Just sold a 13 F150 w/5.0, it was great. Currently own a 17 Explorer Sport w/3.5tt EcoBoost, and an 18 F150 w/5.0. Let me say this, that 3.5 is sick, plain awesome. And the new 5.0 is just as bad ass. I have sport mode in both vehicles, and under sport mode and my heavy foot, they both get 17+ beating around mid coast maine. I looked at the 150 with powerstroke. 2 good friends of mine build land rovers for a living (read: very reputable, well known, niche company) and one of their common heart transplants is a 2.3 or 2.5 liter powerstroke engine, that has been used in Ford vehicles overseas for years. They have no problems using it, and all the customers are very happy. When the rover owners want more power, they swap lsx engines into them instead. I was never a Ford guy in the past, but they have come a long way. And lets not forget, they were the only auto maker in the us who did not receive a bailout, and they are also the only of "the big 3" that actually is made in the USA. Cant go wrong with a Ford, and my advice to the OP, get the lariat model, regardless of engine, and you'll always be happy to jump in and drive that baby