Used 2021 Ford F150

Winner: 2021 Best Buy Award
Winner: 2021 5-Year Cost to Own Award
#1 in Best Full-Size Pickups for 2021

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for 43 years because it consistently offers capability, value, innovation, and choice. With three cab sizes, three bed lengths, six powertrains, and six trim levels (not including Raptor), the F-150 gives buyers the opportunity to find a combination that suits their needs and their budget. Lately, the Ram 1500’s eTorque mild hybrid system, near-luxury interiors, and huge infotainment screen have wowed the public. The Chevrolet 1500’s impressive variety of models and engines and its outstanding 5-Year Cost to Own data make that truck easy to recommend. Yet the F-150 is still the best equipped for work and leisure, and no other truck matches the Ford when it comes to work solutions tech and convenience and safety features.

For 2021, the Ford F-150 is essentially all-new. Ford updated the styling and redesigned the interior, which now features a new infotainment system and more work and storage solutions. There’s also a new hybrid powertrain option, as well as the availability of an onboard generator, and the company has updated almost every engine in the lineup.

Coming this summer is the 2021 Ford F-150 Tremor, a new model perhaps best described as a work truck that relishes the dirt. Besides a locking rear differential and an available Torsen limited-slip front differential, the new Tremor has upgraded longer-travel suspension that improves the truck’s approach, departure, and breakover angles. Moreover, the new Tremor has a special Rock Crawl driving mode. In this mode, the Tremor’s locking rear diff is engaged, the stability and traction control are switched off, the throttle is made less sensitive, and the view of the available 360-degree camera is displayed on the center screen.

The F-150 Tremor comes one way: as a SuperCrew model with a 5.5-foot box and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. The max tow rating of 10,900 pounds proves the Tremor can work. Other Tremor hardware includes a prominent front skid plate, a unique hood, off-road running boards, and a grille with a blacked-out Ford oval. Capping off the off-road hardware are 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires, enhanced Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist.

There’s also a new F-150 Raptor for 2021. Available only in SuperCrew configuration, the 2021 Raptor has the same 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 as before but a significantly redesigned suspension. The 5-link coil-spring suspension uses longer trailing arms and Fox Live Valve internal-bypass shocks with twice the damping capability of the previous Raptor.  If that’s not enough, the new Raptor also is available with 37-inch wheels and even better shock absorbers.

An aura of sophistication permeates the 2021 Ford F-150’s road manners. The ride is comfortable, excluding a wide pillar over the driver’s left shoulder visibility is good in all directions, and noise from the outside world rarely intrudes on the cabin. We verified that last observation viewing a pair of military jets as they roared low past our test truck. All of that refinement makes driving the all-new F-150 a real pleasure, whether commuting to work or venturing off-road to some distant corner of your ranch.

Among the F-150’s vast engine selection, we sampled the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and Ford’s new PowerBoost hybrid. As with the previous F-150, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost remains a winning choice. Despite its turbocharged design, the 3.5-liter responds promptly to the driver’s right foot. We also enjoyed confident pulling power, even with an 8,000-pound boat saddled to our hitch. Meanwhile, the now-standard 10-speed automatic transmission changes ratios with unassuming competence, though we’d love quicker response times when using the manual gear selector.

Our time with the new F-150 hybrid powertrain was similarly impressive. The PowerBoost hybrid delivers intense thrust, invisible transitions between electric-only and gasoline-powered propulsions, plus pleasantly silent operation at slow speeds. Despite its strengths, we struggled to stop smoothly due to the hybrid F-150’s odd brake feel — a trait found in many electrified vehicles.

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The 2021 Ford F-150’s interior was totally redesigned with upgraded materials and new color combinations. The center stack – where you can find all the navigation, stereo, and climate controls – is all-new. It houses the truck’s standard 8-inch touchscreen, which is twice as big as the previous model’s standard screen. Sync 4, the newest version of Ford’s infotainment system, is standard. A 12-inch touchscreen is also available, which is a landscape (horizontal) layout that still leaves ample room for physical buttons and knobs. You can also get a digital gauge cluster with animations that show what terrain you’re on and the drive mode the truck is in.

An optional Interior Work Surface creates a flat working area over the center console. If your F-150 doesn’t have the column-mounted shifter, you can fold down the console-mounted transmission shifter when you want to use the Work Surface. Then you push a button to stow the Surface in the center console when you’re done. If you need to grab some ZZZs between jobs or just want to feel like you’re flying first class, Ford now offers Max Recline seats that fold nearly flat.

Even though Ford has made changes to every piece of the 2021 F-150’s sheet metal, the end result is a truck that looks remarkably similar to its predecessor. It’s slightly wider, for a tougher stance, and the new grille and headlight designs reveal that it’s a 2021 model. There are 11 grilles and three different headlight designs, plus 13 different wheel designs that range from 17 to 22 inches.

There are new extended-length power running boards can be lowered with a hands-free “kick switch,” and can also be set to stay down if you’re making multiple trips to load or unload cargo. In addition, every tailgate now comes with built-in clamp pockets, and there’s a new feature called the Tailgate Work Surface that includes integrated rulers, a cupholder, pencil holder, and smartphone/tablet holder.

