The truck that built Ford's empire now costs what a luxury sedan did five years ago, and that's the whole story in one sentence. Well-equipped F-150s run $60k, $80k, double the inflation-adjusted price of a decade ago, while dealer markups on desirable trims push buyers toward used lots. The product itself hasn't failed, the 5.0L V8 still runs to 300k miles, the PowerBoost hybrid doubles as a mobile generator, and the aluminum body laughs at rust, but Ford chased luxury margins and left its core buyers behind. If you find a fair deal or buy used, you're getting the most capable half-ton on the market. If you're stretching to afford a new XLT at $55k, ask yourself if a three-year-old Silverado at $38k makes more sense. The F-150 is still the truck to beat; it's just not the truck most people can afford to buy.
The Canyon splits the difference between compact maneuverability and real truck capability, but its transmission has been a recurring weak point across two generations. The 2015-2022 models earned a reputation for torque converter failures and valve body replacements between 50k-90k miles, expensive fixes that owners either absorbed or fled from. The redesigned 2023+ trucks look sharp and tow well, but early buyers report a new crop of frustrations: infotainment glitches, electronic gremlins, and a transmission that still hunts for gears at city speeds. If you need midsize dimensions and can tolerate some quirks, it's comfortable and capable. If you want a truck that disappears into the background and just works, spend the extra money on a Tacoma.