Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean, but the Lightning XLT is well cheaper than the Lightning Lariat. It's the entry level trim for the non-pro so benefits the Lightning in the comparison.
Agree they should mention the fed credit, but not the state (or they'd be stuck doing every state, or have to stick with CA). But Ford is flirting with the 200K threshold, and the article is aimed at new browsers, so not entirely unfair to leave it out of the calculation (though they should have outlined their reasoning).
Not going to defend the Kia/Honda part as that seemed like an afterthought and waste of time. They should have dumped that and focused a bit more on how a lot of towing and payload will further detriment e-pickup buyers and the cost comparison.
I've always thought that CNET should have stayed in their lane (pun-a-rific!) with electronics, home tech and the like. Maybe infotainment, but don't particularly care for their car coverage.
That's the problem comparing an ICE F150 XLT, a lower-priced trim level with less options, with the F150 Lightning Lariat, a higher-priced trim level with more options. It tilts the cost differential far in favor of the ICE F150. A fair comparison needs to compare the same model with comparable equipment/options to see the cost difference.
When we did the initial comparison between an ICE F150 Lariat with the F150 Lightning Lariat, there was a fairly large difference (maybe $6-9,000). However, when we actually pulled the specification sheet on the F150 Lightning Lariat and then used the Ford website to build a comparably equipped ICE F150 Lariat, the cost comparison was much closer-the F150 Lightning came out $1,000 more. This made it an easy decision.
I agree the article could not address every state incentive, but in NJ the no sales tax is a huge incentive, saving another about $4,500-$5,000 in state sales tax.
But one problem is the overall cost-a well-equipped ICE F150 Lariat comes in close to $70,000. That's a lot of money for a vehicle. As Heaven Univ has posted, if you can get one, a much smaller Ford Maverick Hybrid can be had for around $22,000. It's a basic vehicle with a lot fewer bells and whistles--but for someone who does not drive a lot of miles, they can get by mostly on the battery power with minimal use of gas. If such a vehicle suits a user and they either cannot afford another $50,000, or they don't want to spend that money, it will take a very long time to recoup the $50,000.
But many people are currently buying high end expensive pickup trucks for more than $75,000. The Lariat and Platinum trim levels in the F150 are equipped like luxury SUVs, with leather seats that air heated and ventilated, and some have 16 speaker stereo systems. I don't see the point of a 16 speaker stereo system in a vehicle, but some like such things.
