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.
GM's upscale twin to the Silverado wins on looks, even Ford loyalists admit it's the best-looking truck you can buy, but the engine choice matters more than the badge. The 5.3L V8 is the workhorse: proven across 200k-mile police fleets, boring in the best way. The 3.0L diesel hits 28 mpg when it works, but some batches grenaded early, and the 6.2L left 2020-2022 owners stranded with catastrophic failures. The infotainment skips and mutes itself on 2022+ trucks, a known bug GM has ignored for years. Pricing has crept into luxury territory, lawyers and soccer moms, not the working crowd. Buy a pre-2020 model for proven reliability, or spec a new one with the 5.3L and a strong warranty. Skip the 6.2L on anything 2020-2022, and roll the dice on the diesel only if fuel economy justifies the risk. It'll tow your world and turn heads, as long as you pick the right engine and forgive the screen's morning mood.