2026 Ford F-150 STX: The Trim Most Truck Buyers Should Drive First at Greenway Ford of Raytown

Most people shopping an F-150 start by looking at the top of the lineup and work backward until the price stops hurting. That’s a reasonable approach, and it usually lands them somewhere in the middle.

The STX is often that landing spot. It’s the trim for buyers who’ve figured out they don’t need heated leather and a panoramic roof, but they do want a truck that looks finished and has the technology they’ll actually use.

Here’s what it gives you and where its limits are.

What engine choices does the STX offer?

Three, which is unusual for a trim at this position in the lineup.

The 2.7L is the right answer for most people. Four hundred lb-ft of torque in a truck that returns respectable fuel economy covers commuting, hauling, and towing a mid-size trailer without complaint. Buyers frequently talk themselves into more engine than they need here.

The 5.0L V8 is for people who want a V8. That’s a legitimate reason and we’re not going to talk you out of it. It’s a proven engine with straightforward power delivery and a sound the turbo engines don’t make.

The PowerBoost hybrid produces the most torque in the group and adds Pro Power Onboard, which turns the truck into a generator. If you run tools on a job site or want a power source during an ice storm, that feature alone can justify the choice.

What cab and bed configurations are available?

• SuperCab with a 6.5-foot bed
• SuperCrew with a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed

The SuperCrew with the 5.5-foot bed is the most common configuration in this segment, and for good reason: full rear-seat room for people, and a bed that still handles most of what a homeowner or weekend user needs.

Choose the 6.5-foot bed if you regularly carry lumber, ladders, or long materials. Choose the SuperCab if bed length matters more than rear-seat comfort.

How much can the 2026 F-150 STX tow and haul?

This is where you need to read carefully, because the headline numbers and the STX numbers are different things.

Ford advertises the F-150 lineup with maximum available towing of 13,500 pounds and maximum available payload of 2,440 pounds. Those are lineup-wide figures achieved by specific configurations, not what any given truck does.

For the STX specifically, Ford’s 2026 towing guide shows a maximum payload of 2,225 pounds on a SuperCrew 4×2 with the 5.0L V8, the Tow/Haul Package, and the Max Tow Axle upgrade.

Two things follow from that:

1. The STX can be specced as a serious working truck. It isn’t an appearance package.
2. Higher figures require specific options. The Tow/Haul Package and Max Tow Axle aren’t standard, and without them you’re looking at lower numbers.

If you’re matching this truck to a trailer, bring us the loaded weight and tongue weight and we’ll check them against the specific truck’s door-jamb sticker rather than the brochure maximum.

What features come on the STX?

A 12-inch screen running SYNC 4, Ford app support, BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, selectable drive modes, and a Class IV trailer hitch with smart trailer tow connector on equipped configurations. Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and a lane-keeping system are included.

Color options include Avalanche, Carbonized Gray Metallic, Iconic Silver Metallic, Oxford White, Argon Blue Metallic, Marsh Gray, Agate Black Metallic, and Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.

The point of the STX is that this content arrives without a premium-trim price. You get a modern screen and the driver-assist features you’d actually use, in a truck that still reads as a truck.

STX versus the trims above and below it

The honest guidance: drive the STX first. If it feels like enough, you’ve saved money. If you find yourself wanting specific things it doesn’t have, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying extra for when you move up to an XLT. That’s a better way to shop than starting at the top.

What are the tradeoffs?

• Capability varies a lot by configuration. Two STXs on the same lot can have meaningfully different towing and payload ratings. Spec carefully.
• The best capability numbers need packages. Tow/Haul and Max Tow Axle cost extra.
• If you want upscale materials, the STX isn’t that trim and won’t become it with options.

Who is the STX right for?

• Drivers who need one truck for weekdays and weekends
• Households wanting SuperCrew room without stepping into higher trims
• Occasional towers who want real capability without overbuying
• Buyers who care about how the truck looks and what’s on the screen, but not about leather

If you tow above about 13,000 pounds or need gooseneck capability, you’re looking at a Super Duty instead. If you rarely tow and mostly want a bed for projects, a Maverick does that job for considerably less.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine comes standard in the 2026 Ford F-150 STX? The 2.7L EcoBoost V6, rated at 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 and 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 are available.

Can the 2026 F-150 STX tow a camper or trailer? Yes, though the exact rating depends on configuration. Towing varies by engine, cab, bed, axle ratio, and packages, and higher figures may require the Tow/Haul Package and Max Tow Axle. Check the specific truck’s door-jamb sticker before matching it to a trailer.

What is the payload capacity of the F-150 STX? Ford’s 2026 towing guide shows a maximum STX payload of 2,225 pounds on a SuperCrew 4×2 with the 5.0L engine, Tow/Haul Package, and Max Tow Axle. Other configurations carry less.

Does the 2026 F-150 STX come with a crew cab? Yes. SuperCrew is available with either a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed. SuperCab is offered with a 6.5-foot bed.

Where can I shop for a 2026 F-150 STX near Kansas City? Greenway Ford at 9505 E 350 Hwy in Raytown, MO, in the eastern Kansas City metro. Browse our F-150 inventory or contact us at 816-482-3921.

Come Spec One With Us

Configuration matters more on an F-150 than on almost anything else we sell. Engine, cab, bed, axle ratio, and packages all move the numbers, and the difference between the right build and the wrong one shows up the first time you hook up a trailer.

Browse our F-150 inventory, check current F-150 offers, or see how the F-150 compares to its competition. If the exact build you want isn’t on the lot, our vehicle finder service can locate or order it.

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