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News this week has focused on the announcement that Ford is cutting the 2024 F-150 Lightning production plans by half reportedly due to “…an industrywide pullback in EV investment due to slower-than-expected sales growth,” stated in a story from yesterday’s edition of Automotive News.
Why Has This Happened?
Following the announcement, several automotive online venues discussed why this happened with some questioning whether a big part of it is due to that American car and truck buyers just are not ready for making the switch to EVs? That the push by the government and marketing for an all-EV U.S. was too fast and hard, causing automakers to jump on a bandwagon not wanting to be left behind its competition. And thereby, make bad decisions---like with the Ford F150 Lighting.
There’s some reasonable merit to these questions, speculations, and arguments.
However, if you read the comments made by followers of these online discussions about Ford’s announcement, what appears to be a closer to the truth is the shared view that the pullback is really about the ridiculously over-pricing of the Ford Lightning by both Ford and the dealerships that are best described by one word: GREEDY.
In an earlier article about how Ford dealerships are making enemies of their customers, I wrote that, “…the F-150 has become a “luxury vehicle” based on markups of up to 30% over the MSRP. Not only has the F-150 morphed more-so on the owner convenience and luxury side and less on the workhorse side of what makes an F-150 an F-150, the sticker shock of paying between $70,000 and $80,000 this past year qualifies it as a luxury vehicle and is not recommended by Consumer Reports.”
More-so does this appear to be true with the F-150’s EV equivalent model.
Why Ford Should Fear Consumer Reports
Overall, Consumer Reports ratings of the Ford Lightning have not been bad:
- The 2024 Lighting has a Consumer Reports Overall Score of 69/100 (besting the 2024 Rivian R1T with its Overall Score of 58)
- A road test score of 81/100
- A predicted reliability of 39/100
- A predicted customer satisfaction of 3/5
All for the MSRP of $49,995―$89,995 depending on the trim…and the dealership.
However, rather than ratings, it is the shopping options CR analysts also provide that should have Ford’s CEO worried. In other words, the recommended makes and models car shoppers can turn to when they are so turned off by Ford’s ICE and EV overly inflated new vehicle pricing.
Best Used Cars, SUVs, and Trucks for $15,000 to $20,000
The point to be made here is that this should be a lesson to be learned and feared by Ford in a recent Consumer Reports “Best Used Cars and SUVs for $15,000 to $20,000” that not surprisingly leaves Ford out, and two Toyota models in, that are just as popular as the F-150.
For consumers the lesson is this: From following the online comments about the problems Ford is having right now, the truth of the matter is that it impacts us more than it does Ford executives. It’s just the way of the world. However, it does not have to be that way.
As several commenters have basically stated, “If we stop buying over-priced trucks, only then can we expect to see prices become more reasonable and affordable for the public.”
That said, here is a summary of what Consumer Reports recently recommends for shoppers who are looking to pay one-fifth as much for a used car, SUV, or truck rather than go into serious automotive debt.
BEST USED CARS FROM $15K to $20K
SMALL CARS
Honda Fit 2020
Price Range: $16,575 - $19,625
Owner Reported MPG: 34 mpg
Mazda 3 2021
Price Range: $16,225 - $25,950
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
Toyota Corolla 2017
Price Range: $12,150 - $14,425
Owner Reported MPG: 32 mpg
Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2021
Price Range: $16,150 - $21,575
Owner Reported MPG: 53 mpg
Toyota Prius 2018
Price Range: $15,275 - $18,900
Owner Reported MPG: 52 mpg
Toyota Prius Prime 2017
Price Range: $15,525 - $18,600
Owner Reported MPG: 80 mpg
Toyota Prius V 2016
Price Range: $14,350
Owner Reported MPG: 42 mpg
MIDSIZED AND LARGE CARS
Honda Accord 2017
Price Range: $14,225 - $18,600
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
Toyota Avalon 2017
Price Range: $16,325 - $19,400
Owner Reported MPG: 24 mpg
Toyota Avalon 2016
Price Range: $14,400 - $17,600
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
Toyota Camry 2017
Price Range: $14,325 - $18,225
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
LUXURY CARS
Acura TLX 2016
Price Range: $14,550 - $17,675
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
Lexus ES 2015
Price Range: $15,225 - $15,875
Owner Reported MPG: 24 mpg
Lexus GS 2015
Price Range: $17,275 - $21,700
Owner Reported MPG: 21 mpg
SPORTS CARS AND CONVERTIBLES
Mazda MX-5 Miata 2016
Price Range: $14,100 - $16,850
Owner Reported MPG: 34 mpg
WAGONS AND MINIVANS
Toyota Sienna 2016
Price Range: $14,375 - $21,575
Owner Reported MPG: 21 mpg
SMALL SUVS
Acura RDX 2016
Price Range: $14,900 - $17,625
Owner Reported MPG: 23 mpg
Buick Envision 2017
Price Range: $13,150 - $16,800
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
Honda CR-V 2016
Price Range: $13,850 - $18,000
Owner Reported MPG: 27 mpg
Honda HR-V 2017
Price Range: $13,175 - $16,525
Owner Reported MPG: 29 mpg
Kia Sportage 2020
Price Range: $16,850 - $22,725
Owner Reported MPG: 24 mpg
Lexus NX 2015
Price Range: $17,125 - $19,525
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
Toyota RAV4 2016
Price Range: $14,825 - $17,850
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
MIDSIZED SUVS
Lexus RX 2014
Price Range: $15,425 - $17,175
Owner Reported MPG: 20 mpg
Mazda CX-9 2018
Price Range: $15,675 - $21,675
Owner Reported MPG: 23 mpg
Toyota Highlander 2014
Price Range: $14,450 - $18,650
Owner Reported MPG: 21 mpg
PICKUP TRUCKS
Toyota Tacoma 2015
Price Range: $15,575 - $23,075
Owner Reported MPG: 20 mpg
Toyota Tundra 2014
Price Range: $14,225 - $25,100
Owner Reported MPG: 15 mpg
For a more detailed breakdown of recommended and not-recommended vehicles for 2024, be sure to visit the Consumer Reports website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.
For additional articles related to recent new and used car recommendations from Consumer Reports, here are three for your consideration:
- 10 Most Reliable 2024 Car Models and What They Will Cost You
- Consumer Reports Best Used SUVs, Sedans, Small Cars, and Trucks Guide for Shoppers
- Consumer Reports Recommends These 10 Cheap Cars
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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