2.7 vs 3.5 Ecoboost I Own Both!
12-16-2015, 06:00 PM
#1
Super Ford Man
Thread Starter
2.7 vs 3.5 Ecoboost I Own Both!
Ton of discussion regarding the 2.7 vs 3.5 Ecoboost. I currently own both engines in 2015 trucks. The 3.5 is a King Ranch S-Crew FX4 (brand new as of this month) the 2.7 is an XLT S-Crew 4x2. They both have the 3.55 axle ratios. Same auto transmissions. The XLT as of this post has about 9,200 miles on it since new in May. It's my work truck. Note that I just traded off a 2011 3.5 Ecoboost with 145,000 miles which was also a 2wd XLT For the record it was never in the shop for anything but tires brakes and one set of plugs.
Aside from the creature comforts of the KR model, these trucks are very similar in size and weight. the KR is slightly heavier, but only by a couple hundred pounds. (or one brother-in-law) I'd like to detail the differences both real and perceived by seat of the pants driving.
Power: Having owned two 3.5L Eco's, I can say they run almost exactly the same. The pedal feel, acceleration, smoothness all identical. The 3.5 has a total power advantage, but it doesn't FEEL that way. The 2.7 is far quicker to spool up boost, thus accelerates briskly even under light load. The engine design simply loves to rev up to the max torque RPM very very quickly. I would bet if anyone drove my two trucks they would think the engines were in reverse order. Anyone who has driven a powerful diesel knows the feeling of well applied torque. the 2.7 does this with ease. The 3.5 gets there, but takes a bit more pushing, and doesn't have the same feel under foot.
Now get up to road speed, say climbing a grade and punch it to pass that semi. the 2.7 gets out early, but the 3.5 will win the race as power comes on slightly later, but more evenly in the upper RPM. Hence why the 3.5 has a bigger tow rating. But the difference is slim and the reality is both engines will accelerate so hard you'll let off the gas long before you pass the truck, as it will send you to the speed limiter very quickly.
If power is important to you, as well as acceleration under normal driving, the 2.7 is by far more fun, and practical. If you tow serious loads, and anything over the 2.7's tow rating is a seriously heavy load, then go for the 3.5
Start Stop. I like it. it gives me a huge fuel savings on my daily work commute over the 3.5. I average a whopping 20.5 mpg in town. thats almost 5 more MPG than the 3.5 in stop and go traffic. The start stop works very well and I don't even notice anymore. If it bothers you, turn it off in the settings on the dash controls. Simple enough. I always forget when a new person rides along and gets startled by the engine dying at red lights.
This isn't available on 3.5's...yet.
Top mileage: The 2.7 kicks some serious mileage butt. I'm no lightfoot. I live in the metro Dallas Texas area. We take speed limits as a mere suggestion. The truck has lots of experience in on-ramps, and 75mph speed limits, which I promptly exceed by the obligatory 5 mph rule. 80 MPH gives me and honest to goodness 23-24 mpg, when I try to behave I can muster 27 mpg at 65. In fact I did so recently on a 350 mile round trip. It's just amazing. The 3.5 is no slouch either, but it can give you much lower figures if you try to push it off the line. you can get 19 in town, or 15 if you drive aggressively. I get 23 on the highway, same as my old truck at the same average speed. However, unlike my older truck which could maintain great mileage at 75 MPH, the new one nose dives in mileage above 65. That could be a penalty of the 4x4 height and gearing. My old truck had a lower ratio.
Finally, I work for a company with a fleet of both Ecos' and v8's Ford makes a superb 5.0 v8, but frankly its not going to give you that turbo boost kick in the pants feeling. On paper and even at the track, the v8 can outrun and out pull an Eco, but test drive em both, and what you feel in real world driving is much different, and you'll love the Ecoboost torque that comes in strong and stays there as long as you need it.
If you live at high elevations the difference is simply a no contest.
Finally, I don't feed my Eco's a daily diet of anything but regular fuel. although I stay away from bargain brands. You will get better power and mileage from higher octane, because boosted engines will spark knock easily. The computer compensates and the result is a bit of power and mileage loss especially in very hot temps. But the difference isn't something noticeable for the most part. Also, don't worry about the guys on the net claiming you must always use higher octane. not true at all. Unless that of course you are running a high octane tune.. but thats self inflicted.
