if the redesigned 2021 ford f-150 appears acquainted, that’s because it stocks maximum of its dimensions – and certainly its simple shape – with the income champ that preceded it. but, none of its outside panels are interchangeable, giving the f-one hundred fifty a whole new personality that’s less competitive and plenty greater modern-day.
up front, the led headlights and foglights of our xlt tester get a c-clamp–inspired light signature that’s visually bisected by the the front fascia trim. the brand new truck retains a specific stepped beltline, doing wonders for forward visibility and establishing a link to f-150s of old. otherwise, the body aspects are smoother and much less cluttered (shop the cumbersome faux vent at the the front fender).
on our xlt tester, a sport look package deal bundles an attractive dark-end grille with black accents and frame-shade bumpers and door handles. this % consists of 18-inch alloy wheels as widespread, but our truck came with 20s painted the identical darkish gray because the grille. draped over iconic silver bodywork with black “recreation cloth” upholstery, this truck is terminator-sublime – bloodless, steel, technological, and implementing.
the interior’s styling receives a extra comprehensive replace than the outside, thank you in component to a rounder center stack and gauge binnacle – the antique f-150 became much more angular interior. the door panels are new as nicely, with the window switches moved from their old perches atop the windowsill to a more natural decrease vicinity. the f-one hundred fifty’s paddle-fashion indoors door handles remain, even though the cutouts are large, to allow gloved hands to in shape the distance more without difficulty says ford.
the sparkling design is accomplished in elegance-common substances. mid-degree models get flimsy-feeling plastic during, cheapening the indoors a bit too much. that subject additionally applies to the power-stowing middle console shift selector – it folds flat whilst parked to create room for the particular indoors paintings surface console table, but it we could out concerningly plasticky grumbles whilst moving up or down. working inside the xlt game’s choose are state-of-the-art door panel inserts that mimic the historic road map of detroit, michigan, ford’s ancestral home. an american flag motif also seems on either give up of every f-150’s dashboard whilst the door is open.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
like the 2020 model, the 2021 f-150 is available with several engines—a 290-hp 3.three-liter v-6; a 400-hp five.zero-liter v-8; a 325-hp dual-turbocharged 2.7-liter v-6; a four hundred-hp twin-turbocharged three.5-liter v-6; and a 250-hp 3.zero-liter diesel v-6. irrespective of which engine you select, the f-150 comes paired with a 10-pace computerized.
for the first time ever, the f-one hundred fifty is also supplied with a hybrid powertrain. ford claims that the new 400-hp hybrid powertrain—which consists of a 3.5-liter dual-faster v-6, a 35 kw electric motor, and a 10-speed automatic transmission—will offer as much as 700 miles of using variety per tank and can also strength an onboard generator for retaining the strength flowing at activity sites or at some stage in electricity outages.
customers may be able to choose between rear- and 4-wheel force with any of the f-one hundred fifty's available powertrains.
at our check music, a 4-wheel pressure lariat with the hybrid powertrain galloped to 60 mph in a brisk 5.four seconds.
at some stage in our take a look at pressure, we noted a compliant trip and agreeable handling; high-spec models which include the king range include a variable-help guidance system that sharpens responses at low speeds for a extra agile feeling.
the rumored all-electric powered f-a hundred and fifty will possibly be a joint venture with ev upstart rivian, however ford has yet to announce tons about that.
Technology & Connectivity
every f-one hundred fifty comes with an 8.zero-inch touchscreen, ford’s new sync 4 infotainment software program, and widespread apple carplay and android car, but this xlt sport got here with the “high” option percent, ditching the base screen for a massive 12.three-inch show with embedded navigation and wireless cellphone connectivity. in our week with the truck, it robotically linked to carplay seamlessly, however it did now and again glitch and require a restart to work effectively once more. ford isn’t on my own on this – wi-fi carplay often gives us fits.
also blanketed on our tester is a huge, eight.0-inch productivity display screen among two analog gauges, with easy capability that allows the driver to keep tabs on immediate fuel economic system, auxiliary gauges, guidance perspective, off-street pitch and roll angles, audio, and navigation. ford’s steering wheel controls make using the device panel display a bit tough, though. it’s quality to set the display to one feature and leave it there, in preference to toggle thru the menus at the same time as using.
conversely, the large center touchscreen could be very easy to perform on the fly, because of massive on-display buttons and a horizontal design that keeps eyes up. ergonomic analog climate controls show up beneath the display – bodily buttons for the win. ford’s infotainment is extra superior than the ram 1500’s uconnect 12 machine thanks to sync four and its attendant over-the-air software program updates, and its widescreen show looks greater outstanding to this writer’s eyes than the ram’s portrait orientation.
an elective seasoned strength onboard generator runs retailers that seem inside the mattress of the f-a hundred and fifty. our instance fed 2.zero kilowatts to 2 a hundred and twenty-volt outlets, that is sufficient to run a one-individual jobsite or tailgate celebration, but different powertrains offer 2.4 kw or 7.2 kw (the latter getting one 240-volt and 4 a hundred and twenty-volt outlets).
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
ford is providing a bunch of driving force-help functions, but few are standard. extra functions might be available as consumers walk up thru the f-150's six trim degrees, together with a rear-going through digicam for monitoring a trailer at the same time as on the go. for greater information about the f-150's crash-take a look at effects, visit the national dual carriageway visitors protection management (nhtsa) and coverage institute for toll road protection (iihs) web sites. key safety features include:
wellknown automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
to be had lane-departure warning with lane-retaining assist
available adaptive cruise manipulate
Pricing
the 2021 ford f-150 xlt 4x4 begins at a reasonable $forty three,805 in supercrew, five.5-foot mattress shape. but as with any blue oval product, alternatives add up rapidly, ensuing in a gasping price-as-examined of $62,311, a 29-percentage increase. some of the largest wallet-lighteners right here are the $5,730 “excessive” device group, which adds a larger infotainment display with sync four, heated and powered front seats, faraway keyless begin and entry, and other niceties. a $1,495 panoramic moonroof shows up, as does a $1,090 trailer-tow bundle and a $1,195 fee for the 2.7-liter ecoboost. the coordinating game look p.c. is a reasonable $300, but optioning 20-inch wheels demands another $1,395.
ford at the least merits a few credit score with the aid of making most options a la carte as opposed to requiring clients to step into a better trim level. for instance, this xlt sport gives some of the equal features that would be to be had on a king ranch or a platinum (a breathtaking roof, advanced motive force-assist tech, an onboard generator, and a big infotainment show), perfect for customers who need the toys however don’t want leather-based or timber. nonetheless, at greater than $62k, the xlt feels a piece unspecial, especially whilst a ram 1500 confined – prepared with a wellknown v8 and non-obligatory adaptive cruise – is only some grand extra.
with the aid of playing with the web configurator a piece extra judiciously, it’s feasible to build a nicely-ready f-a hundred and fifty xlt 4x4 for approximately $50,000, which feels greater palatable to the common truck family than this steeply-priced, sporty tester. whatever the value, the 2021 f-150’s mission short changed into to combine state-of-the-art era and considerate administrative center answers into the nation’s fine-promoting car own family, and in that vein, it’s an unqualified success.
