changes for 2023. As before, the crossover can be equipped with either a turbo 2.3L four (300 hp), a hybrid 3.3L V6 (318 combined hp) and a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 (365 hp, or 400 hp in the ST). The lineup consists of base, XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, Limited, ST, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels.
Ford F-150
Although the fully electric F-150 Lightning got most of the media attention during the past year, the “regular” Ford F-150 hasn’t been left behind. The 2023 model year brings a new Heritage Edition available on the XLT trim level. It includes one of five two-tone paint jobs, exclusive seat upholstery patterns, an embossed centre console lid and “75 Years” badging—obviously celebrating the F-Series’ anniversary on the market. Also new is the Rattler package on the base XL trim, adding skid plates, hill descent control, off-road shocks, a locking rear differential and all-terrain tires, among other items. However, the big news is the arrival of the F-150 Raptor R, featuring a supercharged 5.2L V8 that develops 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque, which will rival the Ram 1500 TRX. In addition, the Lariat trim level is no longer offered in SuperCab configuration.
Ford F-150 Lightning
The F-150 Lightning is the fully electric variant of Ford’s best-selling pickup. With the standard-range battery, the Lightning will serve up 452 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, while output climbs to 580 hp with the extended-range battery. Driving range varies between 240 and 320 miles or 386 and 515 kilometres for the 2023 model year, with a slight increase for the smaller of the two battery packs. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is now available, while two new paint colours replace three of the hues that were offered during the introductory 2022 model year.
Ford GT
Production of the Ford GT supercar was scheduled to end at the conclusion of the 2022 model year, but the automaker has extended the GT’s life once again. Only 67 units of the 2023 Ford GT Mk IV will be built, destined exclusively for the track, and will be equipped with an 800-horsepower variant of the twin-turbo 3.5L V6 engine. A race-spec transmission, a carbon fibre long-tail body and Multimatic’s Adaptive Spool Valve suspension will also be on deck. The car is priced at $1.7 million US. The first chosen customers will get their cars in the spring of 2023.
Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick entered the market with a bang, and the automaker was unable to meet such strong demand for the little pickup truck. Available with either a 191-horsepower, hybrid 2.5L inline-four with a continuously variable automatic transmission or a 250-hp turbo 2.0L four with an eight-speed auto, the Maverick adds a Black Appearance package and a Tremor off-road package for 2023, while in the U.S., the Lariat trim level with the turbo engine now comes standard with AWD.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang coupe and convertible received minor changes for the rather brief 2023 model year, as the redesigned 2024 model has already been revealed. The EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium and Mach 1 variants soldier on, but the Shelby GT500 won’t be offered in 2023. In addition, the Cyber Orange and Brittany Blue paint colours have been dropped.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Launched for the 2021 model year, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has been selling well so far, and Ford is allegedly ramping up production in 2023. Meanwhile, some Mustang Mach-E trim levels with the extended-range battery benefit from a small range boost. There’s a new Nite Pony blackout appearance package, but the Ice White appearance package introduced last year has been discontinued. The California Route 1 edition gets AWD as standard, while a panoramic fixed glass roof is standard on the GT and GT Performance Edition trims. Lastly, the Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assist system is now standard across all trim levels, and there are two paint colour swaps.
Ford Ranger
Although the next-generation Ford Ranger has been revealed in other markets, North America will get the redesigned pickup for the 2024 model year. In the meantime, there are virtually no changes to the current-gen Ranger for 2023, which is still available in XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels, in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations.
Ford Super Duty
The 2023 Ford Super Duty ushers in a new generation for the heavy-duty pickup truck. A new 6.8L V8 (400 horsepower, 445 pound-feet of torque) replaces the previous 6.2L V8 as the base gas powerplant, while the 7.3L gas V8 (430 hp, 485 lb-ft) and the 6.7L Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8 (475 hp, 1,050 lb-ft) soldier on, and a new high-output variant of the diesel V8 (500 hp, 1,200 lb-ft) has been added as well. The company’s 10-speed automatic transmission is now standard across the board, and all but the base XL trim level includes 4WD. Ford Pro Unfit Integration System, Pro Power Onboard generator, Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch, 360-Degree Trailer Camera System, Tailgate Down Camera and Tailgate Down Reverse Sensing System, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Trailer Navigation are all newly available features to make work and recreation easier. The new Super Duty also adds 5G capability, a class-exclusive feature.
Ford Transit
A whole bunch of small changes are on the docket for the full-size Ford Transit van. First and foremost, a new Trail trim level seeks to attract overlanding fans as a standalone off-road-focused package. It stands out with its black grille and headlight clusters, wheel arch cladding, and a unique front bumper design. It also boasts a wider track and higher ground clearance than conventional Transit variants, in addition to standard AWD. The rest of the lineup gets new paint colours, new alloy wheel designs and several equipment availability changes. The Transit continues to be offered in a plethora of configurations, with RWD or AWD and single or dual rear wheels. A 275-horsepower 3.5L V6 is standard, while the EcoBoost 3.5L V6 delivers 310 horses.
Ford Transit Connect
A next-generation Ford Transit Connect might be in the works, but it won’t be offered in North America. That means the 2023 model year will likely be the last for the current-gen van, available in cargo and passenger variants, the latter offering room for up to seven passengers. Both are equipped with either a 2.0L inline-four producing 162 horsepower or a 2.5L four generating 169 hp.
