Ford F-150 2021 Review

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 MatoCar Top Rated Truck for 2021. Check out the in-depth evaluation categories of our F-150 Expert Rating to learn more.

Which F-150 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Ford F-150 is offered in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. 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.

The engine lineup includes:

• 3.3-liter V6 (290 horsepower, 265 lb-ft of torque)
• Turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 (325 hp, 400 lb-ft)
• 5.0-liter V8 (400 hp, 410 lb-ft)
• Turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 (250 hp, 440 lb-ft)
• Turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (400 hp, 500 lb-ft)
• A hybrid powertrain (Ford's PowerBoost) that combines the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with an electric motor and a battery pack (430 hp, 570 lb-ft)

XLStandard features on this base trim level include:

• Trailer sway control and pre-wired trailer connections
• Manual mirrors and windows (power windows are standard on the SuperCrew)
• Single-zone air conditioning
• Vinyl flooring
• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability

Safety equipment on the XL includes:

• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

XLT Adds to the XL with:

• Foglights
• Carpeted flooring
• Cruise control
• Power door locks and power windows
• Power-locking tailgate
• Front-seat lumbar adjustments

Safety equipment for the XLT includes:

• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the F-150 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Lariat Gets you more premium features such as:

• Class IV trailer hitch
• LED bed lighting
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation
• 12-inch center touchscreen
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable pedals
• Remote start and remote tailgate release

King Ranch Amps up the luxury with:

• LED headlights and taillights
• Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab)
• Heated steering wheel
• Power tilt-and-telescoping steering column
• Heated rear seats
• Eight-speaker B&O stereo
• Wireless smartphone charging

Safety features for the King Ranch include:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the F-150 and the car in front)
• Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)

Platinum It's equipped similarly to the King Ranch but has some unique cosmetic changes and interior trim.

Limited The top-of-the-line F-150 adds a few items worth noting, such as:

• Trailer Tow package with Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist system
• Power running boards
• Two-panel moonroof
• Power up-and-down rear tailgate with Ford's tailgate step and work surface
• Specialized leather upholstery
• Massaging front seats
• 18-speaker B&O stereo
• Pro Power Onboard (see description below)
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the F-150 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Ford's Active Drive Assist prep kit is also standard on the Limited. It adds hardware for an automated driving assist system, but the software won't be ready until late 2021. A separate payment for the future activation of the system will be required.

As you'd probably expect from a full-size pickup, the F-150 is available with all sorts of options. Most of the lower trim levels can be fitted with options that come standard on higher trims. The most notable option is Ford's in-bed power system called Pro Power Onboard. It is available with three power ratings: 2 kW, 2.4 kW and 7.2 kW. The 7.2-kilowatt system is only available with the 3.5-liter hybrid powertrain. The system allows you to charge and use devices from a system of household-style plugs in the bed of the truck, including power tools, tailgating accessories and even small appliances.

Later in the model year, a Tremor package will be available. Think of the Tremor as a more hardcore version of the popular FX4 off-road package. It will come with a variety of enhancements, including 33-inch all-terrain tires and a revised suspension, for improved ground clearance and overall traction.