2021 Ford F-150 Tremor 4x4 - 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 4x4 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 4x4 w/ Tremor package.
  • As tested top Stone Grey Metallic 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Tremor 4x4 = $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, Apple CarPlay 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 4x4 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

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RoadBlazingGeorge Straton