2021 Ford F-150

The lightest of all, the F-150 Regular Cab with its 3.3-liter V6 engine weighs 4,021 pounds. The base XL comes with a 6.5-foot standard bed size, and you can upgrade it to an 8-foot bed for an extra $300. In addition to the base XL, the XLT trim offers power windows and door locks, lane keep assist, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert. Will these significant updates make the F-150 top the sales chart? or how well it is placed among rivals like Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the Nissan Titan? Let's find out. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab is limited to two trims - XL and XLT, falling in a price range of $28,940 to $38,475. Otherwise, the entire lineup is available in six trim levels. The Regular Cab comes in multiple bed configurations along with a 3.3-Liter V6 engine as standard. The pickup truck offers a 6.5-feet and 8.0-feet bed size. The SuperCab model comes with a shorter bed size of 5 feet. 

The base XL trim is priced at an MSRP of $28,940, excluding the destination charges. It comes with standard features like automatic halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, single-zone manual climate control, and automatic emergency braking. However, the XLT offers better package and comfort features compared to the XL. The XLT comes with a sticker price of $35,050 in its RWD configuration.

Which Trim should you buy? 

In its 14th generation, the 2021 F-150 Regular cab is a great deal for buyers looking for a fully loaded pickup truck. Among the available two trims, we would recommend going with the XLT trim as it offers an array of creature comforts compared to the base XL trim. For a few bucks more, the XLT is a better package altogether. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 comes powered by a 290-hp 3.3-liter V6 engine with 265 lb-ft of torque. Mechanically, the truck remains unchanged from the previous model year, and thus, the maximum payload capacity is 1,985 pounds and towing capacity is 8,200 pounds. The engine comes mated to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission.

The pick reaches the 60 mph mark in 7.3 seconds and completes a quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds.

The base 290-hp V6 works seamlessly, and it is the best choice for people who commute to work daily instead of doing a heavy towing job. If you are into towing business, you would rather need diesel or V8. Regardless of your needs, the Ecoboost V6 offers the best acceleration and fuel economy, which is impressive for a pickup truck. 

How well does the 2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab handle?

Despite being a big pickup truck, the F-150 is easy to ride and handle. The upgraded Ford F-150 can maneuver easily within the city traffic and go long cruising on the highways. The suspensions absorb major road imperfections without getting noticed. The ride is calm and composed with a good steering feel. You won't experience much body lean even while driving off-road. While turning, the driving dynamics come into play. The adaptive steering provides great feedback based on the speed of the vehicle. The 10-speed automatic transmission takes quicker shifts without any hesitation. 

2021 Ford F-150 Braking Performance

The F-150 wheels are packed with an anti-lock vented disc with ABS. The front brake comes with a 13.8-inch rotor size and has a 2 x 51 mm sliding caliper. Meanwhile, the rear brake rotors measure 13.7-inches. The Regular Cab takes 119 ft. to stop from 60 MPH, which is impressive for a pickup truck of this size. 

The F-150’s lightweight and larger brake rotors offer a pleasing braking performance compared to rivals like Nissan Titan. The Silverado gets bigger front brake rotors, and that helps it to offer a braking distance of 128 feet. The Tundra isn’t a good performer and failed the brake test and stopped at 153 feet, which is longer than the rivals.

The F-150 returns 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with its base engine configured with rear-wheel drive. These are great EPA ratings for a pickup truck. The smaller EcoBoost V6 shoots the fuel economy at 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. If you are buying a V8-powered F-150, expect a fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The new hybrid powertrain boasts 24 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. 

With 23 gallons of fuel tank capacity, the Ford F-150 can travel up to 230 miles in the city, 598 miles on the highway, and 575 miles combined. The 2021 Nissan Titan offers 28 gallons of fuel tank capacity, and that takes it to 420 city miles in one go. The 2021 Toyota Tundra comes out to be the thirstiest option in the competition with a combined mileage of just 17 mpg.

The previous generation F-150 pickup truck wasn't that luxurious like this one. They used to be way too rugged and looked like massive towing machines. The 2021 F-150 can offer similar comfort and features like a regular SUV. The Regular Cab comes with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted in the center of the dashboard. It is responsive and promising with the latest Sync 4. 

Ford will also offer over-the-air updates for the upgraded infotainment system. The cabin gets comfortable and comes covered in leather upholstery along with offering heated/ventilated seats. You can also avail of massaging seats with the F-150. All the pickups in the competition come with a seating capacity of 3 people, which is the segment's standard.

