Smooth, fast, easy! These are not words typically associated with driving Ford's famous F-150. It's the best-selling pickup truck in America for the past 44 years and even older models are still sought after. However, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is fast, a joy to drive, and loaded with versatility. It's all that and a bag of (micro) chips.

As one of the most anticipated vehicles for 2022, the list to get behind the wheel of the Lightning was long. So when we got the call to head to Miami for a drive, chat with some Ford engineers, and have Key Lime pie, we packed as quickly as possible. It’s such a popular truck, in fact, that Ford only had two on site for a wave of nearly 40 journalists. So we only got a few minutes behind the wheel, but that was enough to know that this is a special truck. With up to 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, a base price of around $40,000 and the ability to tow up to 10,000 lbs, as well as power your house, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning could be the most important electric vehicle since Tesla’s Model S.

The Exterior Looks Just Like A Regular F-150, And That's By Design

One of the most striking design elements of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is how regular it looks. There are design elements like the standard LED head and tail lights, a front and rear light bar, closed-off grill, charging door near the front driver wheel, and the rounded edges of the truck improve aerodynamics. But for all intents and purposes, it’s just another F-150 on the road. That simple design might not sound very interesting, but compared to Tesla’s Cybertruck or the Hummer EV, this is a different approach to appeal. Even the upcoming Chevy Silverado EV looks different than the gas-powered version. Not so with the Lightning. Presumably that’s why it only took Ford about 3.5 years to go from, “I wonder,” to us saying, “We want!” That’s not to say Ford simply swapped an engine for a battery and a couple of motors. Lots of changes happened under the skin, more on all that when we get to performance. But the average person might see the Lightning parked near other trucks at the mall or a construction site and not even notice.

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EV Performance: 60 MPH In About Four Seconds And Tows 10,000 lbs

When talking trucks, the idea of performance not only includes horsepower and torque, but durability and towing strength. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning shines brightly (sorry) in all those categories. Ford also claims they ran the Lightning through all the same rigorous tests they perform on the gas-powered sibling, meaning “Ford Tough.”

In terms of power, the 2022 F-150 Lightning has two motors, one located between the front wheels and one located between the rear wheels. This setup creates a standard 4x4 drivetrain across all trims. The heavy 1,500 lb battery mounted beneath the floorboard along with the dual motors lower the center of gravity. This helps lessen body roll when cornering, making for a smooth ride. That weight, we noticed, is hard to counteract in the rebound of the suspension after going over bumps, so there was some bounce.

The Lightning has a ton of different costs, facts and figures. Ford offers four trims: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. They range in price from around $40,000 up to almost $100,000. Each trim comes with two battery options. The smaller 98-kWh battery will provide 230 miles of range and 452 hp with 775 lb-ft of torque (an insane number) and the larger 131-kWh Extended Range battery ($10,000) boosts range to 320 miles with 580 horsepower and the same 775 lb-ft of torque. For the record, the beloved Ford Raptor has a “mere” 450 hp, so even the base battery brings more punch. Not to be outdone, however, the just announced Raptor R moves the needle to 700hp so that one takes the top spot over the Lightning. According to Ford, that type of electric umph should scoot the Lightning to 60 mph in the mid 4-second range. In our brief time behind the wheel, it certainly felt like that! It's not the fastest EV truck out there, as the Rivian can beat it in a drag race, but it scoots!

Ford made the body from a military-grade aluminum alloy. That sits on a new frame designed to accommodate the 1,500 lb battery and all the wiring for an electric vehicle. This giant powerpack brings the truck to a whopping 6,000-7,000 lbs; that’s heavier than the current F-150. That extra weight could lead to a harsher ride. So to offset this, for the first time in F-150 history, Ford gave the Lightning an independent rear suspension.

In terms of being a worthy off-road vehicle, Ford has added a skid plate underneath to protect the battery and motors. For off-roading, sketchy construction sites, or dropping a boat off into the lake, Ford protected the battery using a waterproof housing with crash-absorption. Anyone who has dropped their phone in a pool or puddle of water knows that water can wreak havoc on a battery powered device… or truck.

For those looking for a truck to tow their toys, the Lightning has some exciting news. With the Extended Range battery pack, the truck can tow about 10,000 lbs, and it can haul in the truck bed around 2,000 lbs. This keep the Lightning right on par with other dependable towers like the GMC Sierra. In case you find yourself at Home Depot loading up on building supplies and unsure about the weight, the in-bed sensors act as a scale displaying the pounds so you don't go over. Another ingenious move by Ford is what they call Intelligent Range. Like all battery-powered devices, the harder it works, the less efficient it is. Think about it this way, Streaming the new season of Stranger Things on your phone all day will have you looking for a charger much quicker than your basic social media browsing or reading articles.

