By Larry Lark, contributor
It’s always a call to action when a Ford F-150 light duty pickup truck lands in my driveway.
The latest iteration, the 2021 4×4 SuperCrew short bed was no exception. It was put to use picking up and delivering bikes to Christmas House, a charity that provides toys to low-income children throughout Snohomish County.
Ford’s F-150 comes in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Raptor, Platinum and Limited trim levels.
America’s truck of choice for work and recreation, provides the most maximum towing, payload, torque and horsepower of any full-size light-duty pickup, with ingenious features that make customers even more productive with new, state-of-the-art technology.
“Since 1948, our hardworking F-Series customers have trusted Ford to help them get the job done,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. “F-150 is our flagship, it’s 100 percent assembled in America, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard to make sure our customers can get the job done and continue to make a difference in their communities.”
My tester was powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. There is plenty of room for five adults, with second-row heated seats and a panoramic moonroof brightening the cabin for all. I averaged in the low to mid 20’s miles per gallon, with a range just under 500 miles.
The fully-lined pickup bed is accessed via a drop-down ladder. It includes plenty of tie-down hooks and cleats along with four cargo bed-mounted 120-volt 20-amp outlets, with a 240-volt 30-amp outlet on the 7.2-kilowatt version. The system even provides power on the move to charge tool batteries in between jobs.
There are 11 grille options available across the series lineup, all differentiated in their design and all unmistakably F-150, plus new tailgate appliqués. Functional upgrades throughout include available LED headlamps and taillamps, and available full-length extended power running boards with kick switch that provide better truck-side cargo box accessibility.
The interior is completely redesigned to elevate truck owners’ experience with style, comfort, utility and technology. Featuring enhanced materials, new color choices and more storage, it is built around the functional needs of truck customers. Every surface has been thoughtfully designed, such as more soil-resistant two-tone seats for XL or the new standard dual glovebox.
Creature comforts are provided as if the F-150 was a luxury sedan. Highlights include adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats, 18-speaker Bang and Olufson Unleashed audio system with speakers in the headliner and front headrests, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, ambient lighting, and more.
The all-new F-150 offers the latest driver-assist features as part of Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0. More features are now standard on XL, including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection to help avoid a possible collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian, rearview camera with dynamic hitch assist, auto high-beam headlamps and auto on/off headlamps.
Ford offers complimentary technology including 911 Assist that automatically alerts emergency responders in the event of an accident, and FordPass, a mobile device app that allows Ford drivers to start or unlock their vehicle from a distance, as well as control new truck-focused features like Zone Lighting, Trailer Theft Alert, Trailer Light Check and Pro Power Onboard. Every F-150 is proudly assembled at Ford’s truck plants in Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Base Price: $59,110
Price As Driven: $59,110
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
