Ford Tops Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Honors With 3 Trucks, 1 SUV

This is when various organizations come out with the “Best of the Year” or “The Best Model of the Year.” For many buyers, when an organization with a long history in the car business comes out with its list of “best” vehicles, it is a way for them to find the right vehicle.

Buyer Looking For Truck, SUV

Suppose a potential buyer is wavering between an SUV or a pickup. If an organization comes out with its “best” list and recommends a pickup over an SUV for many reasons, then the potential buyer has a list of reasons to look at in helping to decide on a pickup or an SUV.

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Recently, the Blue Oval earned four Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards. This number of awards is more than any other automaker. It covers Ford’s lineup of gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles. The awards come after extensive tests by experts looking at nearly every new and redesigned vehicle in the United States.

KBB Is A Longtime Industry Standard

The Kelley Blue Book has long been a leading industry buying guide. Indeed, many automotive professionals turn to the Kelley Blue Book when they are appraising vehicles. Many buyers turn to the Kelley Blue Book to search for new vehicles. This year, top honors from Kelley Blue Book (KBB) go to the following Ford models: 

• Best Compact Truck, 2024 Ford Maverick 
• Best Full-Size Truck, 2024 Ford F-150 
• Best Electric Truck, 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning 
• Best Full-Size SUV, 2024 Ford Expedition

Kelley Blue Book writes that the Ford F-150 – available in gas and hybrid models and the electric F-150 Lightning – “continues to exceed buyers’ expectations.” It’s the 10th straight year the F-150 has earned Best Full-Size Truck Buy.  

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KBB.com also notes that Maverick, available in gas and hybrid models, “provides light-duty pickup goodness in an attractive package with multiple personalities.” That Expedition “boasts … things you would not expect from a full-size SUV,” and that F-150 Lightning “takes convenience to new heights by providing in-bed [Pro Power Onboard], allowing you to cook on the go with a powered-up crockpot en route to your in-laws.” 

Basis Of KBB Awards

The annual Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards are based on the analysis of vehicle-related data that includes pricing, consumer reviews, and ratings, the five-year cost-to-own information – including depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees and taxes for new cars –  plus consumer reviews and ratings and vehicle sales information. 

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.