Bottom line? Im happy with both engines. I've logged almost a quarter million miles with my own and my work's ecoboosts, and none have failed me or been anything less than a pleasure to drive. Romantic Big-Block v8? no, sleeper power with unbeatable mileage? Yep! and you simply can't go wrong with either. But I like the 2.7 most thus far.
Aside from the creature comforts of the KR model, these trucks are very similar in size and weight. the KR is slightly heavier, but only by a couple hundred pounds. (or one brother-in-law) I'd like to detail the differences both real and perceived by seat of the pants driving.
Power: Having owned two 3.5L Eco's, I can say they run almost exactly the same. The pedal feel, acceleration, smoothness all identical. The 3.5 has a total power advantage, but it doesn't FEEL that way. The 2.7 is far quicker to spool up boost, thus accelerates briskly even under light load. The engine design simply loves to rev up to the max torque RPM very very quickly. I would bet if anyone drove my two trucks they would think the engines were in reverse order. Anyone who has driven a powerful diesel knows the feeling of well applied torque. the 2.7 does this with ease. The 3.5 gets there, but takes a bit more pushing, and doesn't have the same feel under foot.
Now get up to road speed, say climbing a grade and punch it to pass that semi. the 2.7 gets out early, but the 3.5 will win the race as power comes on slightly later, but more evenly in the upper RPM. Hence why the 3.5 has a bigger tow rating. But the difference is slim and the reality is both engines will accelerate so hard you'll let off the gas long before you pass the truck, as it will send you to the speed limiter very quickly.
If power is important to you, as well as acceleration under normal driving, the 2.7 is by far more fun, and practical. If you tow serious loads, and anything over the 2.7's tow rating is a seriously heavy load, then go for the 3.5
Start Stop. I like it. it gives me a huge fuel savings on my daily work commute over the 3.5. I average a whopping 20.5 mpg in town. thats almost 5 more MPG than the 3.5 in stop and go traffic. The start stop works very well and I don't even notice anymore. If it bothers you, turn it off in the settings on the dash controls. Simple enough. I always forget when a new person rides along and gets startled by the engine dying at red lights.
This isn't available on 3.5's...yet.
Top mileage: The 2.7 kicks some serious mileage butt. I'm no lightfoot. I live in the metro Dallas Texas area. We take speed limits as a mere suggestion. The truck has lots of experience in on-ramps, and 75mph speed limits, which I promptly exceed by the obligatory 5 mph rule. 80 MPH gives me and honest to goodness 23-24 mpg, when I try to behave I can muster 27 mpg at 65. In fact I did so recently on a 350 mile round trip. It's just amazing. The 3.5 is no slouch either, but it can give you much lower figures if you try to push it off the line. you can get 19 in town, or 15 if you drive aggressively. I get 23 on the highway, same as my old truck at the same average speed. However, unlike my older truck which could maintain great mileage at 75 MPH, the new one nose dives in mileage above 65. That could be a penalty of the 4x4 height and gearing. My old truck had a lower ratio.
Finally, I work for a company with a fleet of both Ecos' and v8's Ford makes a superb 5.0 v8, but frankly its not going to give you that turbo boost kick in the pants feeling. On paper and even at the track, the v8 can outrun and out pull an Eco, but test drive em both, and what you feel in real world driving is much different, and you'll love the Ecoboost torque that comes in strong and stays there as long as you need it.
If you live at high elevations the difference is simply a no contest.
Finally, I don't feed my Eco's a daily diet of anything but regular fuel. although I stay away from bargain brands. You will get better power and mileage from higher octane, because boosted engines will spark knock easily. The computer compensates and the result is a bit of power and mileage loss especially in very hot temps. But the difference isn't something noticeable for the most part. Also, don't worry about the guys on the net claiming you must always use higher octane. not true at all. Unless that of course you are running a high octane tune.. but thats self inflicted.
