2021 Ford F-150

Ford offers the F-150 in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. Two- and four-wheel-drive are available, as are regular, extended, and crew cab bodies. Depending on the amount of cargo space one needs, there are short, medium, and long bed lengths. The above choices mean that the F-150 can be configured in 42 different ways, ensuring buyers can find the right truck for their needs. The XL trim has a starting price of about $29,000 in regular-cab form, with two-wheel-drive form and a standard 6.5-foot bed. Even though it's the base trim of the F-150, the XL comes with a whole host of driver safety technology, including automatic high beams, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and a backup camera. Other features include 17-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, an eight-inch LCD touchscreen, a digital owner's manual, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and remote engine start. The XLT adds many popular amenities, and the regular-cab version retails for about $35,500. It gets more driver safety aids, like lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with fog lamps, power windows, heated power side mirrors, keyless entry, and cruise control. The next step up is the Lariat, which balances affordability with premium features. It starts around $45,500 and includes leather upholstery, heated/cooled front seats, driver's seat memory, power-adjustable pedals, power-folding memory side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, woodgrain interior trim, a 12-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel, and a trip computer. For about $56,500, shoppers have access to the King Ranch trim. This western-themed trim and the trims above only come in the crew cab body style, partly accounting for the higher starting prices. This trim's other notable benefits include a powerful V8 engine, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a premium audio system, navigation, adaptive cruise control, HD Radio, running boards, and heated rear seats. Pricing for the F-150 Platinum begins around $59,500, and it adds elegant exterior and interior styling. Upscale features include power-retractable running boards and massaging front seats. For shoppers who want it all in their pickup truck, the Limited trim is one of the best-equipped trucks on the market. Its starting price of roughly $71,000 is pricey, but for that, shoppers get a twin-turbocharged engine, automatic parking assistance, a panoramic power moonroof, and an 18-speaker B&O Unleashed premium audio system. New options for the redesigned F-150 include Max Recline Seats, which are the only front seats in the segment that can fold flat nearly 180 degrees to allow the driver and passenger to rest and relax between long hauls. The available Pro Power Onboard generator will enable owners to run power tools and other equipment from their F-150, with up to 7.2 kilowatts of electricity at their disposal. For those who regularly need to work from a computer or eat a meal while out in the field, the new Interior Work Surface offers an expansive deployable surface between the front seats. There is also an available in-floor gear organizer that is lockable, providing the driver with an extra hidden vault. Traditional F-150 options remain, including a tough spray-in bed liner, engine block heater, upgraded payload rating, as well as packages for things like towing, off-road driving, and plowing snow.

Few vehicles on the market offer as many chances for configuration as a Ford F-150, and engines are yet another thing buyers can select. The base 3.3-liter V6 engine makes 290 horsepower, while a 5.0-liter V8 produces 400 horsepower. The 2.7- and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engines are twin-turbocharged and generate 325 and 400 horsepower, respectively. An available 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 engine makes just 250 horsepower but a staggering 500 pound-feet of torque. The most potent and high-tech engine is a 3.5-liter PowerBoost twin-turbocharged hybrid that churns out 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the mild-hybrid systems released by rivals, Ford's PowerBoost system is the only full hybrid powertrain in its class. It comes with a 47-horsepower electric motor, the ability to run solely on electricity, and is available on every trim level. A large 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack fits underneath the truck, with no impact on interior or cargo space. Drivers can expect to go much farther on one tank of gas with this powertrain than a similarly-sized gas engine, with no impact on towing capacity. All F-150s use a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Both rear- and four-wheel-drive are available. The F-150's fuel capacity ranges from 23-36 gallons, depending on the body style.

The F-150's interior is one of the nicest in its class. Even lower trim levels compete with some luxury vehicles in terms of material quality, technology, and overall refinement. Ford uses some hard plastics in the XL trim, but they feel substantial and durable. Lariat and higher trims feel premium, thanks in part to the 12-inch touchscreen and ventilated leather seats. One of the best features Ford offers are its Max Recline front seats. Truck owners may need to drive long distances to deliver cargo or get to a remote construction site. Capable of reclining to a flat position, the Max Recline seats can help front-seat occupants get some shut-eye when it's time for a pit stop during those long-haul trips. Tall windows and thin side pillars provide excellent outward visibility and add to the interior's roominess. The headroom and legroom in both rows are excellent. There are plenty of cup holders and storage bins, including an optional in-floor storage locker that extends the back seat's width. It can fit fishing reels or can be organized into smaller compartments. Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system is very intuitive, with user-friendly menus, and the included digital owners manual provides excellent how-to videos to explain information better. An optional towing program called Trailer Reverse Guidance uses multiple camera angles and video instructions to help the driver easily backup when a trailer is attached.