POWERBOOST HYBRID ENGINE
Ford’s full hybrid system uses a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, a 35 KW electric motor, and a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery mounted below the rear seat so it doesn’t take up passenger or bed space. Ford anticipates the F-150 with the PowerBoost will be able to tow at least 12,000 pounds while offering about 700 miles of range on a tank of gas. It also comes standard with Pro Power Onboard.

PRO POWER ONBOARD
With the Pro Power Onboard inverter, the F-150 can serve as a generator. There’s a 2.0-KW unit available for the 2.7- and 3.5-liter EcoBoost and the 5.0-liter V8. The 2.4-KW inverter comes standard with the hybrid. The 7.2-KW system, optional only with the hybrid, offers the most power. Ford gave an example: it can charge a plasma cutter, TIG welder, chop saw, air compressor, angle grinder, and work light simultaneously for up to 32 hours.

The base model of the 2021 Ford F-150, the XL, comes with a 3.3-liter V6 backed by a 10-speed automatic, comes as a rear-drive truck, and rides on 17-inch steel wheels. Its smallest cab is a regular cab. The basic fuel tank size is 23 gallons, but a 26- or 36-gallon tank is available.

This truck has an 8-inch touchscreen that includes a digital version of the owner’s manual, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The F-150 is set up for over-the-air updates, which often happen in the background, and most are instantaneous. All F-150s come standard with some Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, including forward collision warning and dynamic brake support, hill start assist, pre-collision assist with auto emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), auto hold, and its rearview camera has dynamic hitch support, making it easier to line up the truck with a trailer.

You can choose two larger cabs – the extended cab SuperCab or the crew cab SuperCrew – and a 5-1/2-, 6-1/2-, or 8-foot bed. There are three wheelbase lengths as well. Trim levels continue in increasing price with XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. There are two different 4-wheel-drive systems, both of which have a flat tow mode. If you want more power than the 3.3-liter V6 offers, you can look at the twin-turbocharged 2.7- or 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, or the 3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 hybrid. There are 11 grille styles, which vary based on trim level, and 13 wheel designs.

There’s an available locking full-length fold-flat storage area that goes in the second row. You can even get a setup that lets you turn on and off individual exterior lights, which comes in handy when you’re on the job site or camping. Ford’s tailgate step is still available, as is the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, where you use a knob to back your truck and trailer into place. Safety options include Active Drive Assist, active park assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-centering and lane-keeping assists, and reverse brake assist.

Interior options include a 12-inch touchscreen and a digital gauge cluster. The Interior Work Surface creates a flat working area over the center console. If your F-150 comes with a console-mounted transmission shifter, it folds down when you want to use the Work Surface. You can push a button to stow the Surface in the center console when you’re done. And Max Recline seats fold nearly flat.

Available hardware on the new Tremor includes a torque-sensing limited-slip front differential and a 360-degree camera package. Also available: Trail Control (an off-road cruise control), Trail One-Pedal Drive (in which the throttle pedal controls the gas and the brake), and Trail Turn Assist (which applies the brakes to the inside rear wheel for tighter turning in low-speed dirt maneuvering).

Ford is known for delivering breakthrough truck tech and the F-150 gets some truly smart towing options for 2021. The Onboard Scales function can measure and display the approximate payload of the truck right on the touchscreen or through your phone on the FordPass app. As the truck is loaded, it shows color bars that indicate when it’s at max payload.

The Smart Hitch feature allows owners an easy way to know the tongue weight of the connected trailer. And the truck can indicate when the weight is too high or too low.

The option of Ford’s continuously controlled damping system should make towing a better experience too. That’s because these shocks will adjust to road conditions and even has a special setting when the transmission’s Tow/Haul mode is selected.

As of July 16, Ford has discontinued the optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 in the F-150. This leaves five engine choices in the 2021 F-150. The 5.0-liter V8 and EcoBoost V6 also get more power for 2021.

Engine choices now include:

3.3-liter V6
290 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
265 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/24 mpg (2WD), 19/22 mpg (4WD)

Twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6
325 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (2WD), 19/24 mpg (4WD), est. 15/18 mpg (Raptor)

5.0-liter V8
400 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
410 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (2WD), 16/22 mpg (4WD)

Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6
400 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (450 horsepower in Raptor)
500 lb-ft of torque @ 3,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 mpg (2WD), 18/23 mpg (4WD)

Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 Hybrid
430 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
570 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/26 (2WD) 24/24 mpg (4WD)

The gas/electric PowerBoost powertrain in the Ford F-150 Hybrid, which has a 35-kilowattt (47 horsepower) electric motor integrated into the transmission, is good for an impressive tow rating of 12,700 pounds. However, if you’re looking for the absolute best in towing, get the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and the optional Max Trailer Tow Package. Here, the F-150 is rated at 14,000 pounds of conventional towing capacity. That’s an 800-pound increase over the 2020 model.

Active grille shutters, an automatic air dam, and a more aerodynamic body are used to improve fuel economy across the lineup.

The base engine, a 3.3-liter V6, comes standard with a 10-speed automatic for the first time. Given the new Ford F-150 Hybrid’s 30.6-gallon fuel tank, it will have a range in excess of 700 miles. It can run solely on electric power, but only for very short distances.

EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Raptor hasn’t been announced, but Ford says the pickup, equipped with a 36.0-gallon fuel tank, has a range in excess of 500 miles.