2021 Ford F-150 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2021 Ford F-150 is an upcoming full-size, light-duty pickup truck. The F-150 has been the top-selling truck in North America for over four decades now. It's known as a reliable workhorse that always offers impressive capabilities. The 2021 models will mark the start of the 14th generation for this iconic truck. There are a lot of good reasons to choose a 2021 Ford-F-150 along with a few negatives to be aware of before you make a purchase.

What's New for 2021?

The Ford F-150 will be fully redesigned for 2021. Perhaps the biggest new addition is the available hybrid powertrain option. This will be the first time that Ford has equipped an F-Series truck with a hybrid engine. There will also be an upgraded infotainment system with a larger, 12-inch touchscreen display for 2021.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2021 Ford F-150 – The Pros

1. Powerful Performance From Multiple Engines

Ford gives F-150 buyers a choice of six different powertrains. All offer excellent performance with massive amounts of horsepower and torque. The base engine is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. This is a turbocharged engine that produces 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque.

Ford also offers a 5.0-liter V8 for their F-150. This engine produces 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. A 2.7-liter V6 is available for better fuel efficiency. There is even a turbo-diesel model that's durable and easy to maintain.

2. Impressive Towing and Hauling Capabilities

The latest Ford F-150 will offer best-in-class towing with the right trim level and setup. At its best, the F-150 will be able to pull up to 14,000 pounds. The maximum payload capacity is impressive as well. The F-150 now can carry a load of up to 3,325 pounds. That's over 1,000 pounds more than what the Chevy Silverado 1500 can handle.

3. Excellent Steering and Handling

The latest Ford F-150 will offer excellent steering and handling. Steering is tight with a good feeling of weight behind the wheel. Acceleration is good with any engine choice. Passing power, something trucks often struggle with, is exceptional here. There's almost no body roll as you enter sharp turns, a testament to some solid engineering. The steering dynamics make the F-150 fun to drive.

4. The Ability To Go Anywhere

The 2021 Ford F-150 offers exceptional off-road capabilities. There's available 4X4 all-wheel drive to help you to navigate over tough terrain. A high ground clearance and solid suspension system make things even better. For the ultimate in off-road performance, there's the Tremor model of the F-150. This special model gets you monotube shocks up front and twin-tube shocks in the rear.

5. America's Favorite Truck Goes Hybrid

The addition of a full-hybrid model no doubt has a lot of truck enthusiasts excited. This setup starts with a 3.6-liter PowerBoost V6 engine. This works in tandem with a lithium-ion battery and a 47-horsepower electric motor. This hybrid powertrain will produce an impressive 430 horsepower and a whopping 570 pound-feet of torque. An F-150 with this powertrain will be able to tow up to 12,700 pounds.

6. The Rugged and Stylish Exterior Design

The rugged and attractive design is one of the reasons why the Ford F-150 is America's favorite pickup truck. The new design for 2021 is fresh and modern while still retaining some of the iconic design elements that fans of the F-150 love. The F-150 will have LED projector headlamps and LED lighting for the cargo bed. Ford gives owners a wide choice of exterior colors and trim types such as chrome, black and body-colored.

7. A Beautiful and Comfortable Interior

The interior is just as attractive as the exterior for the 2021 Ford F-150. Not only is it well designed and attractive, it's comfortable and convenient too. The front seats have plenty of cushioning without being too soft. They are power adjustable with available heating and ventilation up front. Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control should keep all of the passengers nice and comfortable.

The gauges, meters and display screens are all sleek and modern. They are all easy to see, and all of the controls are within easy reach. Everything is designed to be ergonomic as well as appealing. The steering wheel can be heated for those cold winter days. Available ambient lighting gives the interior a classy appearance.

8. Ford's Amazing Infotainment System

The latest F-150 will be equipped with Ford's SYNC 4 Infotainment System. This system now comes standard with an enormous 12-inch display screen. The system also offers advanced Voice-Recognition Technology for hands-free operation. There's a built-in and connected navigation system to help you find every destination. A 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot lets you and your passengers connect your phones and other smart devices.

