Six months into testing our 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid, and with 10,000 miles on the odometer, a clear picture of its fuel efficiency is emerging – and it’s not quite the rosy picture painted by the EPA. While the hybrid powertrain, also known as PowerBoost, promised to bridge the gap between truck capability and fuel economy, our real-world experience reveals a significant discrepancy from the official mpg figures. This long-term test, the fourth F-150 in our test fleet, is starting to highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of this highly anticipated hybrid pickup, particularly when it comes to the much-discussed Ford F-150 hybrid mpg.
The window sticker of the Ford F-150 Hybrid sets high hopes, particularly for those seeking to minimize trips to the gas station. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates for the F-150 Hybrid are an impressive 24 mpg combined, broken down as 24 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. These figures suggest that owners can expect to enjoy both truck utility and car-like fuel efficiency. However, our extensive real-world testing is revealing a different story regarding the Ford F-150 hybrid mpg.
Alt text: Dashboard display showing the average fuel economy of the Ford F-150 Hybrid, indicating miles per gallon.
Over the course of 10,000 miles, spanning six months and 30 fill-ups, our Ford F-150 Hybrid has averaged a disappointing 19.3 miles per gallon. This figure excludes periods of towing and performance testing, representing typical daily driving conditions. While 19.3 mpg would be considered respectable for a traditional full-size pickup truck, it falls considerably short of the advertised 24 mpg and significantly impacts the value proposition of the hybrid powertrain. This real-world Ford F-150 hybrid mpg figure raises questions about the accuracy of EPA estimates and the actual fuel savings hybrid owners can expect.
Alt text: Fuel pump filling the gas tank of a Ford F-150 Hybrid at a gas station, illustrating the need for refueling despite being a hybrid vehicle.
Delving deeper into our fuel logs, the Ford F-150 Hybrid only achieved an average of 24 mpg per tank on just two occasions and 23 mpg twice. The majority of fill-ups resulted in fuel economy in the high 18 mpg range. This means that the promised 24 mpg Ford F-150 hybrid mpg was only realized in approximately 13% of our fill-ups, and even then, achieving those figures required very deliberate and fuel-conscious driving. The engine’s fuel efficiency appears to be sensitive to driving style, but the consistent result is clear: 24 mpg is not the typical real-world experience.
It’s worth noting that our test Ford F-150 Hybrid is equipped with a towing-optimized 3.73 axle ratio, which could slightly hinder fuel economy compared to a numerically lower axle ratio. However, while this might account for a minor reduction in mpg, it’s unlikely to explain the substantial 5 mpg deficit we are observing. The gap between the EPA estimate and our real-world Ford F-150 hybrid mpg remains significant, suggesting that potential buyers should temper their fuel economy expectations for the Ford F-150 Hybrid.
