Anytime there's a redesigned Ford F-150, it's kind of a big deal. After all, the F-150 has dominated vehicle sales in the United States for decades. So here we are with the redesigned 2021 F-150. There's no revolutionary shift in construction this year, unlike in 2015 when Ford debuted aluminum body panels on the F-150. Instead, Ford has focused on enhancing the truck's capability in other ways. Examples include a new hybrid powertrain, a robust onboard generator, and an updated interior with a new infotainment system.
Ford calls that hybrid powertrain PowerBoost. It consists of the optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 paired to a hybrid system to produce an impressive combination of strong power and high fuel economy. Also new for the 2021 F-150 is the Pro Power Onboard system. It's an onboard electric generator that allows you to power tools and appliances whether you're stationary or driving. You can pair it to one of the F-150's regular gasoline engines, but it gets really cranking with the hybrid powertrain, where it can generate up to 7,200 watts.
As always, a lot of the F-150's appeal comes from its seemingly endless range of configurations. Whether you're looking for a basic work truck, a fully loaded luxury cruiser or a go-anywhere off-roader, there's a version of the F-150 to meet your needs and budget. It's true that Chevrolet, GMC and Ram have all overhauled their pickups over the last couple of years, offering further refinements and trick new features. But this new F-150 has taken the lead and is our Edmunds Top Rated Truck for 2021. Check out the in-depth evaluation categories of our F-150 Expert Rating to learn more.
We added a 2021 Ford F-150 with the hybrid V6 engine to our long-term road test fleet fresh off naming the best-seller as our Edmunds Top Rated Truck of 2021. The F-150 continues to do traditional truck things well, but we want to play around with Pro Power Onboard and get a better sense of the hybrid fuel economy over 20,000 miles. Check out our experiences with the 2021 F-150 here.
The 2021 Ford F-150 is offered in six primary trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. There are also the off-road-oriented Tremor and Raptor models that exist outside the traditional lineup. There are three cab styles — regular, SuperCab (extended) and SuperCrew (crew cab) — and three bed lengths, depending on cab style. Along with the many trim levels and cab styles, the F-150 offers six available powertrains. All are paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission with either rear- or four-wheel drive except the Raptor, which is 4WD-only.
2021 Ford F-150
2021 Ram 1500
Without a doubt, the F-150's strongest competitor is the Ram 1500. Thanks to its coil-spring rear suspension instead of the more traditional leaf springs that underpin most full-size trucks, the Ram is undoubtedly the most comfortable-riding truck in its class. But with its 2021 redesign, the F-150 adds so much tech, it noses out the Ram in a few key categories. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Ram 1500.
The 2021 Chevy Silverado gets some high-tech features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and adds a multi-configuration tailgate option, which was once exclusive to the GMC Sierra. These changes, along with a diverse engine lineup, help the Silverado stay competitive with the F-150. But the F-150's ultra-modern interior and optional hybrid powertrain give it some significant advantages over the Chevy.
Underneath its slightly altered styling, the GMC Sierra is the same truck as the Chevrolet Silverado. It offers the same lineup of available engines and the same bed and cab configurations. The Sierra does offer a bit more in the way of luxury interior trim and a front-end design that may be more attractive than the Chevy's, but the GMC still doesn't beat out the Ford for versatility and overall appeal.
The Ford F-150 is a full-size light-duty pickup truck, and it has dominated new vehicle sales in the United States for decades. Part of its widespread appeal is its seemingly endless range of configurations. Whether you're looking for a basic work truck, fully loaded luxury cruiser or go-anywhere off-roader, there's a version of the F-150 to meet your needs and budget.
The big news for the 2021 F-150 is the new PowerBoost V6 hybrid powertrain. Essentially, it consists of the optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 paired to a lithium-ion battery pack, a 47-horsepower electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Altogether, the engine and battery pack combine to make 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque — numbers that are only fully surpassed by the Ram 1500 TRX with its supercharged 702-hp V8 engine.
