One thing that everyone has in common is the need to know that someone is listening to what they say. That’s especially true when someone is paying (or willing to pay) their hard-earned money to a company for a product. When I attended the media launch of the first-ever 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum, I learned it was made in response to customers who wanted more luxury features than the Limited model offered. The changes made to the 2025 Mustang Mach-E were led by customer feedback. Now comes news that potential F-150 Lightning buyers who want a more trail-ready model can get the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX.
“Customers have been asking for a rugged F-150 Lightning with more range than the standard range XLT,” says Will Marchand, Ford F-150 Lightning product and consumer marketing manager. Instead of adding the STX to the Lightning lineup (which has five trim levels for 2025), Ford made it a replacement for the XLT. To make the STX stand out from its more road-focused siblings, Ford gave it a new grille with a Grabber Blue horizontal center stripe, a black STX hood decal with blue striping, and coordinating bedside graphics.
New color options include Argon Blue, Marsh Gray, and Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat. If you’re familiar with the F-150 Tremor, you may recognize the STX’s off-road running boards. The black wheels are new to the Lightning and come wrapped in all-terrain rubber. When the path ahead is especially difficult, the standard rear e-locker is there to help the Lightning power through it.
Inside, the cloth seats feature Grabber Blue “Lightning STX” embroidery and stitching. Black vinyl flooring is available for those who intend to take the STX to its natural habitat. A heated steering wheel comes standard. Assuming Ford ports over the 2025 XLT model’s equipment, the STX should also get a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, 360-degree camera, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance, SYNC 4 infotainment with a 12-inch touchscreen, and more.
An extended-range battery pack supplies juice to the STX’s dual electric motors, which should hit Ford’s target of 536 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. Under ideal circumstances, the STX can cover 290 miles on a full charge. If pulling heavy cargo is more important, it’s capable of hauling 2,000-plus pounds of payload and towing a maximum of 10,000 pounds.
How much more does the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX cost over the outgoing XLT? Exactly zero dollars—like its predecessor, it has an MSRP of $63,345. Expect to see the STX in dealerships in early 2026. There’s a good chance you’ll soon spot many on roads and trails because Ford projects that the STX is going to be one of the Lightning’s top-selling trim levels for 2026.
