Autobayng News Team
- The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX is the new entry-level retail version of the electric pickup.
- With a bigger battery and more goodies, it replaces the 2025 XLT.
- Thanks to the higher capacity battery, the STX has more range than the XLT, but the price is unchanged.
This is the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX. While it might not look very different from the F-150 Lightning we’ve come to know for the past three years, it’s a pretty important model. Let me explain.
First off, it replaces the outgoing XLT model for 2026, making it the new entry-level trim for the retail segment. (The fleet-oriented F-150 Lightning Pro is still there, with a lower price tag and fewer goodies.) Photo by: Ford
Ford says the STX is the result of customers’ constant requests for more driving range and comfort features on the entry-level model. And I think the American auto giant delivered in a big way. With the same 123-kilowatt-hour Extended Range battery pack as the Flash fitted as standard, the 2026 F-150 Lightning STX has a targeted EPA-estimated driving range of 290 miles on a full charge–up from the 240 miles of the now-discontinued XLT model, which had a smaller, 98-kWh battery pack.
But that’s not all. Thanks to the higher-capacity battery, the base F-150 Lightning now has more power and torque, too, with a total output of 536 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque delivered by the two electric motors. Power-wise, that’s a healthy increase from the XLT’s 452 hp, but the torque figure is unchanged. More F-150 Lightning Stories Gallery: 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX
The STX also ups the ante when it comes to ruggedness. By default, it comes with a rear e-locking differential, all-terrain wheels, a heated steering wheel and a set of off-road running boards borrowed from the gas-powered F-150 Tremor. There’s a new grille with a blue accent line, STX-specific graphics on the hood and bedside, and Grabber Blue embroidered seats. Meanwhile, the options list includes a black vinyl floor if you’re the kind of person who likes to get dirty.
Three new optional colors are now available, including Argon Blue, Mash Gray and Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, bringing the total number of exterior colors to eight.
All this being said, the best thing about the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX is its price. It starts at $65,540 (including destination), which is exactly the same as the discontinued and shorter-range XLT trim. Ford did a great job packaging the new STX, and it’s expected to become one of the top-selling versions of the F-150 Lightning after it hits dealer lots early next year.
