2025 Ford F-150 update: New Platinum variant and upgrades

Ford Australia has given its F-150 range a serious refresh, adding a new Platinum variant along with interior and exterior updates across the lineup.

The upgrades bring more luxury and tech without taking away the truck’s impressive towing and payload capabilities — exactly what Aussie caravanners and long-distance travellers are after.

The Ford F-150 has long been a favourite for those after a big, capable truck for long trips and towing. With its 138L fuel tank, smooth V6 engine and excellent visibility, it’s a rig that makes long road trips feel easy. Even on big setups, once it’s on the move it handles well and is more than up to the job of towing a caravan or trailer.

When we last tested the F-150 at Caravan of the Year 2025 (check out our ‘Tow Car of the Year’ comparison here), one of our gripes was that the payload and GCM were a bit limited for heavier setups. The 2025 update keeps the 4500kg maximum braked towing capacity, but Ford has now boosted GCM and payload across the range, giving a bit more flexibility for extra gear or heavier vans.

It’s easy to see why the F-150 is a global favourite, with more than 650,000 sold in the US in 2024. Build quality is premium and it’s quiet, comfortable and packed with tech — and now, with the new Platinum variant and a series of other updates, there’s even more for travellers who want a balance of comfort, practicality and towing capability.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum

The new Ford F-150 Platinum

The new Platinum variant sits at the top of the range, taking everything we already like about the F-150 and adding a touch of luxury and practicality. On the outside, it stands out with bold black and smoked metal accents, 20in wheels, Platinum branding, auto power-deployable side steps, a multi-folding hard tonneau cover and suspension with continuously controlled dampers.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in black onyx, with multi-adjustable front seats that include a multi-massage function and fold-flat sleeping mode perfect for taking breaks on long trips.

Updates across the F-150 range

Other improvements across the 2025 lineup include LED exterior lighting, a larger 12in infotainment screen and a digital driver display as standard. All variants continue to use the tried-and-true 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 298kW at 6000rpm and 678Nm at 3100rpm, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The maximum braked towing capacity is still the class-benchmark 4500kg and is available exclusively in 4x4 Crew Cab configuration. The 2025 range also keeps the 136L fuel tank, part-time 4x4 on the XLT variant and full-time 4x4 on the Lariat and Platinum. 

Updated interior, infotainment and driver display on the 2025 F-150 XLT

“We are thrilled to bring the refreshed F-150, including the new Platinum series, to our Australian customers,” said Ambrose Henderson, Ford Australia’s marketing director. “For supreme cross-country touring ability while towing or hauling — the F-150 is without peer.

“The F-150 has a legendary reputation globally, and with these enhancements we are confident it will continue to resonate strongly with those who demand capability, comfort and sophistication.

“We’ve listened to our customers that have been asking for a full-size truck that offers an elevated, more luxurious experience, and the F-150 Platinum does exactly that. Who doesn’t love massage seats on a long road trip?!”

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lariat

Tray sizes and pricing

You still get the choice of Short Wheelbase (145in wheelbase, 5.5in tray) or Long Wheelbase (157in wheelbase, 6.5in tray). The big change this year is price parity. This means that no matter which tray length you go for to suit your towing setup, the price is the same.

Manufacturer’s List Price (MLP):

Exterior colour options:

Prestige Paint is the only option available on the new F-150 XLT and Lariat variants, with a MLP of $750. Prestige paint is a no cost option on the Platinum. 

S = Standard, O = Optional, NCO= No Cost Option

Towing and payload capability

As mentioned, the 2025 F-150 sees GCM and GVM upgrades across the range, which translates to increased payload without affecting the 4500kg braked towing capacity.

Just remember, if you’re towing a heavy van, it’s important to check your real-world payload. For example, towing a 4500kg van with the 2025 F-150 Lariat SWB:

7365kg (GCM) – 4500kg (van) = 2865kg – 2546kg (kerb) = 319kg of payload left.

The 2025 upgrades give slightly more breathing room than last year’s downgraded figures (7270kg GCM for SWB and 7315kg for LWB), but you still need to factor in passengers, gear and any extra load. Always double-check before you hit the road and stay within the legal limits.

