I currently own a '16 5.0 w 3.73 axles. Would not change anything after a year of ownership.
I have spent significant time with a '14 EB 3.5 and though the low end torque is impressive, it's not THAT much more - for my purposes anyways. My '16 feels faster overall though I know the weight difference plays into it. In a drag race the EB will pull away, but from a practical standpoint, I can't really tell driving one or the other.
In the end I prefer the simplicity of a good "old fashioned" port-injected, V8.
I tend to keep my vehicles almost forever so my decision was weighted also by the simplicity of working on it 10, 15, 20 years down the road.

 

Did someone want to swap trucks? A four-door Mustang for a Raptor? I dunno... that's a tough call.

All *four* engines are great engines (even the naturally-aspirated, fleet 3.5 V6 @ 285 HP) but the EcoBoosts are fantastic! for their sheer, near-instantaneous torque.

The all-aluminum, four-cam, four-valve 302-inch V8 with it's 8-quart baffled sump, windage tray, forged crank, oil-jet-cooled hypereutectic pistons and port fuel injection is a masterpiece... but it's also a sports car engine in a truck and has to be driven a little differently than one drives an EcoBoost. The 5.0 responds crisply when revs are above 2500... but can deliver well over 22 MPG when cruising at 1700 revs in 6th.

If I had to do it again, I'd buy a 4 X 4 instead of 4 X 2 and get another 5.0 V8. It's a very close contest, though, so drive all of them then make your decision.

 

This!

 

If you're in it for the mileage, either get the 2.7L or wait for the 3.0L diesel to come out part way through MY2018. However, given that you're adverse to the risk of extra repair and maintenance, I wouldn't get the diesel. The diesel is guaranteed to cost more to maintain, which, coupled with the cost of the diesel upgrade, makes the payback period on fuel savings nearly infinite.

 

I have a 5.0 coyote so that's what you should get.

 

2.7 if you want the fuel economy..

 

I have the 3.5 Eco with 3.55 gears and I love it. Not the most efficient, I get about 17 city and have seen 24 highway if I stay under 65 MPH on flat land. But I'd bet the 2.7 would be more than enough for what you say you need.

 

Funny you mention punch it at a light. A stock 2.7 is faster of the line than a stock 3.5.

 

2.7!

 

If you get the 2.7L, get the 2.7L payload package. It steps up the axles, frame, and GVWR up to what a 5.0L and 3.5L Ecoboost have. That way you can use the truck, as a truck.

The 2.7L will have about the same power as the 5.0L up to 4000 rpm, but the 5.0L will have more power above 4000 rpm.