Pickup trucks are getting pretty darn expensive. During the post-COVID price hikes, the Ford F-150’s MSRP shot up $8k in just two years. Even the Maverick climbed $8k–which is 40% of its MSRP at launch. Put another way, Ford’s 2025 compact pickup cost 2022 F-150 prices. Anything Ford tries to lower its truck prices is fine by us, including offering a 4WD delete on mid-trim models.

You have always been able to buy barebones F-150 trucks with or without 4WD. On the XL trim, 4WD is a $5,000 option. In 2025, it was mandatory on the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims. So presumably, that $5,000 was baked into the MSRP. Well, not anymore.

As of 2026, Ford is offering a 4×2 (RWD) configuration of the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum F-150s. That’s provided you order the truck with a 5.5-foot bed.

If that means the MSRP of these trims comes down, good-on Ford! Presumably, 4WD will now be a $5,000 option you can check in the configurator. If you live somwhwere where you’ll never activate the feature, why pay extra for your upfront cost and your maintenance?

It’s an intriguing reversal for Ford. Part of the F-150s’s MSRP increase between 2022 and 2025 was due to Ford deleting features such as the base engine and crank-up windows. Perhaps the Blue Oval has realized that certain buyers just want an affordable truck, and don’t want any bells or whistles. Or 4WD.