The Ford F-150 full hybrid pickup truck is loaded with high-tech features, and like most pickups today, rather pricey. The 2021-model I drove is all of those things, starting with size: I almost couldn’t get past how large the truck was because I remember when they weren’t. In the past 20 or so years, all full-size pickups have grown substantially in length, width, and height. Builders say customers want bigger vehicles, and sales seem to prove it. In a good year, Ford sells more than 900,000 F-150s, and for more than 40 years—even when it was smaller—it’s been the single-most popular vehicle in America. Ever-bigger F-150s created a widening gap in Ford’s product line that it deftly filled in model-year 2019 with a reborn Ranger, now a midsize truck instead of the compact it was when discontinued in 2011. And that left space for the compact, car-based Maverick, which came out only recently.
For a look at how the Ford F-150 drives, click here.
The increased size of the F-150’s cab translates to cavernous interior room. In front there’s a pair of bucket seats and a wide, deep console; and in this 4-door SuperCrew, a large rear-seat area offered seating for three and lots of leg room. Plus, with the seat backs folded down, there was storage for lots of stuff you’d rather not plunk in the truck bed. Ford offers six trim levels in this series, starting with the austere XL and ascending to the plutocratic Limited. This truck had Platinum trim, the second-highest level with two-tone stitched leather panels and seat covers, heated and ventilated seats, and a panoramic two-section glass sunroof.