The audio setup is a B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen with HD Radio. This stereo offers 640 watts of amplified power. There are eight premium speakers with this system. These are strategically placed within the cabin for optimal sound quality.

9. The Driver-Assist Technology

The latest Ford F-150 will be outfitted with a number of driver-assist features. These high-tech features make driving more enjoyable and a whole lot safer too. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System helps you to make sure those tires are safely inflated to the right level. Active Park Assist 2.0 makes getting in and out of small spaces a lot easier. The Lane-Keeping System gives you a warning if you should veer too far out of your own lane.

10. Impressive Safety Features

Every Ford F-150 will come equipped with a number of airbags. There will be airbags in front of the driver and front passengers. There are also side airbags up front. Safety canopy and side-curtain airbags provide even more protection in the event of a crash. Anti-Lock Brakes and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control are standard on every model.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2021 Ford F-150 – The Cons

1. Hybrid Transitions Could Be Improved

This is an issue that will only affect owners of the new hybrid models of the F-150. When the vehicle transitions from gasoline-powered to electric power, it's not as smooth as it should be. There are vehicles in 2020 where the transition can't be felt at all. Ford isn't new to hybrids, but this is the first time they've tried it with their F-Series trucks. Hopefully, they will continue to make improvements with this technology for future models.

2. Not as Luxurious as Some Competitors

The interior is beautifully designed and the craftsmanship is impressive. The quality of the materials for the interior is better than ever with all of the 2021 upgrades. This is especially true of the highest trim levels. Unfortunately, Ford still lags behind some competitors in this area, most notably the Ram 1500. It's not too far behind, however, so this shouldn't be a major issue for most buyers.

3. The Higher Trim Levels Will Cost You

The 2021 Ford F-150 is very reasonably priced when you consider all that you're getting. The price can skyrocket quickly, though, once you start adding on options and special features. If you go with one of the top trim levels, prepare to pay luxury-car prices for your pickup truck.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2021 Ford F-150 vs 2021 Ram 1500

Ram has really stepped up their game over the last few years. They have consistently produced some of the finest full-size, light-duty pickup trucks on the market. This makes them a top competitor to Ford and their F-150. You can purchase a base-model F-150 much cheaper than a Ram 1500, though things even out more as you move up through the trim levels.

Both trucks offer impressive payload and towing capacities. The Ram 1500 can haul a load of up to 2,320 pounds and tow up to 12,750 pounds. While those are great numbers, they fall far short of what the Ford F-150 can do. The F-150 has better overall performance with more horsepower and torque too.

Both vehicles offer plenty of convenience and safety features. The Ram 1500 has a more upscale interior. Ford's F-150 offers better off-road capabilities. When you compare the things that matter most to the typical truck owner, the F-150 comes out on top.

2021 Ford F-150 vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Ford and Chevrolet have a long-standing rivalry in the automotive industry. These two American automakers have loyal fan bases. This heated competition naturally has spilled over into their truck sales. This is why the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is sure to provide some stiff competition for the F-150.

When comparing the powertrains of these two trucks, Ford comes out on top. This is especially true if you consider the F-150 Raptor. There is no version of the Silverado 1500 that can compete with the Raptor's horsepower, torque or off-road capabilities. The Ford also wins when comparing maximum towing and hauling capacities.

If fuel efficiency is important to you, the F-150 wins here too. It is currently the only truck in its class to offer a full-hybrid model. Both trucks offer comfortable interiors and plenty of standard safety features. The Silverado 1500 is a fine truck, but it just doesn't compare to what the F-150 has to offer.

Conclusion

There's a reason why Ford's F-150 has been America's best-selling truck for decades. It does everything you could want a truck to do, and it does these things better than the competition. It's a rugged and reliable truck that is perfect for work or daily transportation. The 2021 Ford F-150 offers more power and better capabilities than ever before. This should cement the F-150's place on top for years to come.