2021 Ford F-150 Tremor 4×4 – Tougher Tweener, Re- Driven Review

BETWEEN LARIAT FX-4 AND RAPTOR:  there is space in the Ford F-Series half ton pickup truck lineup for enhanced “Ruggedization.” Not all off-roaders need a sauroid bird of prey to dance over dunes. To that end the new 2021 Ford F-150 Tremor is equipped to tread on off-road trails which cause mere rugged dressers to quake.

2021 Ford F-150 Tremor SuperCrew 4×4 Driving Hits: (differences from previously tested F-150 XLT FX-4 Supercrew PowerBoost  in parentheses)

• 3.5L intercooled twin turbocharged DOHC gas H-4 = 400 horsepower, 500 pound-feet torque @ 3100 rpm; Start/ Stop idle
  • Brisker mid-range acceleration than the old “Five Point Oh” V-8 provided

• 10-speed manumatic torque converter planetary transmission, power folding T-shifter
• 2-speed, 2:73:1 Low, electronic chain & clutch driven four-wheel drive shift on the fly, automatic mode transfer case
• 3.73:1 final drive ratio electronic locking rear axle, open front differential, available Torsen limited slip (included on tester)
• 9.75″ locking rear differential gear set
• Drive modes x 8; ♦ Normal, ♦ Eco,♦ Sport, ♦ Slippery, ♦ Deep Snow/Sand, ♦ Mud/Ruts, ♦ Tow/Haul, ♦ Rock Crawl
• 18 combined miles per gallon, 600 miles highway range (26 gallons fuel tank)
• 10,900 pounds towing, 1885 lbs. payload capacity
• Fully boxed frame, mil-strength aluminum cargo box
• Front independent, rear solid axle suspension, four wheel ventilated disc brakes
• Pliant ride, improved quelling of body lean, quiet cabin
• F-150 TREMOR specific:
  • Revised front upper control arms & wheel hub knuckles
  • Front monotube & rear twin tube dampers revised for softer compression
  • Softer front coil & rear variable rate leaf springs
  • Front, fuel tank & transfer case skid plates
  • 9.4″ ground clearance, +2.1″ cab height (vs. F-150 XLT FX-4)
  • +1.5″, +1.0″ F:R suspension travel

• • 27.6° approach, 24.3° departure, 21.2° breakover angles = (+5.8° / -1.0° / +1.2° vs XLT FX-4)
  • +0.6″, +0.8″ F:R inches wider wheel track
  • 33.0″ diameter 275/70 General Grabber All Terrain T-speed rated all-terrain tires
  • Matte smoked finish 18″ alloy wheels

2021 Ford F-150 Tremor Driving Misses:

• Transmission hunts in Eco and Normal drive modes
• Wooden brake pedal feel
• Highway wind buffeting

What the 2021 Ford F-150 Tremor Has Got:

• Pricing: from $64,645 (incl. destination) for an 10-speed automatic 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4×4 w/ Tremor package.
  • As tested top Stone Grey Metallic 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Tremor 4×4 = $70,095

• 2021 brings the 14th generation F-150, a re-fresh of the Gen. 13 aluminum body which debuted in 2016: √ Wider tri-lateral bar grille with outline now encompassing “F” vertical array headlamps traced by boomerang LED DRLs; √ Jutting front bumper cover; “F” vertical array wrap around taillamps; √ Tail gate with bolder embossed “F-150” lettering & Tailgate upper lip spoiler

• TREMOR trim specific: √ Black “FORD” grille and tailgate ovals; √ Upper & lower grille latticing; √ Aluminum front bash plate; √ [non-functional] Raptor-style hood vents; √ Light contrast wing mirrors; √ Matte smoke finished alloy wheels; √ “TREMOR” running boards; √ Rear bumper dual corner exhaust outlets
  • ORANGE MOTIF: √ Mid-grille lateral bar; √ Front tow hooks; √ “TREMOR” fender vents; √ Rear quarter panel “TREMOR” decals; √ Tailgate right side “TREMOR” decal

• 5 big guy sized, 2-Row seating

• 64.7 cubic feet cargo capacity w/ 60/40% split seat cushions raised
• 5.5 foot long cargo box w/ adjustable locking J-channel cleats
• Damped tailgate & tailgate deploying extension steps
• Power sliding rear backlight window

• Contrast stitch padded upper and middle dash; Upper and lower gloveboxes; Satin metallic mid dash, door panel & center console banding; Traditional dual analog dial gauges flanking 8.0″ color TFT multi-function display; Lower center stack wireless device storage cubby; Even & smooth finished switchgear
• Comprehensive standard feature set
  • √ Remote keyless entry; √ 1-zone (optional 2-zone automatic) air-conditioned climate control
  • √ LED headlights & taillights; √ Intermittent windshield wipers
  • √ Power windows x 4, Driver’s express; √ Cup holders x4, Bottle holders x 4
  • √ Ballistic fabric 6-way driver & 4-way passenger manual adjust seats; √ Tilt & telescoping urethane steering wheel
  • √ Center dash embedded, dual knob controlled, 8.0″ landscape touch LCD infotainment display w/ wireless voice control; √ USB-C x 2; 12V x 2; √ Bluetooth phone connectivity and smart phone SMS
  • Standard 6-speaker, 180 W streaming audio, voice commands
  • √ Android Auto, AppleCar Play phone projection; √ Sirius XM satellite radio (120 days trial);

• Excellent safety features & ratings
  • • +1 IIHS Top Safety Pick; √ 10 airbags; √ Full size spare tire on alloy wheel
• Driver assist tech
  • • • STANDARD: √ Rear camera + predictive grid; √ Audible rear park warning; √ Pedestrian & vehicle collision avoidance braking; √ Blind Spot warning; √ Rear cross traffic alert & obstacle braking; √ Lane departure warning, keep;  √ Post collision brake lock; √ Row 2 occupant reminder; √ Auto high beam LED headlamps; √ Anti-roll & Trailer sway control
      • FORD Co-Pilot360 ADAS (available): √ Full adaptive cruise control; √ Lane trace assist; √ Speed sign recognition; √ Evasive steering assist; √ Intersection left turn front collision avoidance; √ Connected Navigation

• • • 

    • • OFF-ROAD ADAS (available): √ Trail Control off road cruise; √ rock crawling Trail One-Pedal Drive; √ slow maneuver Trail Turn Assist
      • TOWING ADAS (available): Pro Trailer Backup Assist
• 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty
  • -1 No included maintenance

What the 2021 Ford F-150 Tremor SuperCrew 4×4 Has Not (or Not Preferred):

• Abundance of darkness and the coarse grain hard plastics

Standout Feature(s) on 2021 FORD F-150 TREMOR SUPERCREW:

• 12.0″ full color drive mode variable TFT Productivity instrument cluster screen
• Interior Work Surface deploying full center console tray
• Upfitter accessories toggle switches x 6 (overhead console)
• “Pro Power Onboard” cargo bed 110 V AC outlets x 2: 2 kW

• Power adjusting accelerator/ brake pedals & tilt/ telescoping heated steering wheel
• ♦ 12.0″ MyFord Touch Sync 4.0 landscape, split pane touch LCD infotainment display; ♦ HDD cloud GPS voice command, voice guidance navigation (3 yrs. OTA map updates)

• B&O Unleashed 18- brushed aluminum grille speakers; 1080 Watts, 10-channel DSP audiophile audio
• ♦ Power folding wing mirrors; ♦ Auto dimming rear view mirror + Homelink remote door control; ♦ Comfort access; ♦ Push button ignition
• ♦ Leather seating w/ orange contrast piping, “TREMOR” orange stitched seatbacks x 4, heated & cooled front, 10-way driver, 8-way passenger power adjust; ♦ Rear climate vents & outboard heated seats
• “TREMOR” orange colored dashboard end caps & U.S. Flag emblems

• ♦ Rows 1 & 2 110V AC power outlet; ♦ USB-A x 2, USB-C x 2; ♦ 12V x 2 (including cargo bay)
• ♦ Sirius TravelLink (5 yrs. trial); ♦ 2 GB trial 4G LTE WiFi subscription by Verizon
• MyFord Sync 4 Apps (complimentary): Pandora, iHeart streaming radio
• ♦ ToughBed spray in bed liner; ♦ Power backlight sliding window; ♦ LED approach and bed lamps

Roadblazing.com Says: Tweener F-Series pounds the ground in preparation for a predatory flying reptilian landing.

Contributing Editor: G. Straton

SEE ROADBLAZING.COM’s COMPLETE BOTTOM LINE REVIEW, PHOTO GALLERY & SPECIFICATIONS OF THE 2021 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW XLT POWERBOOST BELOW

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WHAT: 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab XLT PowerBoost 4×4. The fourteenth iteration of America’s best selling vehicle for the past 40 years remains aluminum bodied on a revised steel full boxed in frame. While carrying over its predecessor’s box and cabin frames the 2021 F-150 hosts 92% new components. The DOHC 3.3L, 2.7 and 3.5 turbo ecoboost V-6 and 5.0L V-8 engines carry over with minor refinements while the 10-speed joint GM-Ford developed 10-speed automatic is the sole transmission.

Optional Hybrid Powertrain: intercooled twin-turbocharged 3.0L DOHC 24V DI gas V-6 w/ idle Start/ Stop = 400 hp / 500 lb-ft @3100 rpm + 10-spd. torque converter planetary automatic transaxle + 2-speed part time electronic transfer case 4-wheel drive to an open front & E-limited slip rear differentials.

Supplemented By: 2 x 450 V AC synchronous pole permanent magnet electric motors, located between engine and transmission; MG 2 = 47 hp (35 kW), 221 lb-ft, 1.5 kWh Lithium Ion battery (beneath cargo bed).

NET Hybrid Power Rating = 430 hp / 570 lb-ft @3000 rpm

• • = +10 hp, +110 lb-ft vs. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L OHV V-8;
  • = +35 hp, +160 lb-ft; vs. RAM 1500 5.7L OHV V-8 eTorque

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: The new 2021 F-150 XLT‘s wide octagonal grille outline and more prominent dual tandem center horizontal bars commenced with the 2018 mid-cycle refresh of its predecessor. However those prominent center bars are now darkened rather than body color matched and are distanced with prominent risers. The headlight assemblies go from swept back grille bar encapsulating “F” shape to vertical boomerang DRL fangs outlining new quad segmented LEDs. The center hood power dome area is boxier, less sloped, with the upper lower front fascia now body colored matched with slimmer upper corner fog light mounts. Lower door cheatline folds are more acutely flared. Fenders are adorned with forward angled dark boomerang accents bearing model designations.

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