Overview
It’s been a long time since the Ford F-150 was a mere workhorse, and for 2024 it’s an even more modern tool for the modern truck buyer. That fact is evident under its hood, where turbocharged engines—and even a hybrid option—reside. You can still get a V-8 if you want it, but most F-150s roll off the line with a turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 powering their wheels. Look inside its cabin and you’ll find more evidence of modernity: a 12.0-inch infotainment display comes on every model and, if you pay a monthly subscription fee, you can unlock a hands-free driving feature that’ll drive your highway slogs for you. America’s biggest-selling pickup truck boasts heroic towing capacity numbers and is offered in so many trim combinations there’s practically a version to fit every budget. The F-150’s competition does all of that too, though, so it’s down to nuances when choosing which brand of truck is right for you. The Ram 1500 rides better on its air suspension and the Chevrolet Silverado offers more standard connectivity and driver-assistance tech. But the F-150’s capabilities and features make it a fierce competitor in the full-size pickup-truck slugfest, and this latest evolution of Ford’s bestseller is its most cutting-edge interpretation yet.
What’s New for 2024?
The F-150 has been refreshed for 2024, complete with enhancements to its exterior styling that include tweaked grilles, exterior lighting elements, wheel designs, and more. Overall, the updated look adheres closely to the F-150 formula but looks more refined. Around the back, a new Pro Access Tailgate feature is optional and offers users a way to open just a small part of the tailgate via a side-mounted hinge, making it easier to access items in the bed while a trailer is attached. Gone is the gas V-6 base engine, which Ford has swapped out in favor of the turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 that had previously been an optional upgrade; the formerly optional diesel is history too. A turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, a hybrid V-6 setup, and a 5.0-liter V-8 remain if you need more power. Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving feature is available as an option on the F-150 for the first time, and the large 12.0-inch infotainment display that used to be optional is now standard across the lineup. A head-up display is now available, as is a new system designed to help locate your truck if it’s ever stolen. The off-road-focused Tremor model returns for 2024 and features a new front bumper design and an updated grille with orange detailing. New add-on features for the Tremor include a front-mounted winch and an accessory light bar.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The F-150 is available with multiple body styles and bed lengths. While the XLT model is a step up from the basic XL work truck, we prefer the additional luxuries on the Lariat. Its price may put it out of reach for some buyers, but it has the best mix of features and affordability.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2024 F-150 offers a choice of several engines starting with a 325-hp twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 and stepping up to a 400-hp 5.0-liter V-8, a 400-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, and a 400-hp hybrid powertrain that consists of a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 and a 4-hp electric motor. No matter which engine you choose, the F-150 comes paired with a 10-speed automatic. The hybrid model is said to offer up to 700 miles of driving range per tank and can also power an onboard generator for keeping the power flowing at job sites or during power outages. Buyers can choose between rear- and four-wheel drive with any of the F-150’s available powertrains. At our test track, a four-wheel drive Lariat with the hybrid powertrain galloped to 60 mph in a brisk 5.4 seconds. During our test drive, we noted a compliant ride and agreeable handling; high-spec models such as the King Ranch come with a variable-assist steering system that sharpens responses at low speeds for a more agile feeling. The Tremor model promises the most off-road capability; it offers 33-inch all-terrain tires, an upgraded suspension, a locking rear differential, and a four-wheel drive transfer case borrowed from the mighty F-150 Raptor. At our test track, the Tremor leapt to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, trailing the more powerful Raptor by just 0.1 second.
Towing and Payload Capacity
F-150 models equipped with the optional 400-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 can tow up to 13,500 pounds. Going with the venerable 5.0-liter V-8 means the maximum towing capacity is 13,000 pounds; the hybrid model can tow up to 12,700. Payload capacity maxes out at 2455 pounds. These towing and payload capacities keep the new F-150 in the hunt with key rivals like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the F-150 with the turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 will earn up to 20 mpg city and 26 highway. The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 is rated up to 18 mpg city and 24 highway. The hybrid version has estimates as high as 25 mpg city and 26 highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, the Tremor model with the twin-turbo 3.5-liter returned 19 mpg. Once we can run the F-150 hybrid, we can evaluate its real-world mpg. For more information about the F-150’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Interior appointments in the F-150 nearly match the Ram 1500’s deluxe cabin, particularly in the Ford’s higher-end King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited models. The cabin is dotted with plenty of storage cubbies and additional convenience features make things easier for those who use the F-150 as a mobile workspace. For example, the 10-speed automatic’s shift lever can be folded down into the center console to create a large flat workspace between the seats. Similarly, the F-150 can be ordered with fold-flat front seats that can provide a place for sleeping. Passenger space is generous, with the four-door crew-cab body style being the most spacious and family-friendly of the bunch. Out back, the F-150’s bed offers an optional onboard generator that provides up to 7.2-kW of power to support electricity needs at the job site or at tailgate parties.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Ford provides a 12.0-inch infotainment display as standard that runs an improved version of the brand’s Sync 4 software. This matches the Ram 1500’s optional 12.0-inch vertically oriented display, but both the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are available with a larger 13.4-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is a Wi-Fi hotspot; navigation, SiriusXM radio, and a Bang & Olufsen stereo system are optional. Sync 4’s new software provides over-the-air updates for future software releases, traffic and weather updates via the optional navigation system, and onboard telematics for fleet customers to help track vehicle location and usage.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Ford is offering a host of driver-assistance features, but few are standard. More features will be available as buyers walk up through the F-150’s trim levels, including a rear-facing camera for monitoring a trailer while on the go. Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving feature is available too but requires a monthly or annual subscription. For more information about the F-150’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with a hands-free driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The F-150 comes with three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain protection. Ford doesn’t offer any complimentary scheduled maintenance, but rivals such as the Toyota Tundra and the GM twins do.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
2021 Ford F-150 Tremor
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $51,200/$69,595
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 213 in3, 3497 cm3
Power: 400 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 500 lb-ft @ 3100 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/live axle
Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.2-in vented disc
Tires: General Grabber A/TX
275/70R-18 116S M+S TPMSF
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 145.4 in
Length: 231.7 in
Width: 79.9 in
Height: 79.3 in
Passenger Volume: 136 ft3
Curb Weight: 5562 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.9 sec @ 100 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 108 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 193 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.74 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 15 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 19 mpg
Highway Range: 680 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 18/16/20 mpg
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2021 Ford F-150 Lariat Powerboost
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-/4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE AS TESTED
$66,345 (base price: $46,350)
POWERTRAIN
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 400 hp, 500 lb-ft; permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 47 hp; combined output, 430 hp, 570 lb-ft; 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/live axle
Brakes (F/R): 13.8-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT, 275/65R-18 116T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 145.4 in
Length: 231.7 in
Width: 79.9 in
Height: 77.2 in
Passenger volume: 136 ft3
Curb weight: 5794 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.4 sec
100 mph: 13.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.3 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.0 sec
1/4 mile: 13.9 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 107 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 203 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.72 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 24/24/24 mpg
