Finding the best vehicles in any class can be challenging. That’s why we turn to experts like Kelley Blue Book, who tests hundreds of models annually, to give us the finest options. The publication’s 2023 Best Buy award winners are a great mix of automakers, models, and value. Surprisingly, only one automaker won four best-in-class awards from KBB for 2023. This year, Ford dominated more than just pickup trucks.

KBB’s best electric truck: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

First, Kelley Blue Book named the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning as the best electric truck. The best electric truck best buy award for 2023 wasn’t difficult to win. We admit this is the least impressive of the four awards Ford took home. Not because the Lightning isn’t great, but because there isn’t much competition yet. We’ve got no EV pickup from Ram, Chevrolet, Toyota, or even Tesla yet. Although it beat out the GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T, they’ve never really been Ford truck competition, especially with their exceptionally high prices.

Best full-size pickup truck: Surprise!

If we were taking bets about one segment Ford would dominate, it would probably be the full-size truck category. Unsurprisingly, the 2023 Ford F-150 won the KBB best buy award for 2023. This is the least surprising out of the automaker’s four best-in-class awards. Not only is it dominant in pricing, towing, hauling, and more, but it’s been the most popular truck in America for so long that we can’t remember another pickup with the title. KBB says it’s perfect because it can be “a basic work truck, an opulent people mover, or something in between.”

The 2023 Ford Maverick won the compact truck best buy 2023

Next, Ford continued its dominance of the KBB best-in-class awards by taking the compact truck best buy award. The 2023 Ford Maverick isn’t new to winning awards. After only a few years of existence, it’s so popular dealers still can’t keep them for more than a week. Additionally, it’s wildly affordable, starting at just over $20,000, and offers a standard hybrid powertrain with the best fuel economy of any pickup truck.

In the future, this award will be much tougher to win. Right now, we consider the Hyundai Santa Cruz the only true Maverick competition. However, we’re rumored to get entry-level offerings from Toyota, Ram, and more soon.

Ford makes more than just great trucks

Although every other KBB best buy award Ford took home for 2023 is a pickup truck, it also one another outside the pickup segments. The publication awarded the 2023 Ford Expedition as the best full-size SUV of the year. Although it doesn’t have a pickup bed, it is quite a coincidence that the best Ford SUV rides on a truck platform. It seems the automaker has nailed down one particular vehicle type really, really well.

KBB says the Expedition is a “comfortable, refined 8-passenger full-size SUV that is ready for work and travel.” The experts also love that it can tow 9,300 pounds and has excellent features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 to make doing so much easier for the driver.

1 automaker, 4 best-in-class awards from KBB 2023

In conclusion, one automaker won four best-in-class awards from KBB for 2023, Ford. As the leader in full-size trucks for years, it’s no surprise the automaker is dominant. The Ford F-150 Lightning is the best electric truck, the F-150 is the best full-size model, the Maverick is the best compact pickup, and the Expedition is the best full-size SUV overall. Each has its strengths, but it’s clear Ford is good at making one particular vehicle type.