Reader Review: 2021 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew

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Putting 2,000 to 2,500 kilometres on a vehicle in a month is nothing extraordinary for Ted Pietryka. The Calgarian is a salesman and is on the road from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He sells maintenance and cleaning supplies, and occasionally makes emergency deliveries of product to clients. Currently, a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon fulfills his driving needs, but he’s owned many trucks, including 2009 and 2013 Ford F-150s and a 2018 Ram.

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He spent a week with the redesigned 2021 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew equipped with the Lariat package and the new PowerBoost hybrid powertrain. Under the hood of this truck lurks a turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to a 47-horsepower electric motor and an automatic 10-speed transmission. Combined, the PowerBoost system makes 430 hp and 570 pound-feet of torque.

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“Unbelievable,” Pietryka says of the truck’s performance. “I’ve owned Corvettes, and this is almost ‘Vette like. The power available in any situation, from red lights to highway passing, is incredible. It just wants to go, and it’s very smooth, too. But, in city driving, with the 10-speed automatic I could sometimes detect a bit of searching for the right gear – not too often, just between accelerating and braking, it could take a second or two to figure it out.”

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Now in its 14th generation, the F-150 has seen exterior and interior upgrades and is available in a number of configurations, from base XL to the off-road tuned Raptor. Pietryka’s Lariat truck, with the PowerBoost hybrid and 4×4 option in the SuperCrew cab, would drain a wallet of almost $84,000. His tester included several options, from 20-inch wheels to a twin-panel moonroof and active park assist.

“I did think this ’21 edition looked big,” Pietryka explains, “and I’m not sure Ford’s really upgraded the appearance that much from the previous generation. But it did look good with the hidden running boards (power deployable steps are a $1,300 option), and those worked well and helped the truck look clean and fresh.”

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At six-foot three-inches tall, Pietryka says he was quickly able to get settled in the leather trimmed driver’s seat.

“There was so much room in the cabin,” he says. “If I put the seat all the way back, I couldn’t touch the pedals. Amazing. And the cabin was luxurious with a two-tone black and dark brown scheme, great seats, panoramic sunroof and well-padded steering wheel.”

Overall, gauges and controls were clear and well laid out. Nothing was hidden from view while behind the wheel, and Pietryka liked the heating and cooling system controls which employed switches and rotary dials. Pietryka’s only experienced one other alternative powertrain when he tested a ’21 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. That combines a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a combined 375 hp.

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“I just didn’t like that Jeep, it sounded and felt like a golf cart,” he says. “It was nothing compared to this F-150 hybrid. I’ve never towed, but I do haul payloads of 800 to 1,000 pounds. I carried about 500 pounds in this truck, and it never realized it was there.”

With the PowerBoost system the F-150’s payload capacity is 830 kilograms (1,829 lbs.) and with the Max Trailer Tow package is capable of towing 5,623 kilograms (12,401 lbs.). A two-speed transfer case moves power to the four wheels and there are four modes: two-wheel high, four-high, four-auto, and four-low. The suspension handled all bumps with aplomb, but Pietryka said the truck felt a little jittery on a rough range road at a higher speed – he adds that’s something he’s felt in every truck he’s driven. His tester was equipped with the FX4 off-road package that includes skid plates and tougher shocks

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“I felt the steering was a bit heavy and had to put a bit of muscle into it,” he says. “The turning radius is not great. I was trying to get out of a downtown parking spot and had to reverse and move ahead about six times. Luckily, there were sensors all over the truck and there was no way you could hit anything with the sensors and cameras combined. That camera was something else, and the image came up crystal clear on the screen.”

For a large truck, other than in parking lot situations, Pietryka says it handled promptly and cornered very well. At all times, the truck was whisper quiet. His nine-year old daughter enjoyed opening the power sliding rear window, and Pietryka tried out the rear seat for himself and says, “It’s like a small bedroom back there, there’s so much room.”

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The $800 automatic tailgate worked smoothly, and the folding step and handle is a ‘beautiful feature’. As well, the truck was fitted with Ford’s Pro Power Onboard system. This puts out 7.2-kilowatts of electricity from the bed of the truck where four 120-volt plug-ins and a 240-volt socket are located.

“That’s going to be handy for a tradesman,” Pietryka says. “The price tag was a bit of a shocker but handing back the key I knew I was going to miss this truck. There were so many features, and the powertrain was incredible; it returned a fairly consistent 12.2 to 12.3L/100km. You won’t find anything else with a six-cylinder making this kind of power and torque and getting that kind of economy.”

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DRIVER’S JOURNAL

Day 1

Large, seemed way bigger than my 2018 Ram. Nice bright blue colour. Very comfortable black leather seats. Great view of road behind the wheel. Very large back up camera (display screen). No engine noise from the hybrid when started, could not tell it started until I put it in reverse (incredible). Had to make about five sales calls all over town. Had it out on Stoney Trail and Deerfoot, very good acceleration, incredible passing power. Did well over 100 kilometres on the day, so far so great.

Day 2

Drove my nine year old daughter to school, she loved all the room in the back seat and the panoramic roof. Truck is extremely quiet, you only hear a slight thunder of that beast of a motor when you really step into it, very comfortable ride, had to throw some product into the bed for a couple of emergency deliveries for clients, loved the bed door release on the key fob and to close it as well as opening it, no getting dirty anymore, more sales calls around town and another 100 kilometres on the truck.

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Day 3

Dropped daughter off at school then more sales calls in Okotoks, very smooth ride on highway, almost floats on smooth surfaces. Noticed this truck averages 12.3L/100km both on highway and in city, which I think is fantastic for an almost 6,000 lb. truck with some cargo in bed. Had the stereo cranked very good system, did approximately 150 kilometres on truck.

Day 4

Costco run as a family, my wife loved the feel of the truck and how quiet it was and the sheer room inside, very warm day the air conditioning blew extremely cold air but even at the lowest speed setting the fan was very strong had to close some of the vents or put a toque on, would be great in the winter with the heat on though, we did some more errands and my daughter Ava liked the sliding rear glass rear window.

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Day 5

Took it out on the highway again to a farm, the cruise works with just one push of a button the distance indicator automatically slowed the truck when in cruise control to keep a safe distance, again passing power was almost instant and just wanted to climb more and more, truck is running awesome

Day 6

Getting used to a big truck after driving my 2021 Jeep Rubicon for the last four months, you could easily get a speeding ticket in the truck with all the horsepower and torque if you don’t watch yourself, truck rides smoothly on the 20-inch tires, more sales calls for the rest of the day, then picked up groceries just threw them into the back seat plenty of room, keeping my eye on fuel and kilometres still only using 12.2L/100km and over 650 kilometres so far.

Day 7

To the office and more sales calls around Calgary, one client Joe came out to look over the truck, Joe is a Chevy guy but was impressed with all the bells and whistles it offered and the interior space and large display screen and the fuel mileage. Returning it tomorrow morning, will miss it. On dropping it off, noticed it showed that of the 800 kilometres driven 140 were on electric mode. NICE. Final say: from all the pickups I have owned from Ford and Ram, this one was by far the best from top to bottom all around.