Bottom line? Im happy with both engines. I've logged almost a quarter million miles with my own and my work's ecoboosts, and none have failed me or been anything less than a pleasure to drive. Romantic Big-Block v8? no, sleeper power with unbeatable mileage? Yep! and you simply can't go wrong with either. But I like the 2.7 most thus far.
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12-16-2015, 06:12 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thanks for the real world review, fwayne. I still have about 6 months to make a final decision, but you made it a little easier for me, because I live in Houston, like Dallas, a busy city, and this is the kind of stuff I needed to see. What is your choice of fuel? Valero, Shell, or Chevron? Buccee's? 
12-16-2015, 06:31 PM
#3
I've driven both in exactly identical cabs and the 2.7 with 3.73 gears and 3.5 with 3.55 the 3.5 night and day faster not to mention I ran 8.78 at 79.13 mph in the 1/8 I can't believe how fast the truck is
12-16-2015, 06:41 PM
#4
Thanks for the write up / comparison. My ideal setup would have been the 2.7 on the platinum trim but, unfortunately, if I wanted platinum I had to go 3.5. I'm not unhappy with the 3.5, but based on my driving style (and the comments you made above), I think the 2.7 would be a slightly better fit.
12-16-2015, 07:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
Power: Having owned two 3.5L Eco's, I can say they run almost exactly the same. The pedal feel, acceleration, smoothness all identical. The 3.5 has a total power advantage, but it doesn't FEEL that way. The 2.7 is far quicker to spool up boost, thus accelerates briskly even under light load. The engine design simply loves to rev up to the max torque RPM very very quickly. I would bet if anyone drove my two trucks they would think the engines were in reverse order. Anyone who has driven a powerful diesel knows the feeling of well applied torque. the 2.7 does this with ease. The 3.5 gets there, but takes a bit more pushing, and doesn't have the same feel under foot.
Now get up to road speed, say climbing a grade and punch it to pass that semi. the 2.7 gets out early, but the 3.5 will win the race as power comes on slightly later, but more evenly in the upper RPM. Hence why the 3.5 has a bigger tow rating. But the difference is slim and the reality is both engines will accelerate so hard you'll let off the gas long before you pass the truck, as it will send you to the speed limiter very quickly.
If power is important to you, as well as acceleration under normal driving, the 2.7 is by far more fun, and practical. If you tow serious loads, and anything over the 2.7's tow rating is a seriously heavy load, then go for the 3.5
I agree fwayne. THX for the wright up too.
Now get up to road speed, say climbing a grade and punch it to pass that semi. the 2.7 gets out early, but the 3.5 will win the race as power comes on slightly later, but more evenly in the upper RPM. Hence why the 3.5 has a bigger tow rating. But the difference is slim and the reality is both engines will accelerate so hard you'll let off the gas long before you pass the truck, as it will send you to the speed limiter very quickly.
If power is important to you, as well as acceleration under normal driving, the 2.7 is by far more fun, and practical. If you tow serious loads, and anything over the 2.7's tow rating is a seriously heavy load, then go for the 3.5
I agree fwayne. THX for the wright up too.
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12-16-2015, 07:45 PM
#8
Senior Member
12-16-2015, 08:49 PM
#9
I agree, I remember reading a Motor Trend article where they had mistaken the 2.7 for the 3.5, and thought that was unlikely.
I then test drove the 2.7 and 3.5 back to back and thought the 2.7 actually felt more lively.
My heart was set on the 5.0, but after driving the 2.7, I knew I found my truck.
My last 2 F150s were 4.6 and 5.4 V8s, and my 2.7 is my favorite motor so far.
I then test drove the 2.7 and 3.5 back to back and thought the 2.7 actually felt more lively.
My heart was set on the 5.0, but after driving the 2.7, I knew I found my truck.
My last 2 F150s were 4.6 and 5.4 V8s, and my 2.7 is my favorite motor so far.
12-16-2015, 09:05 PM
#10
2018 XLT FX4
I love my 2.7! I have always been a "spirited" driver, but never owned a sports car, simply because they aren't practical for me. But this truck is the best of both worlds! The power to weight ratio of this thing is unbelievable! I love watching the tach when I mash the skinny pedal and it just flicks right to the red line!