With an available Tremor variant on the smaller Ford Ranger and more burly Super Duty pickups, it was only a matter of time before the full-size F-150 got the same treatment. Think of the Tremor as a more hardcore version of the popular FX4 package — the Tremor takes direct inspiration from modifcations that owners have done to their vehicles.
My first-drive experience was mostly with the hybrid PowerBoost truck. Because of the added weight from the hybrid system (about 560 pounds), the truck feels a bit more substantial. But even with added mass, the F-150 is still easy to drive. The steering is well weighted and body roll is minimal through hard cornering. Power delivery is smooth on long grades and impressive when you mash the throttle. But at low speeds, the transition from electric to gasoline power could be smoother; I certainly noticed the handoff. Otherwise, this truck is a breeze to drive on the highway, in the city, or out on trails.
With the redesign of the 2021 F-150, Ford has added new comfort and convenience features that will be a big benefit to most truck owners. New interior materials give the truck a classier look from a distance and a better feel once you're inside. A new optional front seat design allows you to recline the seat almost all the way flat, making those roadside rest-stop naps much more comfortable.
Ford has redesigned the F-150's interior, but it is more of an evolution of the previous generation's design than it is a complete overhaul. Interior surfaces and materials have notably improved, and on higher-end trims, the look and feel are much more luxurious. Current Ford owners will be familiar with the knobs, buttons and often-used controls, which are all logically located.
The previous base 4.2-inch central display is gone. Now even base F-150s come with an 8-inch touchscreen loaded with the newest version of Ford's infotainment system, dubbed Sync 4. Upper trims receive a new horizontally oriented 12-inch touchscreen with split-screen functionality. It gives you the flexibility to display two systems at once — viewing maps and controlling the music selection, for instance. You can also use it to access the F-150's digital owner's manual, which includes built-in how-to videos on using the truck's many features.
Ford is now the top light-duty pickup truck when it comes to towing and hauling. With the right equipment, the 2021 F-150 is rated to tow as much as 14,000 pounds. The PowerBoost powertrain is just a little lower at a maximum of 12,700 pounds. For comparison, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is capable of towing 13,400 pounds, while the Ram 1500 can tow as much 12,750 pounds.
At the top of the F-150's lineup is the 3.5-liter PowerBoost setup and it produces impressive fuel economy ratings for a light-duty full-size pickup truck. The EPA estimates it will get 24 mpg combined (24 city/24 highway). That outperforms every other gasoline-powered pickup truck in the segment.
Edmunds saysThe F-150 was already one of the best pickup trucks on the market, and its significant list of additions and improvements for 2021 should cement its position near the top for years to come. With all the new features, high-end tech advancements and the optional hybrid powertrain, it's hard to beat.
The Ford F-150 is perhaps the most important vehicle in the U.S. It is far and away the most popular pickup truck on the market, and sales of the F-Series — the collective name for the F-150 and its heavy-duty siblings — have eclipsed those of any other vehicle for decades. That means every new F-150 generation is a monumental occasion, and 2021 is no different. The 2021 Ford F-150 is fully redesigned and it'll feature new powertrains in addition to other enhancements.
Spy shots reveal a camouflaged F-150 that, so far, looks similar to the outgoing model. The interior takes inspiration from the recently redesigned Ford Explorer, including that SUV's affinity for large infotainment screens. The air-conditioning controls take up less real estate than before, which frees up room for a gigantic square touchscreen. As with the current Mustang, a digital instrument panel will be offered as an option to give the F-150's cabin a high-tech feel.
Also on the order guide will be a hybrid powertrain, which would be a real killer app in this traditionally thirsty segment. We know that an all-electric F-150 is coming at some point as well, but it likely won't be available the first year of production of this new generation.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Ford F-150:
The least-expensive 2021 Ford F-150 is the 2021 Ford F-150 XL 4dr SuperCab 6.5 ft. SB (3.3L 6cyl 10A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $33,375.
Other versions include:
