
While the Ford F-150 will see significant changes for the 2021 model year, most of the same engines are expected to return. There will, of course, be updates to the numbers in terms of torque and efficiency, but for the most part, the powertrain options will be the same. The base engine, a 3.3-liter V6, will now come standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission. And there is now a 3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 hybrid powertrain. This marks the first year the Ford F-150 will be available as a hybrid. Other notable changes include an available Pro Power Onboard electrical generator, which will make the Ford F-150 an even more useful and productive truck.
Engine Choices for the 2020 F-150
The base engine for the 2020 F-150 is a 3.3-liter V6 with 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. With this engine, you get a great combination of light towing power and excellent fuel efficiency as it returns up to 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.
The next engine is a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. While there is a significant increase in power with this engine, it is also more fuel-efficient with a rating of 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. This engine can tow up to 8,500 pounds, so this is a great option if you expect to use your F-150 to tow a boat to the lake or tow a small travel trailer. If you need to tow heavy and often, there are more options for you, however, as the F-150 has many engines to choose from.
The next engine is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. This is a great engine for towing with a max towing capacity of 11,500 pounds. It’s also a diesel, so you can expect great fuel efficiency too. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel returns 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway for two-wheel drive models and 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway in four-wheel-drive configurations.
If you are looking for a truck for towing, however, the F-150’s best engine for this is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6. This engine features an astounding 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. This is the engine known for its hauling prowess with a towing capacity of 13,200 pounds. However, this engine does not seem to be returning for the 2021 model.
The last engine in the F-150 lineup is a 5.0-liter V8 with 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This engine returns up to 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway and has lots of muscle for towing and hauling. Able to tow up to 11,600 pounds, you can get a lot of work done with this engine. Performance with the 2020 F-150 is excellent no matter what engine you choose, though.
What’s New for 2021
You can expect that the 2021 Ford F-150 will have best-in-class towing, payload, and power numbers when they are released. The 2020 Ford F-150 was only 200 pounds shy of making that claim, so the 2021 won’t have to work very hard to reclaim the throne. You can also expect that the 2021 Ford F-150 will have improved fuel economy numbers across the board as the new model is redesigned with active grille shutters, an automatic air dam, and a more aerodynamic body.
Also new for the 2021 model year is a hybrid powertrain. This full hybrid system uses a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, a 35 KW electric motor, and a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is conveniently mounted below the rear seat so that it doesn’t take up passenger or bed space. With this engine, you will have the capacity to tow up to 12,000 pounds. This is a game-changer for Ford. It will also have a range of 700 miles on one tank of gas. This model will also come standard with the Pro Owner Onboard, the on-board generator, so not only will this be a fuel-efficient model, it will be a powerful and capable model as well. So while the 2020 model has tons to offer, the 2021 model has even more.