Ford has finally dropped a truckload of detailed information about its new-for-2021 F-150 pickup. How much does the 2021 Ford F-150 tow? How much can it haul? How powerful are its engines? We now have the maximum payload and towing capacities for each of the F-150’s six available powertrains, along with how much power each one makes. Let’s go through the lot, step by step:
2021 Ford F-150: Engine Outputs
The 2021 F-150 offers six powertrains: A 3.3-liter V-6, a twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, a gasoline-electric hybrid based around the aforementioned 3.5-liter six (dubbed PowerBoost), a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6, and finally a traditional 5.0-liter V-8. Here is a breakdown of each powertrain and its output. Note that every single one is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission:
- 3.3-liter V-6 (290 hp, 265 lb-ft)
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 (325 hp, 400 lb-ft)
- 5.0-liter V-8 (400 hp, 410 lb-ft)
- 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6, turbo-diesel (250 hp, 440 lb-ft)
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 (400 hp, 500 lb-ft)
- 3.5-liter PowerBoost V-6, hybrid (430 hp, 570 lb-ft)
Close watchers of F-150 engine details will notice the carryover gas V-8 engine makes five more horsepower and 10 more lb-ft of torque than it did last year. Other enhancements include the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 option getting an additional 25 hp and 30 lb-ft over last year’s version. But the real news is that mighty PowerBoost hybrid, which throws down the most torque of any F-150 powertrain (570 lb-ft!) by far. Interestingly, the PowerBoost V-6’s horsepower rating is lower than we anticipated; when Ford announced the hybrid F-150, it promised it would deliver the most horsepower and torque of any light-duty pickup. With 430 horsepower, that is no longer true—or at least, it no longer is possible. Since Ford launched the F-150 and made that claim, Ram went ahead and dropped the 702-hp supercharged 1500 TRX, a light-duty, full-size pickup with decidedly more horsepower and torque than even the PowerBoost-equipped F-150 hybrid. Balloon popped.
Furthermore, the PowerBoost hybrid V-6’s peak horsepower figure is actually down 20 ponies on the high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 offered on the 2020 F-150 Limited and Raptor models (that one made 450 horsepower). Zoom out for a second, however, and you’ll notice that half of the 2021 F-150’s powertrains make 400 hp or more—and the new Raptor has yet to be revealed, potentially tipping the Ford pickup‘s lineup into a “majority 400-hp-plus” situation.
2021 Ford F-150: Payload Capacity
Every new full-size pickup that comes along claims at least one superiority in the categories of engine power, towing capacity, or payload capacity—Ford’s new F-150 has laid claim to two: “Best-in-class towing and payload.” Seems a little greedy, but Ford notes the F-150’s maximum payload capacity of 3,325 pounds out-hauls any other light-duty, full-size pickup truck out there by at least 1,000 pounds. To get that payload, customers must choose the regular-cab model with two-wheel drive, the eight-foot bed, and the 5.0-liter V-8. They then must spec the Max Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Payload option packages. Here’s a look at the maximum payloads delivered by each powertrain:*
- 3.3-liter V-6: 1,985 lbs
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6: 2,480 lbs
- 5.0-liter V-8: 3,325 lbs
- 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6, turbo-diesel: 1,840 lbs
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6: 3,250 lbs
- 3.5-liter PowerBoost V-6, hybrid: 2,120 lbs
*Specific body configurations that deliver these figures are forthcoming.
2021 Ford F-150: Towing Capacity
Curious how much the new PowerBoost hybrid F-150 can tow? Turns out it can lug a hefty 12,700 pounds with a conventional hitch. That isn’t the top of the F-150 towing heap, though. F-150s equipped with the 400-hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 can drag up to 14,000 pounds, a class-leading figure (again, for “conventional” towing). That towing muscle requires opting for the SuperCab (extended-cab) 2021 F-150 with two-wheel drive and the Max Trailer Tow package, and it marks an 800-pound increase over the 2020 F-150’s ultimate towing capacity. Here are the maximum towing capacities for each of the 2021 F-150’s powertrains:**
- 3.3-liter V-6: 8,200 lbs
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6: 10,100 lbs
- 5.0-liter V-8: 13,000 lbs
- 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6, turbo-diesel: 12,100 lbs
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6: 14,000 lbs
- 3.5-liter PowerBoost V-6, hybrid: 12,700 lbs
**Specific body configurations that deliver these figures are forthcoming.
The 2021 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall. More details surrounding its upgraded powertrains—including that fancy hybrid—such as fuel economy data and full pricing (we have partial pricing so far), are due before then. Stay tuned to this space for the latest updates as they become available, including developments with the 2022 F-150 Electric and the next Raptor.