In the full-size truck market, efficiency is just as important as outright power. After all, many full-size trucks are used to haul kids to school and families on vacation when they're not transporting building materials or pulling utility trailers. Automakers have embraced alternatives to the classic V8 truck engine, including turbocharged four-cylinder and diesel power plants. With the 2019 version of the 1500, RAM combined the power of its Pentastar V6 and HEMI V8 engines with its eTorque 48-volt motor/generator mild hybrid system. Ford went all in on hybrid power with the all-new 2021 F-150's PowerBoost engine, which pairs the familiar twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with a hybrid-compatible 10-speed automatic transmission, 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, and 35-kW electric motor.
In January of 2022, I experienced the thrust and thrift of the PowerBoost setup for the first time. Ford makes sure to point out all of the practical things that you can do with the F-150 hybrid, such as power various tools at a construction site. My experience with it has shown me that the newest version of Ford's iconic truck is also great at more leisurely pursuits. The King Ranch hybrid made an outdoor movie night with a great buddy even more memorable. During my week with a 2021 F-150 Limited hybrid optioned up to a $79,655 as-tested price, I discovered it's a great place to grab drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) with family members.
2022 Ford F-150 Limited Hybrid Exterior
Ford goes big on its fanciest F-150 - literally. The Limited is only available in the SuperCrew body style and rolls on a set of massive 22-inch polished aluminum wheels. Getting into the spacious cabin is easier thanks to the automatic power-deploying running boards. The 5.5-foot bed was protected by an optional spray-in bed liner and featured its own set of conveniences. They made the treat I planned on enjoying with my fiancé and future in-laws even more pleasant. Once I dropped the power tailgate with the press of a button on the key fob, I opened all of the side windows and the power rear window, then turned up the Frank Sinatra satellite radio channel on the 1,080-watt, 18-speaker B&O Unleashed sound system and let his greatest hits fill the air. I activated the 7.2-kW Pro Power Onboard generator system, then plugged an electric kettle into one of the bed's 120-volt outlets and started it. While that was heating up, I brought out four mugs and packets of hot chocolate mix, a can of whipped cream, and marshmallows. Once everything was ready, I sat on the tailgate and enjoyed my drink and the time with my loved ones under the rich blue and soft white of a starlit night.
I also got a chance to put the F-150 to work. My future in-laws were thinning out their assortment of furniture, so I gladly volunteered to help. The flat load floor and flip-up seat bottoms in the second row left room for an office chair and some seat cushions. The assist step and grab bar integrated into the soft-drop tailgate made loading four dining room chairs into the cargo box much easier and more graceful than it otherwise would've been.
2022 Ford F-150 Limited Hybrid Interior
High-end trucks are relatively commonplace these days, but the F-150 Limited's interior managed to stand out in a major way. Not only were the leather seats in my tester Admiral Blue, they had a dynamic, marble-like finish to them. Their diamond-quilted inserts provided the comfort of heating, ventilation, and multiple massage modes, which I used liberally during my 47-mile commutes back and forth from the house to the office. Those long drives made keeping my phone charged especially important so it was a relief to know that even if I didn't bring a cord with me, I could just throw my phone on the wireless charging pad. If I got tired of listening to the channels on the SiriusXM satellite radio, I just used the wireless Apple CarPlay and the SYNC4 system's 12-inch touchscreen to pull up a YouTube playlist of the songs I couldn't get out of my head or a station on Spotify with a mix of my favorite artists.
2022 Ford F-150 Limited Hybrid Performance
My daily drive consists of taking three highways. The first and third flow freely and gave me opportunities to draw deeply from the PowerBoost hybrid power plant's combined output of 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. In between those two main stretches is I-10, which is usually backed up whether it's 7:30 in the morning or 5:30 in the afternoon. Even when I drove at higher speeds, the electric part of the PowerBoost combo looked for openings, such as light throttle application or coasting, to shut off the gas engine, engage, and maximize fuel economy. At the end of my week with the F-150 Limited, I had racked up 643 miles, 126.1 of which I had covered on electricity alone. According to the EPA, my four-wheel-drive test vehicle was capable of returning 24 mpg in the city, on the highway, and combined. After days of doing 80 mph for long periods of time, my average, gauge-indicated fuel economy fell slightly short of that at 22.6 mpg.
2022 Ford F-150 Limited Hybrid Safety
Parking the F-150 Limited made me aware of just how large it is and how wide its turning radius is--and just how necessary its standard 360-degree camera system can be in certain situations. Other features, such as Evasive Steering Assist and the Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert gave me peace of mind out on the road. My test truck also had the Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package, which set it up for Ford BlueCruise hands-free driving, but I got the truck before Ford made the technology available as a software update.
2022 Ford F-150 Limited Hybrid Overall
Making long drives relaxing, moving furniture, hitting more than 20 mpg combined, doubling as an impromptu movie theater - the new F-150 hybrid can do it all. And in Limited trim, it's the world's fanciest hot chocolate machine. To find out for yourself just how capable the 2021 F-150 is, head to your closest AutoNation Ford dealership.
Derek Shiekhi | Apr 7, 2022
