XLT versus Lariat

[gmarcucio]

The things I miss on my XLT are the Projector LED headlights, push button start, heated steering wheel, and Homelink.

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[natethegreat42]

Now given I’m only 5 days into driving my 25 XLT, I am actually more ok than I thought I would be with the smaller instrument cluster display. It does the job well enough and has enough room to display the speedo and I can add the tachometer (rpm) on the left side. It does take a little getting used to, but I think it’s fine.
I think over time I will miss push button start, especially with some other similar Ford trim levels starting to get it as standard now, there is something satisfying about turning a key.

Others have said it before but the cloth seats in the XLT are surprisingly comfortable! I drove it 2 hours home the first day and I didn’t have any issues. Now I am curious what I will think when I take a 4 hour trip later this year, but I think they are just fine. The sound system I also just didn’t think was worth the upgrade as the OEM one sounds fine to me. It would be nice to have a center channel though, had that in my old car.

Now this is all given that I priced out what a XLT is with all the options I wanted vs a Lariat and found it to be around 5000 to 6000 difference (I have a 2.7 in mine) and I just didn’t see the point to upgrade as there weren’t any features that I would want to pay that much for.

 

[CobraboyHB]

I chose the Lariat as I could really tell the difference in several things. The sound system for sure, also I do like getting spoiled with heated steering wheel..and to me there is a big difference in the seats. Sure, not really top grade leather but they are definitely wider and feel more stable in the bolsters, at least to my 73 year old butt. Not a game changer, but the larger rims also look good.
This will probably be my last truck, so wanted to go out in style...hopefully not for a long time yet!

 

[RonM_TX]

I chose the Lariat as I could really tell the difference in several things. The sound system for sure, also I do like getting spoiled with heated steering wheel..and to me there is a big difference in the seats. Sure, not really top grade leather but they are definitely wider and feel more stable in the bolsters, at least to my 73 year old butt. Not a game changer, but the larger rims also look good.
This will probably be my last truck, so wanted to go out in style...hopefully not for a long time yet!

I hear you brother. Being a young 69 I expect this Ranger to last vehicle. I was sold on the Lariat with the 2.7 until it came to price. Dealerships were marking up the 2.7 5k to 10 k. With the non-negotiable markup it made the price prohibitive. I bought a Raptor for less than the dealer inflated Lariat. Sad because I fell in love with the Lariat. Perfect combination of comfort, power and luxury. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[purdyd]

Is there just a simple spare key for the Xlt?

surf and I am used to taking my key with me.

a remote fob won’t survive in the water

and I store a spare key on the body

although the keypad seems like a good way to go also

 

[Gplassm]

Is there just a simple spare key for the Xlt?

surf and I am used to taking my key with me.

a remote fob won’t survive in the water

and I store a spare key on the body

although the keypad seems like a good way to go also

That is a great question! Most other vehicles that I have bought came with a valet key - but not my new XLT…

 

[1996-to-2025]

There are four things that the Lariat has that I wish were available on the XLT.: 12" digital instrument cluster, push button start, memory seats and heated steering wheel. The first two are big, the last two not as important. On the other hand, there are several things the Lariat has that I did not like: leather seats (prefer cloth), 18 inch wheels (17 better for off-road and lariat wheels are ugly IMO), lower payload (more options, more weight). I could not get past the wheels and leather to consider the Lariat. Not to mention the extra cost, just not worth it for my use.

 

[Afsigma21]

There are four things that the Lariat has that I wish were available on the XLT.: 12" digital instrument cluster, push button start, memory seats and heated steering wheel. The first two are big, the last two not as important. On the other hand, there are several things the Lariat has that I did not like: leather seats (prefer cloth), 18 inch wheels (17 better for off-road and lariat wheels are ugly IMO), lower payload (more options, more weight). I could not get past the wheels and leather to consider the Lariat.

WTS (Want to Sell)
Full set of Lariat wheels/Tires/TPMS all included with only 8k miles on them...

I replaced wheels and tires like first thing!

 

[CoryB]

Is there just a simple spare key for the Xlt?

surf and I am used to taking my key with me.

a remote fob won’t survive in the water

and I store a spare key on the body

although the keypad seems like a good way to go also

There isn't a valet key, at least not that I've found. One option though is to get a spare key cut but not programmed. Lock the programmed key inside and carry the spare just to unlock the door.

 

[LeeHo]

WE buy these damn things and load them up with what we like and what we can afford. But when the price of an XLT + Extras gets close to a Lariat - buy the Lariat. I'm not a fortune teller and don't know what the future holds but at some point were gonna get rid of the damn thing and the Lariat badge alone will increase the sale/trade in value over the XLT. Bluebook, Redbook, Carvana - all buyers look at is the accident record, mileage, condition of the tin and the badge.

 

[natethegreat42]

Yeah, the price of a loaded XLT is close to the base of a lariat, until you add more options. All in all I found the comparable lariat to be 5000 to 6000 more than my XLT. Personally, I couldn’t justify that - to each their own though, as I plan on keeping my truck for hopefully a long time.

 

[purdyd]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Good to get some opinions on this.

 

[emcmtony]

The leather and upgrade seats are a huge upgrade for me. I hate the Ford cloth seats. I had them on my F-150 and regretted it every single day. I also hate using a key, I just don’t understand what a ford was thinking here. The larger display is also so much better not to mention the sound system. When I read these posts, they just smack of people who wish they had gone with the lariat but are trying to console themselves. There are simply too many benefits of the Lariat over the XLT. Even the shifter in the 2024 is a better option. The price is worth it.

 

[gtyates]

I went Lariat. I like the leather, the heated steering wheel, the larger audio, etc. screen, and the adaptive headlights. Also, the memory seats are a a plus since I am 6 foot tall and my wife is only 5 foot tall. lol! I have put just over 1k miles on my '24 Lariat in less than a month and, so far, no regrets. The adaptive headlights take a little getting used to, but I really like how they track in curves.

 

[Truckin]

I’m old and 1st few cars had manual roll up windows. I lived.
40 years later and having almost self driving trucks and decent headlights it’s hard to go backwards
I did try to cheap out with this lariat thinking I could build my own ( almost)raptor. I didn’t know they had a gen change and about no parts.
Had I did more research would have bought a raptor

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