Ford PowerBoost vs EcoBoost vs PowerStroke vs 5.0L V8 vs 3.3L V6 | 2021 Ford F-150 Engine Comparison

We're looking at all 6 available engines for the 2021 Ford F-150 and comparing the specs, payload, and towing numbers to see which might be the best for your needs.

Chapter Summary
00:00 Introduction
01:07 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 Engine Specifications
02:39 2.7L EcoBoost V6 Engine Specifications
03:49 3.5L EcoBoost V6 Engine Specifications
05:16 5.0L Coyote V8 Engine Specifications
06:32 3.0L PowerStroke Turbodiesel V6 Engine Specifications
08:09 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 Engine Specifications
10:37 Driving Test with PowerBoost V6
14:57 Wrap-Up & Conclusion
16:03 End Screen & Credits

As a follow-up to our hugely successful Showdown on the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty engines, comparing the 6.7L PowerStroke Turbodiesel V8 versus the 7.3L gas V8, we're looking at the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 engine lineup including all available engines for the North American market and how they compare specs wise to one another.

We start off with the 3.3L Cyclone V6 engine, available as the entry-level engine on the XL and XLT trims, and unavailable on the higher trims. We go over the engine specs including horsepower and torque, along with the transmission information. For comparison purposes we're looking at the Curb Weight, Payload, and Towing numbers for a SuperCrew with the 5'5" bed, and 4x4 drive configuration, and using a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio unless otherwise noted. We discuss the curb weight of the Cyclone V6, it's maximum payload numbers, and it's maximum towing numbers.

Our next engine is represented by a 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat with the 2.7L Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. We go over the engine specifications including horsepower and torque, followed by the base curb weight, maximum payload numbers and the maximum towing capacity for this engine. We also talk about our independent real-world fuel economy test results as we've driven this engine previously.

Up next is a 2021 Ford F-150 XLT with the upgraded 3.5L Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. We go over the updated engine specifications as this V6 received a bump in horsepower and torque for 2021. We go over the base curb weight for this EcoBoost engine, along with the maximum payload and maximum conventional towing numbers when configured with our SuperCrew, 5.5 foot bed, 4x4 model. We've also driven this engine before so we go over our fuel economy numbers.

The next engine on our video is on a 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine, Ford's Modular V8 with a CID of 307. This engine has been around for a while now, and is considered to be a tried-and-true reliable option for those who want an affordable daily driver. We go over the horsepower and torque for this engine along with the curb weight, maximum payload numbers, and maximum towing capacity. We report the price/cost of the engines when configuring them on a Lariat trim, it is important to note that this engine is considerably cheaper for US customers than it is in Canada, but also compared to the 2.7L EcoBoost V6.

The fifth engine in Ford's F-150 lineup is the 3.0L PowerStroke Turbodiesel V6 engine, however it's a bit of a controversial engine as Ford is in the process of discontinuing its use on the F-Series pickup trucks. While it's possible to configure a new 2021 Ford F-150 as of filming this with the engine, Ford will no longer fill orders for the diesel. Some have been ordered and will be delivered to customers by the end of the year, but it doesn't seem like this engine will be available beyond this model year. We wanted to include it on this video for those who may be able to find one down the road, so they know what the specifications and technical details are for it.

Our final truck is a 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat with the new 3.5L EcoBoost Full Hybrid V6 engine, one of many unique selling features of this 14th generation F-Series pickup. The hybrid engine produces the best horsepower and torque numbers for 2021 and can be configured with the best towing numbers for this truck. The hybrid also comes with the Pro Power Onboard 2.4 kW system standard which allows owners to power a multitude of items via outlets in the bed and/or cab. Our truck is upgraded with the 7.2 kW version, allowing for more power and more continuous use.

We take the 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat PowerBoost on a road test to talk about how this engine performs, as well as our thoughts on the other current engines we've driven on this pickup truck.

[bobdennis]

So I know you say you got the tow numbers right but you actually do have the 3.5 Ecoboost incorrect. 12300 is for the Supercab with the max tow package. 13900 is for the Supercrew 4x4 with the short box with max tow package. Great video comparisons though

[williamhildreth]

One of the best comparisons I’ve seen
Great job. Down to earth, clear articulate and unbiased
Thanks

[matthewhunter]

The f150 5.0 with a whipple super charger, is really my dream

[madmike]

I have the 2018 lariat in the 5.0 coyote and I get around 17MPG in fuel economy. Pretty impressive.

[huntertellez]

I recently purchased a 2019 f150 lariat crew cab long bed 4x4 with the 3.0L powerstroke. Ive only had it roughly 2 month but I can day so far I am very happy with it. It's got plenty of power no doubt and the torque is on point where it needs it. My best fuel economy number so far commuting has been 21.6 mpg and I'm really happy with that number. Recently pulled 8, 000lbs with a bumper pull and it handles amazingly and got top fuel efficiency of 14.3mpg. All and very hard to find but I'm definitely getting my moneys worth out of it.

[paulm]

Whoever got that white F150 got a beautiful truck. Was that Lariat? I like the Coyote V8 as I find turbo engines when pushed hard are not as efficient as advertised. And I still think V8 is more reliable and that noise. The F150 is a great truck though no matter what engine.

[LivinWithM]

Awesome comparison and video. New subscriber to your channel. Big thumbs up!!!

[martindriver]

I bought one in seaside California.
Platinum powerboost. Awesome truck fun to drive. Its fully loaded. To be honest I didnt know what i was buying. Was on vacation and my 2013 f250 wasnt running right. They gave me a good price and the rest is history. But really an awesome truck.

[jonathankrug]

I own a 2020 2.7l and it's a great little motor. Intrigued by the Powerboost but I don't really need more power than the 2.7 offers. Would love to see a 2.7 based Powerboost with a larger battery to draw from. I bet they could get 360hp/480lbs and 28MPG combined. Would be the killer daily F150!

[brandonmacon]

Thanks for covering gears. Most people just talk about the motors.

[james]

Little history on the ford engines here. the well known 4.0 V6 from yesteryear lives on. Ford originally shrunk it down to a 3.7 V6, then again to a 3.5 V6. Then ford turbocharged that 3.5 and that's the ecoboost we have today. But to reduce confusion and improve emissions, they shrunk down the base NA engine again to 3.3, but to compensate upped the compression ratio to a nutty 12:1 so the power wouldn't change. Funny enough the 3.5 NA engine is still made and is the base engine for the full size transit van. The 2.7 design wise is actually the far superior engine than the 3.5 as its block was designed all new, and the 3.0 in the explorer is a slightly bored out variant of the 2.7. The 2.7 has superior cooling and fuel saving techs that make it almost as efficient as the hybrid 3.5 ecoboost. I wish ford did a redesign of the 3.5 ecoboost to go along with the new hyrbid to give it all the 2.7's improvements, but nope. The coyote is actually based on the 4.6 V8 ford used for so long prior to this. The only truly new engines in the f150 are the 2.7 and diesel. Note on pricing, you have the upgrades backwards, the coyote is an upgrade from the 2.7 for 800 dollars.

In my opinion the 2.7 ecoboost is the daily driver V8 killer. It has the torque of the 5-5.7 liter V8's, but its cheaper, more fuel efficient and feels better out on the road. The 3.5 is a diesel replacement due to the raw amount of torque it provides and the rest of the engines are just because of consumer demand. The diesel was actually discontinued because it only existed as a fuel efficient towing alternative to the 3.5's towing prowess, but the powerboost is cheaper, tows more, has more power, gets the same fuel economy and doesn't run on diesel, so now the powerstroke has no purpose in ford's lineup. Due to GM refusing to make any more hybrids, the new 3.0 duramax is their fuel efficent answer to upcoming hybrids from ford until GM can go full EV, and ram only has the diesel in the 1500 and wranglers/gladiators, but you won't see the diesel in the grand cherokee or grand wagoneer or durango or any other cars as they also plan to go the route ford did by replacing diesel with smaller hyrbid turbo engines.

As for the payload and towing, it changes based on the specific truck. I can show you 8 different XLT trucks with a 2.7tt, 4x4, super crew and 5.5foot bed and all of them have different payload and towing figures. Also trucks are the only vehicles sold with varying final drive ratios, with also adversely affect vehicle behavior. I personally like lower rear gearing, like for example on the 2.7tt you can get a 3.55:1 and 3.73:1 rear end, I would choose the 3.73 every time as the highway fuel economy wouldn't change much (if at all with the 10 speed) and the lower starting ratio is always better. Actually the 3.5tt has a 3.15, 3.31, 3.55 and 3.73 option, which is an 18% range in mechanical leverage and effective torque on the engine. Not only is that more torque off the line, but also more engine breaking power

[Randomgamer-tkzj]

I don’t really fully trust the ecoboost engines. My dream truck truck would be a 2021 f150 single cab short bed with either a 5.0 or the 3.3 v6 2wd. I trust engines that make their own power without any turbos or superchargers well at least for a daily. I have currently have an 04 ranger with the 4.0 v6 4x4 and it has been a champ i have about 152k miles on it now. I honestly rarely use 4x4 on my truck i think i would prefer a 2wd as a daily.

[xilbus]

Up till what speed can you drive in electric mode with the power boost?

[grey.]

Does the 5.0 have cylinder deactivation

[tylersutton]

Which F-150 would be best for my wife. We use my 350 to haul our race cars around but we sometimes need a camper when racing. What would be best to use for my 35ft camper?

[Mundo-]

I have the 2021 XLT 5.0 it is a bad M/F I love it.

[juliawells]

Can anyone tell me why the 2.7 wouldn’t be available for 157” WB? The Powerboost seems to be having issues with Aux Pump failure, plus national parts shortage, which makes me hesitant to buy one! A 157” wheelbase is a necessity, along with Supercrew, but it can’t be configured with the 2.7, which is very frustrating. Unsure of the next best option. (Not needed for towing heavy loads)

[danielsmith]

I'm curious how efficient Fords hybrid system could make that N/A 3.3?

[sealoftheliving]

If Ford discontinued production of Power Stroke Diesel then why they are selling in the Philippines?

[TheCrawdaddy]

its pretty rare for me to see a powerboost. Since I bought one I'm always looking and they are almost always an ecoboost at least in the newer models.