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With the F-150 Hybrid, Ford offers the only full-hybrid pickup truck on the market today
Battery-powered trucks make headlines, but a fully-electric model isn't the only fuel-saving option. There's also a hybrid powertrain, which Ford has added to its new 2021 F-150.
Dubbed Powerboost, the hybrid system is one of six engine choices for 2021. Other than a 5.0-litre V8, all others are V6: a naturally aspirated 3.3 L, a turbocharged Ecoboost 2.7 L and 3.5 L, and 3.0-L Power Stroke diesel, all with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The hybrid uses the Ecoboost 3.5-L V6 and 10-speed automatic, along with a 35-kw electric motor and 1.5-kwh lithium-ion battery. That battery charges through regenerative braking, and the truck doesn't get plugged in. The system produces 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque — both numbers the highest of all the engines — with a maximum payload of 2,120 pounds, and top towing capacity of 12,700 pounds.
It's only available as the SuperCrew, which is the most popular cab configuration anyway. Consumers can order it as an optional powertrain on the XLT trim and up, while fleet customers can also get it on the base XL.
Pricing varies and can get a little confusing. It's the difference over the base engine, which can vary by trim: the cheaper the base engine, the more you'll pay to upgrade to the hybrid. Depending on the trim you choose and the engine from which you're upgrading, the hybrid engine adds anywhere from $2,200 to $5,750 to the truck's sticker price.
This new powertrain is far from the only change to the 2021 F-150. It rides on the same frame as before, and is the same overall size, but every body panel has been massaged. It's unmistakably an F-150, but looks smoother and sleeker. The redesigned cabin is spectacular, with a handsome new design, high-quality materials, and new features.
I drove the top-of-the-line Limited, and while there wasn't a price sheet on my pre-production ride, “building” a similar one on the consumer website is $92,500. It had pretty much every bell and whistle, including a 12-inch infotainment touch screen, which can be a recipe for distraction disaster, but this one has been done right.
There are a lot of functions stuffed into it, but the important stuff — climate control, stereo volume and tuning, drive modes, and heated seat and steering wheel controls — are big, simple, easy-to-use-with-gloves buttons and dials. The infotainment system uses Sync 4 with an embedded 4G LTE modem.
My ride's other all-new features included a locking underseat storage cabinet, power up-and-down tailgate with work surface, and a flat-reclining seat for lunch-hour snoozes. Ford has extended the F-150's power-deployed running boards back to the rear wheel well, so you can step up to reach over the bed, in place of the old kick-out bed step.
But I'm primarily here for the powertrain. It's a full hybrid, able to run on gasoline, electricity, or a combination. It automatically switches between them, depending on driving conditions, and electric-only can happen in twoor four-wheel drive.
The transition between gas and battery isn't quite as seamless as in, say, a Prius, where it's starting up a tiny four-cylinder. There can be a bit of a rumble when the F-150's V6 comes to life, although it's more than acceptable — it is a truck, after all.
Overall, the hybrid system works well, and its odd little whirring noises are inherent to hybrids. While I wasn't in them back to back, I thought the hybrid felt a bit heavier than the last 2020 F-150 I drove. But I like how it handles, with its quick response and well-weighted steering feel. It feels planted on the highway and has more than enough passing power to get through traffic.
The hybrid is rated at a combined 9.8 L/100 km, which is pretty decent for a big truck. It's about the same as for the diesel, but with more power on tap. I wasn't able to do a full mileage check on my short drive, but my trip computer showed a best performance of 11.8 L/100 km.
The Ram 1500 offers a mild system called etorque, but it only assists the engine and can't run on electricity alone, so right now, the F-150 is the only full-hybrid truck on the market. It's not a cheap option, and for most buyers it's going to be the same decision as a diesel: Will my fuel savings match or exceed what I'm paying for the powertrain? That will be up to each driver's situation.