For a refresh on caravan weights and what they mean, check out our Caravan Safety 101 guide.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist

The new Pro Access Tailgate

One of the standout additions for 2025 is the innovative Pro Access Tailgate, standard on the Lariat and Platinum. It’s designed to make life easier, especially when your caravan or trailer is hitched up. You can open it three different ways, including a 100-degree swing door that operates with one hand or the key fob — making the F-150 the only pick-up in its class with this feature. The swing gate has built-in resistance to prevent it from hitting the trailer hitch and shortens the reach-in length by up to 48cm, making it easier to load or grab gear from the tray.

The Pro Access Tailgate opens three different ways

New and updated features by variant

Ford Australia has shared the complete 2025 F-150 feature list, with all updates compared to the MY23 models shown in bold.

XLT

Exterior

• LED reflector headlamps and fog lamps
• Black painted coast to coast front grille with black mesh and chrome centre bar
• Distinctive XLT amber indicators 
• New LED taillamp design
• New 20in six-spoke alloy wheel design
• 360-degree camera
• Load box area lighting with push button
• 12V port in load box
• Chrome door handles
• Black/chrome combination side steps
• Chrome exhaust extension
• Tailgate with flexible step and work surface
• Tough Bed™ Spray-in Bedliner
• Underbody protection skid plates (front differential, transfer case and fuel tank)
• Front tow hooks

Interior

• 12in infotainment touchscreen
• 12in driver’s digital instrument cluster
• USB-A port — Centre stack location
• Multiple USB-C ports — Centre stack, inside centre console, rear of centre console
• Cloth trim — Medium Dark Slate
• Mobile Office — Interior work surface

Safety

• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Reverse brake assist
• Parking sensors — Rear
• Post impact braking
• Blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist
• Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

Other

• Small storage compartment in load box (on RHS)
• Auto Stop/Start
• Auto High Beam (headlamp function)

The 2025 F-150 XLT

Lariat (adds to XLT)

Exterior

• New 20in chrome-like alloy wheel design
• Pro Access (swing door) tailgate — with powered conventional tailgate open/close and manual swing door open/close
• Extended length chrome side steps (on SWB only)
• New chrome grille appearance
• LED projector headlamps with dynamic bending and auto levelling
• Mirrors — Heated, power folding and power adjustable
• Mirrors — Courtesy puddle lamps
• Daytime running lamps

Interior

• 14 speakers Bang & Olufsen© Sound system
• Auto climate controlled (heat and cooled) front seats (previously manual)
• Lockable, foldable rear under seat storage
• Console E-shifter — Foldable
• Power sliding rear window
• Power twin panel moonroof
• Ambient lighting
• Memory function — Pedals, mirrors, steering wheel and driver’s seat
• Wireless charging
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Rear heated seats (outboard seats)
• Leather accented seats — Medium Dark Slate

Updated interior in the 2025 F-150 Lariat

Safety

• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and lane centering
• Evasive Steer Assist
• Intersection Assist
• Parking sensors — Front
• Auto rain sensing windscreen wipers

Platinum (adds to Lariat)

Exterior

• Unique Gloss Black surround with Gloss Black accents
• Black Ford badging
• Smoked colour F-150 fender decoration
• Continuously Controlled Dampening (CCD) Suspension
• Body colour mirrors, door handles
• 20in painted gloss black alloy wheels
• Auto power-deployable black side steps
• Multi-folding hard tonneau cover
• 360-degree camera with additional rear cargo view camera
• Smoked colour exhaust tip extension

Auto power-deployable black side steps on the new F-150 Platinum 

Interior

• Black onyx luxury interior trim
• Front driver and passenger plush multi-adjustable power seats (including six-way power lumbar) and memory, with
  • Max recline to nearly full flat position
  • Multi setting massage functionality in seat back and seat bottom
• Platinum branded elements on front scuff plates, steering wheel, front seats and console lid

The 2025 Ford F-150 lineup will continue to be re-manufactured in Victoria by RMA Automotive Australia, with deliveries expected from early 2026.

For more information, head to Ford Australia.

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Watch our 3000km tow test of the Ford F-150 Lariat SWB here: