For about 40 years, the Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck in America, and that kind of legacy can be pretty hard to live up to. You’d expect that at some point during all these decades, Ford would slip or get overconfident and fall behind one of its competitors. But Ford fans know that the F-150 has done no such thing, and the all-new 2021 model is more impressive and better than ever before. Whether you’re thinking about heading to your local Ford F-150 dealer or simply like to stay on top of trends in the industry, you should know what it has to offer.
Because after all these years in the spotlight, the F-150 is still on top, still the bestseller, and still a favorite among Ford lovers and truck enthusiasts in general. A lot of people could probably give you their thoughts on why that is, and in many cases, it would come down to personal preferences and opinions. But I’m not going to do that; instead, I’m going to lay it down with cold, hard facts and figures to give you the reasons the Ford F-150 is still on top in the industry.
Reason #1 – The Engines
With the 2021 Ford F-150, you have five different conventional engines to choose from, giving you a ton of options for how much power you want in your truck. In the past, Ford hasn’t always kept up with other companies in terms of the number of engines they had available, but the options you’ll find at your Ford F-150 dealer are better than ever before. Whether you prefer to focus on fuel efficiency or power, want standard gas or diesel, Ford has you covered.
There’s a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine to start, which offers up 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, which is a great way to begin. From there, you can choose a 2.7L EcoBoost option with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque or a 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine that delivers 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. For truly exceptional power, there’s a 3.5L EcoBoost engine that provides up to 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel that delivers up to 250 hp and up to 440 lb-ft of torque.
With these options available, it’s easy to get exactly the right amount of power for what you need to do. And the EcoBoost engines ensure excellent fuel economy while handling a lot of work. Of course, for really exceptional fuel efficiency, there’s…
Reason #2 – A New Hybrid Engine
One of the most exciting things you’ll find at your Ford F-150 dealer is the new hybrid engine option for this legendary pickup. This is a 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 engine that delivers an impressive 430 hp and up to 570 lb-ft of torque. The full hybrid design really showcases Ford’s commitment to new technology and improved power, compared to something like the Ram 1500, which only has an available mild hybrid system for its engines.
To get a sense of this impressive fuel economy, consider this: the standard 3.3L engine with its 290 hp gets an estimated 20 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG combined. If you want the 400 hp of the 3.0L EcoBoost engine, then you’re looking at an estimated 18 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 20 MPG combined. But the Full Hybrid engine delivers up to 430 hp and gets an estimated 25 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined.
Reason #3 – Incredible Towing and Payload
When looking at trucks, few things are as important as towing capacity and payload – after all, these are what set trucks apart from most other vehicles on the road. And in this regard, the 2021 F-150 continues to shine with the highest available towing and payload for its class. This should be no surprise to Ford fans and really demonstrates the kind of power and quality you’ll find at a Ford F-150 dealer.
When properly equipped, the 2021 F-150 has up to 14,000 lbs of maximum available towing; with the available Full Hybrid engine, you can still get up to 12,700 lbs of maximum towing capacity. For people who prefer to load up the bed, the F-150 has a maximum payload of up to 3,325 lbs when properly configured, and up to 2,120 lbs of maximum payload is available with the hybrid engine. This kind of performance simply pushes the 2021 F-150 beyond its competition.
Reason #4 – The Pro Power Onboard Feature
This available feature has become immediately popular with Ford fans and truck owners: offering three different power systems with outlets that are easily accessible from the bed of the truck. These include 2.0 kW, 2.4 kW, and 7.2 kW options, providing connections for anything from a sander or reciprocating saw to a laser printer and jigsaw or even an air compressor or welder. For people looking for more recreational uses, the Pro Power system can be used to plug in a blender, TV, microwave, coffee maker, or even a space heater. It’s flexible, easy to use, and is perfect for both work and play – which is pretty much everything you could want from a truck.
Reason #5 – Impressive New Technology
While the Pro Power Onboard system and all-new Full Hybrid engine are both great examples of the technological innovations in the 2021 Ford F-150, there are more displays of tech ingenuity inside the pickup’s cabin. For starters, the available 12-inch Infotainment display is absolutely stunning and has split-screen functionality, so you can use two of the truck’s features at once. This is backed up by over-the-air updates that let the F-150 stay up-to-date quickly and easily with a wireless Internet connection.
For anyone that enjoys music, the available 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system is absolutely stunning. It includes an externally coupled subwoofer, along with headrest speakers to take audio to the next level. With an available wireless charging pad and 12-inch digital instrument cluster, the tech at your local Ford F-150 dealer is better than ever before.
Reason #6 – Safety You Just Can’t Argue With
The impressive technology in the 2021 Ford F-150 isn’t limited to entertainment features. There are three levels of safety features, including standard and available options. The standard Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 system includes a lane-keeping feature, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, a blind spot information system, and more. With the available Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 package, the F-150 includes intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, as well as evasive steering assist. There’s also a Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 package, which includes an active park assist feature and a prep kit for the active drive assist feature that will be released in a future over-the-air update.
Reason #7 – The New Tailgate Work Surface
Tailgates might not be the flashiest part of a truck, but the available Tailgate Work Surface for the 2021 F-150 is set to change that. It includes a ton of clever and convenient features, including a media holder for a smartphone or tablet, a cup or hardware holder, dual rulers for quick measuring, and clamp pockets that make it easy to clamp something onto the surface. There are tailgate tie-down hooks to offer more anchor points when securing an item, and Ford’s innovative tailgate step to make it easy to get into and out of the bed of the truck.
And There are Probably More…
These are just the first seven reasons that came to mind as to why the Ford F-150 is such a great truck, but there are plenty more. Of course, the best way to fully appreciate everything that this truck has to offer is to head to your local Ford F-150 dealer and see it all for yourself. If you are a Ford fan or you are new to the pickup market, you won’t be disappointed when behind the wheel of the 2021 Ford F-150.
