Hi- please forgive the elementary post. I am trying to do some research to surprise my husband with a new 21 f150 and stumbled across this site.
He wants a King ranch and we also like the platinum.

what’s the biggest difference/advantages with the eco boost vs v8? He’s a road warrior driving primarily on the highway. Not towing anything but does load the bed down with mulch, etc.

 

EB's have lots of low rpm torque for relaxed driving, 5.0 has nice linear power especially higher in the power band, and sounds great. FE is comparable, pending driving style.

They are all great, capable engines, just a matter of which matches your driving style.

 

I drive 25 - 30k miles per year. The 3.5 EB has plenty of power and is smooth on the road. I average 18 mpg in town and 21-22 on the road depending on the terrain. I drive in the Rockies a lot.

 

All the more reason I'd be reeeeallll careful about surprising someone with a new truck. To me it's just too much of a personal preference and taste situation to go making a 10+ year commitment on behalf of someone else, even a spouse.

 

Worst drawback to the EB engines is the total lack of anything resembling a manly-truck 'sound'. The Coyote V8 definitely delivers there. The Platinum ups the ante on the 3.5 EB to 400 hp and 500 ft./lbs torque...but still has an anemic sound. Imagine...that much power and sounds more like a vacuum sweeper.

 

My 19 3.5 EB is a monster. I'm going 2.7 for fun on my 21 Lariat.

 

ecoboost- unbeatable low end torque in its class.
- great highway fuel economy
- tows like a beast
5.0- unbeatable sound, will put the biggest smile on your face when you floor it
- peaky powerband, builds power very good and smooth
doesn´t tow as well as the ecoboost because of less torque and peaky torque curve. about the only downfall over the ecoboost besides slightly worse fuel economy

 

5.0 would be my choice. It's marginally more economical than the 3.5. The 5.0 is a solid simple powerplant that has all the power for his needs.
Get the simple 2.0kw output power pack as well.

 

From your description, try and get a 3.31 rear axle ratio with either engine. Youll get better fuel mileage and that rear end is geared towards highway driving. You would still be able to haul and tow, but light stuff like mulch and furniture.

Your options will be

3.31 - More highway
3.55 - Middle ground
3.73 - Better towing and start up torque.

 

Ecoboost... Absolutely.... And I'm a hot rod big block V-8 guy. If you want seat of the pants off the line go, the Ecoboost will give it to you. It'll take a 5.0 a couple hundred yards to get with it. I had the 2016 F150 King Ranch 3.5l Ecoboost and it made numerous trips back and forth between Florida and Michigan with and without a car trailer. I now just grabbed a Platinum Powerboost and I put it in Sport for the first time earlier this week and it actually caught me off guard. It is pretty quick for a truck. If the Ecoboost is good for the Ford GT it's plenty good for the F150.