Ford anticipated this range anxiety as it pertains to hauling and towing by utilizing sensors and cloud-based data. If you live the type of life that has you spending the weekends hauling your giant wake board boat from your cabin in the woods to the lake, the Lightning has you covered. Enter the trailer info on 15.5" vertical touch-screen, type in your destination, and the truck will factor in that data with current weather conditions as well as route elevation changes to update your range. Now you can be confident you’ll have some lake time and be back home for your lobster dinner without needing to charge.

Using either the 12" horizontal screen on the Pro and XLT trims or the giant 15.5" vertical screen, the driver can select from four different drive modes, Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. Like most vehicles, adjusting the drive mode changes the characteristics of the vehicle including how much energy it puts back into the battery, particularly on downhill Tow/Haul sessions.

Like all EVs, recharge times vary depending on the charger. If you spring for the Extended Range battery on your 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford throws in their at-home charger called Ford Charge Station Pro, or if you have the standard battery you can buy one for $1,310. With this charger you can get your truck from 15%-100% charge in 10 hours. If you can find a level 3 charger, the Lightning can go from 15%-80% in 44 minutes. If you are in a pinch, that same level 3 charger can get you 41 miles of range in a mere 10 minutes. That's a lot more time than you would spend at the gas pump getting that same range, but that's part of the trade-off with an EV.

RELATED: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid

The Interior Stands Out With An Airy Cabin, Giant Touch Screen, And A Frunk Of Outlets

Like the exterior, the cabin of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning feels just like the gas-powered one. Open the large door and it's easy to step up to the welcoming perforated leather seats. We loved how the tall roof, great visibility and panoramic sunroof made the cabin feel huge. Plenty of headroom and legroom greeted us in the front and backseat.

Without question, one of the first elements we noticed in the Lariat trim we test drove was the giant 15.5" vertical infotainment screen. It felt like a TV from Costco turned sideways and mounted on the dash. We didn't think it felt too big... but it was close. The Pro and XLT models get a much tamer 12" horizontal touch screen. All versions have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Ford's newest SYNC 4 infotainment system. Ford Co-Pilot 360 is standard with helpful features like automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. Upgrade to the higher trims to get adaptive cruise control or Blue Cruise--Ford's semi-autonomous driving feature. The dash clusters are all digital as well on a 12" screen with limited options for customizing. It displays the recharge, battery status, speed, etc., but that's about all.

Another notable feature is Ford's foldable center console table for working. With the push of a button, the drive selector collapses down into the console and the large armrest flips open like a book to double the workspace. This is ideal for a laptop, laying out documents, or parking your lunch bag while you picnic in your truck.

No EV would be complete without the characteristic "frunk" or the front trunk and we love it. This storage space, made popular by Tesla, makes use of what used to house the engine and all the accompanying parts. With the push of a button on the key fob, interior screen, or on the frunk itself, the lid opens to reveal a sizable area of 14 cubic-feet. Ford claims that can fit two golf bags or a few carry on bags one checked one. The everyday consumer will love this storage option because one of the common critiques of trucks is that there isn't secure storage. The adventure/construction worker will love the versatility of being able to drive this giant battery to a site and plug in lots of different equipment pieces, charge batteries, or plug in an appliance. Everyone knows microwaved burritos taste better after framing a house.

RELATED: The 2023 Ford F-150 Heritage Edition Marks 75 Years Of The F-Series Truck

Our Take: The Lightning Strikes On All Levels

Rarely is there a vehicle which garners buzz and lives up to the hype. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning does that. It's smooth, very fast, and has tons of usability. You can even charge your house for three days using the Lightning in case of a power outage! It's set to change the EV landscape in terms of adoption of product, people's comfort, and accessibility to an electric vehicle. I'm a great example of why I think the Lightning will do well. I'm not a truck person. I don't need to tow anything. I have a family of four. Each of those elements would prevent me from buying a pickup, but I would 100% consider buying this. That said, current inflation, chip shortages, etc. are pushing aftermarket prices of the Lightning through the clouds.

And Ford claims with cloud-based AI, over-the-air updates, and user feedback, the Lightning you buy will get better over time. Tesla led the way in this type of ownership and experience and Ford is simply moving it to the next level. Sure there are a few other options, namely Rivian and Chevy's Silverado EV, but my money is on the F-150 Lightning to continue Ford's hold as making the best-selling pickup truck in America.