The Ford F-150 Hybrid Has A Lower Fuel Economy Than Expected
We have been waiting for months to see that the new Ford F-150 Hybrid can do in terms of saving fuel! And now that we know, we’re pretty underwhelmed. The Ford F-150 Hybrid doesn’t seem to be much better than a diesel truck.
The Ford F-150 Hybrid fuel economy is a little low
Despite being the more fuel-efficient F-150 ever, the Hybrid is a little disappointing. According to AutoBlog, the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid only gets an EPA estimated 24 mpg in the city and the highway.
We expected the Hybrid F-150 to at least get over 25 mpg. The 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid gets 41 mpg. But we know that’s a smaller, lighter SUV, not a heavy full-size truck. But still, only 24 mpg?
The 2020 Ford F-150 diesel gets up to 29 mpg on the highway but only 21 mpg in the city. But to be fair, the diesel model only has 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. The F-150 Hybrid gets an impressive 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.
With the 5.0-liter V8 engine, you get 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. So, for more power, you do have to go for the Hybrid, but it won’t generate as much fuel savings as expected. With the 3.5-liter engine that gets 24 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, like the hybrid engine, the annual fuel cost is $1,300.
Is the Ford F-150 Hybrid worth buying?
Well, yes, why not get extra power without having your fuel economy decrease? Just keep in mind that it’s a little expensive to add. You can get the hybrid powertrain with each trim level, as long as you pick the four-door SuperCrew cab.
On the Ford model builder, the Ford F-150 XL begins around $28,940. Then when you select the SuperCrew cab, the price jumps up to about $36,650. Then adding the Hybrid system to the XL trim is an additional $4,495.
So, to upgrade it’s about an extra $11k. Adding the Hybrid to the XLT or Lariat trim is $3,300, and it’s $2,500 for the King Ranch and Platinum trims. But it’s only $1,900 for the Limited.
Also, just because the Hybrid powertrain has more power doesn’t make it better for towing. It can pull up to 12,700 lb, but the 5.0-liter engine can tow up to 14,000 lb when properly equipped.
What about the Ford F-150 Hybrid generator?
The Ford F-150 Hybrid generator is pretty neat. It’s known as the Pro Power Onboard Generator, which is quite the mouthful. It has AC or Alternating Current, which is the type of electricity found in homes.
Its 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and 35-kilowatt motor have 85 hours of run time on a full tank of gas. It also eliminates the need to lug around a noisy and thirsty portable generator. With four bed-mounted 120-volt outlets and a 240-volt circuit, you can run enough power for your RV, a small construction site, and more.
The only downside is that it runs on gas! So it could become a little pricey. Plus, it adds wear and tear to the system. But it can also be incredibly convenient for powering tools, recharging batteries, and more when you’re off the grid.
