FX4 vs Lariat: Off-Road Package vs Trim on the Ford F-150
Last updated on October 26th, 2026 at 08:03 pm
FX4 and Lariat are two different kinds of option, so you don’t choose one over the other. Lariat is an F-150 trim built around comfort and driver-assist features. FX4 is an off-road equipment package Ford adds to a 4x4 truck, and a “Lariat FX4” is simply a Lariat 4x4 with that package ordered on top.
Ford’s 2024, 2025 and 2026 F-150 order guides list FX4 as package 55A on XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum, and as a built-in group (201A) on STX. The XL and any 2WD truck can’t have it.
FX4 vs Lariat side by side
| FX4 | Lariat | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Off-road package (code 55A; STX gets it as group 201A) | Trim level, above XLT and below King Ranch |
| Where you get it | XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum; STX as 201A | SuperCrew only: 4x4 in the 2024 and 2025 guides, 4x2 and 4x4 in the 2026 guide |
| Needs 4x4 | Yes | No in 2026; the 2024 and 2025 guides list only 4x4 |
| What it adds | Electronic-locking rear axle, Hill Descent Control, Rock Crawl mode, off-road front shocks, monotube rear shocks, skid plates | Heated and ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise with lane centering, push-button start, remote start, power-adjustable pedals |
| 4WD system | Unchanged | Two-speed automatic 4WD (4A); XLT uses electronic shift-on-the-fly |
| Ride height and angles | No change in Ford’s package list | No change |
| Tires | Not in the 55A list (an LT265/70R18 all-terrain is a separate option) | 275/60R20 all-terrain on 4x4 |
The two stack. Buying a Lariat gets you the cabin and the tech; adding FX4 gets you the hardware under it.
Comparing them head to head mixes a package with a trim. The useful question is which problem you have: rough ground or a basic cabin.
What the FX4 package adds
The order guides list the same FX4 contents for 2024, 2025 and 2026:
- An electronic-locking rear axle (3.31 with the 5.0L V8 or 3.5L EcoBoost, 3.55 with the 2.7L EcoBoost)
- Hill Descent Control and Rock Crawl mode
- Off-road-tuned front shocks and monotube rear shocks
- Skid plates for the fuel tank, transfer case and front differential
- Tray-style floor liners and the “FX4 Off-Road” bodyside decal
Ford’s owner’s manual describes the electronic locking differential as a device in the rear axle that lets both rear wheels turn at the same speed. It is for off-road use only, not for dry pavement, and it is not available in 2H. If locking differentials are new to you, our diff lock guide explains when one helps.
Hill Descent Control holds a speed you set on a steep downhill. In Ford’s F-150 manual it works between 2 and 20 mph, stays armed but can’t hold a speed from 20 to 40 mph, and turns off above 40 mph. Procedures vary a little by model year, so read the manual for your truck.
| Engine | Locking axle in the FX4 package | Optional locking axle |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | 3.55 | 3.73 |
| 5.0L V8 | 3.31 | 3.73 |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 3.31 | 3.55 |
FX4 is not the only route to a locker. Ford’s Tow/Haul Package also includes an electronic-locking axle: 3.55 with the 3.5L EcoBoost, 3.73 with the 5.0L V8, and standard on the PowerBoost hybrid. The package is not available with the 2.7L.
A locker helps when a rear wheel loses grip on loose or slick ground. It does nothing for clearance or approach angle.
What FX4 does not change
FX4 is not a lift. Ford’s package list contains no spring, ride-height or tire change, and Ford’s 2026 spec sheet gives clearance by body style rather than by package. A Lariat 4x4 already rides on 275/60R20 all-terrain tires, so FX4 does not add a more aggressive tire either.
What changes the numbers is moving up to Tremor or Raptor. The spec sheet lists these figures:
| 4x4 SuperCrew, 5.5-ft box | Tremor | Raptor (35-in tires) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in | 10.7 in | 11.9 in |
| Approach angle | 25.9° | 27.6° | 30.7° |
| Departure angle | 24.9° | 24.1° | 23.5° |
| Ramp breakover angle | 19.8° | 21.1° | 22.3° |
Our approach angle calculator shows whether a given angle clears the ledge in front of you. Tire size is the other lever, and it moves speedometer error too.
So FX4 suits gravel roads, ruts and muddy job sites. For rocks and tall obstacles, the clearance numbers above point to a different truck.
What the Lariat trim adds
Lariat is trim content. Ford’s order guides list heated and ventilated front seats with a 10-way power driver seat and memory, adaptive cruise with lane centering, power-adjustable pedals, remote start and Intelligent Access with push-button start. The 2025 and 2026 guides add a 360-degree camera.
It is also where the 4WD system changes. The spec sheet lists two-speed automatic 4WD for Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum, and shift-on-the-fly for XL, STX and XLT. Ford’s drive guide says the automatic system offers 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L. Our 4A guide covers when to use it, and 4WD vs AWD vs 4A compares the modes.
| Model year | Lariat standard engine | Optional engines | Front seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.0L V8 | 3.5L EcoBoost (needs Tow/Haul Package), 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid | Leather-trimmed, heated and ventilated |
| 2025 | 5.0L V8 | 3.5L EcoBoost, 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid | ActiveX-trimmed, heated and ventilated |
| 2026 | 3.5L EcoBoost | 5.0L V8, 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid | ActiveX-trimmed, heated and ventilated |
Older write-ups, including an earlier version of this page, say the Lariat starts with the 2.7L EcoBoost. In Ford’s 2025 guide the 2.7L is standard on XL, STX and XLT, and the Lariat starts with the 5.0L V8.
The FX4 package doesn’t change any of these engines. It only picks the matching locking axle.
Which should you choose?
Start with where the truck will work, then pick the trim you want inside.
If most of your miles are pavement, rain and snow, a standard 4x4 does the work. Add FX4 when gravel, sand or mud are regular parts of the week.
Choose Lariat for the seats, the driver-assist features and 4A. The two choices don’t compete, and the checker below applies them to your year and trim.
F-150 FX4 and Lariat checker
Based on Ford's 2024, 2025 and 2026 F-150 order guides and the 2026 spec sheet (links above). Ford can change equipment during a model year and trucks from other years differ, so confirm on the window sticker.
The checker flags the combinations Ford does not offer, such as FX4 on a 2WD truck or an XL.
If it says FX4 is not enough, compare Tremor and Raptor on the numbers in the table above before you order.
FAQs
No. FX4 is an off-road package (55A) offered on 4x4 XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trucks, and a built-in group (201A) on STX.
No. Ford lists the FX4 package as 4x4 only.
No. Ford’s package list has no ride-height or tire change. It adds a locking rear axle, Hill Descent Control, Rock Crawl mode, off-road shocks and skid plates.
No. Ford’s 2026 spec sheet lists 10.7 inches of ground clearance and a 27.6 degree approach angle for the Tremor, against 9.8 inches and 25.9 degrees for a standard 4x4 SuperCrew.
Yes. Ford lists two-speed automatic 4WD on the Lariat, which gives 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L.
I'm Suryashankar Dasgupta, the founder of Off-Road Handbook. I've been off-roading for years in the USA, including California and Texas, and have ridden mountain and desert terrain abroad. I've also driven a Jeep Compass for more than seven years, so I know the day-to-day side of Jeep ownership first-hand, from the Uconnect screen to the warning lights. Every guide here is researched from manufacturer owner's manuals, NHTSA recall and service-bulletin records and other trusted sources, checked against them before it is published, and corrected when we find a mistake. You can read how we work in our editorial policy: https://offroadhandbook.com/editorial-policy/
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