2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Gets Same Price As Diesel (Sort Of)

The first-ever hybrid variant of the 2021 Ford F-150 appears to be shaping up to be a better deal than we expected. According to a dealer order guide, the hybrid will be $500 cheaper than the F-150 diesel. At least on paper. Based on our analysis, a hidden discount will actually result in the hybrid and diesel having the same price.

Pricing for the 14th generation pickup's engines varies based on configuration but offers a $500 advantage for the hybrid compared to the diesel. As we reported last month, stepping up from the entry-level 3.3L V6 to the 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid adds $4,495. In contrast, opting for the 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel V6 adds $4,995.

Similarly, upgrading from the 2.7L EcoBoost costs $3,300 for the hybrid and $3,800 for the diesel. If you're stepping up from the 5.0L V8, the hybrid adds $2,500 compared to $3,000 for the diesel. Although the hybrid is certainly looking like a pretty good deal on paper, we found a surprising quirk worth knowing about.

Sticker prices are one thing, but hidden discounts can reduce the cost of certain options. In the next-gen F-150, a $500 equipment discount on the diesel can offset the engine's higher price tag. Our finding that the diesel and hybrid will have the same effective cost was confirmed earlier today by Ford spokesperson Andrew Surma.

If you were expecting the hybrid to be a lot pricier than the diesel, this could be a welcome surprise. That said, Ford hasn't released horsepower and towing figures for either the hybrid or the diesel. The company promises that the hybrid will deliver "the most torque and horsepower of any light-duty full-size pickup."

Some important differences in packaging and availability could complicate matters for shoppers. For example, the hybrid is the only F-150 that will offer the largest onboard generator option producing 7.2 kW. In addition, the diesel will have late availability and won't launch at the same time as other F-150s this fall.

It's also worth knowing that, unlike a traditional rebate, the discount mentioned above reduces the vehicle's MSRP. That means that the offer will be stackable with future incentives for both buying & leasing. We expect truck buyers will want to weigh their options carefully once Ford reveals official specs for its flagship truck.

Stay tuned for CarsDirect's ongoing coverage of pricing-related matters related to the new F-150.

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