Six engines, together with a hybrid powertrain obtainable throughout the six trim strains, present truck buyers a selection for each season, plus two. Outputs don’t actually change, however choices do. Thankfully, a 10-speed automated transmission doesn’t muddle the choices, or gears. 

The 2021 F-150 will get double factors for its wonderful turbo V-6 and clean 10-speed, and one other level for its off-road chops and towing functionality. Some extent will get deducted for the grudging dealing with attribute of any automobile so massive and tall. We decide on a robust 7.  

How briskly is the Ford F-150?

The bottom 3.3-liter V-6 powers the XL and XLT trims with 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. With an everyday cab and brief field, it has a tough and tumble eagerness that makes up for an absence of quickness with a want to please. With the 8-foot field, it could actually tow as much as 8,200 kilos. Payload ranges between 1,765 to 1,985 kilos.

The Lariat’s customary 2.7-liter turbo V-6 appeals to most F-150 consumers with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. It will probably carry as much as 2,480 kilos with the common cab and tow as much as 10,100 kilos in prolonged or crew cabs with four-wheel drive. What V-8? 

A single 5.0-liter V-8 customary on King Ranch and Platinum trims carries over within the F-150 lineup as a result of V-8 and pickup goes collectively like bacon and eggs for some buyers. Output isn’t significantly better than the small turbo V-6 at 400 hp and 410 lb-ft however it could actually tow as much as 13,000 kilos with any cab and any field. Payload maxes out at 3,325 kilos with the common cab with the lengthy field in rear-wheel drive.

Commonplace on solely the highest Restricted trim, the three.5-liter turbo V-6 making 400 hp and 500 lb-ft carries the burden and hauls the heavy load finest general, with a 3,250-pound payload with an everyday cab lengthy field with rear-wheel drive, and a 14,000-pound tow ranking in prolonged and crew cab fashions. Ford calls it finest in school however we’re not going to get into that. Unladen, the turbo V-6 accelerates as shortly as many SUVs however it feels even faster relative to the excessive seating place and large bouncing physique. 

The 250-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 makes 440 lb-ft and has the identical max towing capability because the turbo V-6. Apart from wonderful freeway gas economic system, the diesel engine pales to Ford’s turbo V-6 choices. Consider a gallon of diesel costing a minimum of $.20 extra on common yearly than fuel, and a diesel upcharge of as much as $3,800 extra on F-150 fashions, and the turbodiesel simply doesn’t make a lot sense most often. That upcharge can also be $500 greater than the hybrid improve and the hybrid is far more environment friendly round city and when utilizing the on-board generator. 

The brand new hybrid makes use of the identical 3.5-liter turbo V-6 on Restricted however dietary supplements it with a 47-hp electrical motor powered by a 1.5-kwh lithium-ion battery. The motor is packaged inside the transmission in order to allow electric-only driving at some mild hundreds and speeds of as much as about 10 mph. That briefcase-size battery pack mounts on the body below the ground on the rear of the cab, so cargo room isn’t compromised. Whole output is 430 hp and 570 lb-ft, however the excessive torque ranking doesn’t imply it could actually tow probably the most of any F-150. The hybrid solely comes with the heavier crew cab, so payload maxes out at 2,120 kilos and towing at 12,700 kilos in rear-wheel drive with the 6-foot-6 mattress. 

The hybrid upgrades the two.0-kw onboard generator obtainable with the two.7-liter, V-8 or 3.5-liter to a 2.4-kw generator that comes customary with twin 120-volt retailers within the mattress for an 85-hour run time on a full tank, in response to Ford. Or it might be upgraded on the hybrid to a 7.2-kw generator with 4 120-volt and one 240-volt outlet for as much as 32 hours of run time.   

The hybrid powertrain operates seamlessly and with outstanding quiet, until switched into Sport mode for some simulated engine growl. When not hauling a load, the shifts on the 10-speed are practically unnoticeable. However the system seems confused when stopping laborious or accelerating laborious out of a flip, with a lag that signifies it’s not as ready for abrupt throttle inputs as a V-8. Sport mode diminishes however doesn’t remove the pronounced lag. 

Is the Ford F-150 4WD?

Sure. It comes with rear-wheel drive, or two obtainable four-wheel drive techniques. The mechanical 4WD system on XL and XLT makes use of an digital shift-on-the-fly system that Ford has used for some time within the F-150. However on Lariat and above trims, Ford employs a 2-speed torque-on-demand system that basically acts like a part-time all-wheel drive system shifting torque to the entrance wheels when the system detects slippage. Or the driving force can manually override it by switching the switch case into 4H for driving quicker however with higher traction off-road, or into 4L for optimum traction at low speeds off-road, identical as on the XL and XLT.

With out hauling something, the 2021 F-150 has the acquainted bounciness of pickup vehicles with a strong rear axle and leaf springs. Regardless that the 10-speed shifts seamlessly and the unbiased entrance suspension helps cushion the cabin, the F-150 handles like a truck.

Evaluation continues beneath