2021 Ford F-150 Power, Towing, and Payload Capabilities Detailed
Take a closer look at the new F-150's engines and what they can haul.
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:
0:00 / 0:00
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.
