For the 2021 model year, the most affordable F-150 available is – of course – the XL trim level. It’s very good value at $28,940 before options and freight, and this pickup doesn’t necessarily feel cheap if you know your way around the configurator. Take, for instance, the truck in the following video.
TFL managing editor Andre Smirnov is very much surprised by the XL in this particular specification, which is the extended cab with Lead Foot paint, body-colored bumpers, four-wheel drive, the 101A High equipment group, Coyote V8 engine, and the STX Appearance Package. Including the destination charge, this configuration of the all-new F-150 will set you back $43,460.
The list of goodies also includes the 3.31 ratio for the rear axle, which offers better fuel economy than the 3.73 to the detriment of responsiveness and acceleration. Capable of seating six people at a squeeze thanks to a central armrest that doubles as a center seat up front, the truck is relatively light as well at just under 5,000 pounds or 2,268 kilograms in European money.
Capable of towing in the ballpark of 9,500 lbs (4,309 kg), the XL showcased by The Fast Lane features the entry-level touchscreen infotainment system with an 8.0-inch display. As far as drive modes are concerned, there’s no 4 Auto but 2 High, 4 High, and 4 Low for you to choose from.
In Andre’s hands, the pickup shoots to 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 6.9 seconds in 4H and with the electronic nannies turned off. Not bad for an acceleration test in the winter at a mile above sea level, right?
When all is said and done, even the cheapest of truck configurations are extremely competent in this day and age thanks to clever engineering and better software than ever before. The question is, would you pick this F-150 over the Silverado 1500 or Ram 1500 optioned to the same sticker price?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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