2021 Ford F-150 Will Likely Have A Small Price Increase For Lower Trims, Much Higher For Top Trims

I hear it all the time when writing about Ford trucks or Ford Mustang here at Torque News or when I review new vehicles for my syndicated Driver’s Side column – who can afford a new car or truck? Well, since Ford sold more than 900,000 trucks last year, I’d say, plenty of people can afford them.

And for the record, I realize today’s new vehicles are expensive and many are out of my price range. But, today's trucks are both luxurious and full of cool technology and the 14th-generation F-150 is no exception. In the scheme of things, Ford seems to really grasp the perfect price point for their products.

According to new information released by the forum website f150gen14.com, the starting price for the 2021 Ford F-150 will be just $195 more than the current similar base trim 2020 F-150. According to the leaked dealer document, the base XL 4x2 with regular cab will have a price of $30,635 (without extra packages). That is a mere $195 more than the same truck for the 2020 model year.

Additionally, it’s less expensive than the equivalent trimmed Ram 1500. So, Ford seems to have found a sweet spot with just a small price increase on a truck that is 92% new (2020 vs. 2021).

How Much More Does 4-Wheel Drive Cost On The 2021 Ford F-150?
As mentioned, the base trim with two-wheel drive is where the lowest possible price starts. To add four-wheel drive to any trim costs an additional $3,495.

Four-wheel drive is something most truck buyers seek, although a surprising number continue to opt for two-wheel drive.

Is The 2021 Ford F-150 A Good Deal?
Well “good deal” is a subjective term. The truck most will likely want will cost between $40,000 and $50,000. For example, the popular XLT SuperCrew will cost $42,000 to start which is about $250 more than the same trim for 2020.

CarsDirect.com did an analysis of the pricing for the 2021 F-150 vs. the 2020 F-150 and found some trims with some of the most popular equipment packages would see a significant price increase.

According to CarsDirect, “At the top of the range, the 2021 F-150 Limited 4x2 SuperCrew will start at $72,520 with destination, $3,090 more than the previous year's MSRP of $69,430. In a 4x4 configuration, the price tag reaches $75,945.”

Other top trims will see significant increase in prices too, as the Lariat trim will increase (year over year) by almost $2,000 and the King Ranch SuperCrew increases $3,340. And even more staggering, the top-of-the-line Platinum trim increases (year over year) by more than $3,500.

So you can see that while the lower trims, with minimal packages, will still be affordable and bargains, but it’s on the upper trims with premium packages where the pricing for the 2021 F-150 becomes astronomical.

Adding Hybrid Technology to the 2021 Ford F-150
Ford announced hybrid technology would be available on every trim of the 2021 F-150. They’re calling it PowerBoost and while we don’t know the fuel economy ratings yet, there’s expected to be significant increases in fuel economy. But at what cost?

According to the leaked dealer information, the PowerBoost costs anywhere from $2,500 to nearly $4,500 to the bottom line when added to certain powerplants.

The base F-150 will have a 3.3-liter V6 engine. Adding the PowerBoost hybrid to this engine will cost an extra $4,495. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 can also get the hybrid PowerBoost for an additional $3,300. And the two more popular engines (5.0-liter Coyote V8 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost) can get the hybrid PowerBoost for $2,500.

My guess is, those interested in hybrid technology will surge to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and at an additional $2,500 that seems like the best deal, with the best fuel economy. Once we know the EPA ratings, we will report here at Torque News. But this combination could push the F-150 over the 30-mpg plateau.

The F-150 finds its groove in the lower trims, being appealing to businesses as a work truck and also offering appeal as a fleet vehicle. In this range, the 2021 F-150 will excite potential customers with just a small increase. However, Ford knows also that today’s truck buyer loves luxury in trucks and thus, a much more significant year-over-year price increase is coming for the 2021 F-150. And my guess, people will still buy it and not bat an eye.

Order banks for the 2021 Ford F-150 are now open, so price out your truck. I’d love to hear what you spent and what you ordered, so if you do order one, leave me a comment.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.