When it comes to cargo capacity, the F-150 lacks a bit of space compared to the Toyota Tundra and Silverado 1500. Both trucks offer a good amount of cargo space. However, the Nissan Titan offers just 59.6 cubic feet of cargo area, and that is not acceptable. Some of the notable interior features include:

• Single-zone air conditioning
• Eight-inch touchscreen
• Leather upholstery
• Ventilated/heated seats
• 360-degree camera system

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The F-150 truck gets an upgraded Sync 4 infotainment system this year. An 8.0-inch touchscreen is mounted on the center of the dashboard accompanied by a 4-inch digital instrument cluster. Theres' an optional 12-inch touchscreen too. The infotainment features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and AppLink. Ford will provide over-the-air updates for the infotainment system. Some of the notable infotainment features include:

• AM/FM Stereo with seek/scan
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio (6-month trial)
• 4-speaker sound system
• Auxiliary Input Jack
• Voice Recognition System
• USB Port
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto 
• 12V front power-point

The new 2021 Ford F-150 looks bolder and more premium than its previous generation. The Regular Cab has been overhauled inside-out. The exterior front fascia gets LED headlights with daytime running lights and a bold grille. Meanwhile, the rear appears more chiseled with rear fenders and modern taillights. The new F-150 offers an amazing scope of customizations across the lineup. 

There are around 11 grille designs that can be assembled with the F-150. Talking about the base XL Regular cab, it comes with halogen headlamps, black bumpers, 17-inch steel wheels, and a two-bar black grille. With the upgraded XLT, you get chrome inserts in the bumpers, LED headlamps, halogen fog lamps, and a fixed glass rear window with a privacy tint.

With a ground clearance of 8.7 inches, the F-150 stands tall just like its core rivals. Also, the Ford F-150 offers a wheelbase of 111.4 inches, making more space inside and offering a balanced ride while traveling through rough terrain. When comparing the curb weight of the pickups, Nissan is the heaviest option. Some of the notable exterior features are:

• 17-Inch Silver Steel Wheels
• Daytime Running Lamps
• Hooks - Front Tow, Two (4x4 Only)
• Spare Tire Carrier - Rear Underframe
• Fully-Boxed, High-Strength Steel Frame
• Cargo Lamp
• Integrated with Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL)

The 2021 F-150 is stronger with a high-strength steel chassis. The aluminum alloy used keeps the body weight under control and offers great safety to this rugged pickup truck. The Ford's Co-Pilot 360 safety suite has been included with the truck that adds autonomous driving tech. 

The 2021 F-150 scored a "Good" rating in the roof strength test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the only crashworthiness test conducted at the time of reviewing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is yet to test the truck. Some of the notable safety features are:

• Dual-stage Front Airbags for driver and right-front passenger
• Front-Passenger Sensing System
• Safety Canopy System with side-curtain airbags
• Front Collision Warning and Advanced Emergency Braking
• Rollover sensor AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control) and Curve Control
• Alert chimes for headlamps-on, key-in-ignition, and front safety belts
• Blind-Spot Monitoring System
• Fuel pump inertia shutoff
• LATCH System
• Trailer sway control

2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab vs. 2021 Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra has been there for a long time confronting the F-150 from generation to generation. The Tundra is all about power and rugged appearance. However, the new 14th generation F-150 offers more features and multiple engine options that suit the buyer's needs. The 2021 F-150 offers a complete package compared to the Tundra. The only area where the Tundra overshadows the F-150 is the impressive off-road capability and power output. 

2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab vs. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The Chevy Silverado has also been ruling the pickup truck sales charts. Both trucks offer similar capabilities in terms of power, performance, and handling. However, compared to the Silverado, the F-150 offers a better engine range and fuel economy. Choosing one among these two is really difficult, and it all depends on personal preference. However, with the Ford F-150 entering into its 14th generation with complete re-design and significant upgrades, it's not hard to find the buying inclination.

2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab vs. 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Ford F-150 has been completely overhauled with the latest interior features and cosmetic changes. The 2021 Nissan Titan received a minor facelift last year, so there's nothing new on offer. The F-150 comes with multiple engine options and configurations, while the Titan is available in a single-engine option only. The towing capability of the F-150 is also much better than the Titan. Also with limited options, it is difficult to customize the Nissan Titan. All in all, the 2021 F-150 is a better option between the two. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 receives an overhaul that has elevated the game of trucks. It remains one of the top picks in the segment, offering powerful engine options, bed sizes, upgraded modern interior, and the latest safety technology. As mentioned above, the Regular cab comes in XL and XLT trims that fulfill the buyer's needs with its powerful V6 engine. Starting at a base price of $28,940, the 2021 F-150 Regular cab offers the best affordable deal to go for. What's keeping you waiting? Just rush to your nearest Ford dealership to explore the best offers and lease options available with an all-new F-150.