The Car Connection Gets Behind The Wheel Of The F-150 Tremor Hybrid

The updated 2024 Ford F-150 is giving customers more of what was already great, and with that comes glowing reviews by journalists who notice how Ford is listening to what truck buyers genuinely want and need. From tweaks to the Hybrid, the Pro Access tailgate, all the way to the remarkable Tremor trim level that gives everyone an off-roadable F-150 without having to buy a Raptor. As The Car Connection noted, “Add up all of these small changes, and it’s easy to see how the Ford F-150 continues to lead the pickup truck segment in America.”

Pro Access Tailgate Is A Win

Speaking of the Pro Access tailgate, The Car Connection loved how Ford engineers and designers paid attention to what GM didn’t do quite so right with their own tailgate, saying, “The tailgate folds down manually or via power as usual, but Ford now puts a door inside the tailgate that hinges open at 100-, 70-, or 37-degree angles, the latter making it easy to open and access the bed with a trailer attached. That resolves one of the limitations of GM’s 6-way power tailgate …”

The Tremor Gives Buyers MORE For Less

The main praise of the first test went to the new Tremor trim, which can have either a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, or for $90 more buyers can opt for the EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque: “… the 2024 Tremor costs less than a Lariat and $14,180 less than a Raptor. It can’t do all the things a Raptor can do, of course, but it just might be the most complete F-150 on sale. I tested the new model on a switchbacking access road up and down a mountain, deep in off-the-grid territory, ascending over rocky ruts and descending into terrain too tough for Subarus or soft-roaders. It impressed me enough to recommend it as the F-150 to buy.”

Off-Roading Without On-Road Compromises

2024 F-150 Tremor models also add a significant amount of off-road goodies compared to the regular trim levels while still retaining a towing capacity of 13,500 lbs, which is a lot more than the Raptor and Raptor R models that can tow up to 8,300 and 8,700 lbs, respectively. The Car Connection highlighted what makes the Tremor special, saying, “It comes as a crew cab with the short bed, and includes a locking rear differential as well as hill descent control and Trail Turn assist that locks the inside rear wheel to make tighter turns that essentially shrink the wheelbase. It rolls on 33-inch General Grabber A/TX tires over black 18-inch wheels, has an inch wider track thanks to Tremor-specific control arms and knuckles, and rides on monotube front shocks and twin-tube rear shocks. The ground clearance rises to 9.8 inches (1.6 inches higher than your standard F-150) and the approach, breakover, and departure angles improve. It all adds up to easy off-roading. The orange accents, four tow hooks, and standard running boards add some flair and function.”

A Hybrid Pickup Truck That Gets It Right

When the 2021 F-150 Hybrid debuted, it was the talk of the town. Never before had such a capable pickup truck had a hybrid powertrain. While it was a superbly great vehicle, customers and Ford engineers felt as though a few things should be tweaked. As The Car Connection notes, “Changes to the first-generation F-150 hybrid are subtle but significant. Ford eliminated the belt-integrated starter generator … During brief road testing in the desert beyond Palm Springs, Calif., the PowerBoost hybrid exhibited smoother power handoffs between the motor and engine power at low speeds. When the hybrid powertrain launched with the 2021 model year, it could feel uncertain in low gears, as if the system didn’t know when to use engine, motor, or dual power at once. Now, on roads leading to the highway, it felt quieter, calmer, and overall less noticeable, which is what I want out of any hybrid powertrain.”

Trim Levels and Power

For the 2024 model year, the Ford F-150 features a base MSRP of $39,665. It is available in nine trim levels, including XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Tremor, Raptor, and Raptor R. The base truck now gets the EcoBoost 2.7-liter V6, making 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Optional engines include the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, the 3.5-liter Hybrid PowerBoost with 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque, the old school 5.0-liter V8 putting out 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor gets a 430 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6, and the Raptor R has a 5.2-liter Supercharged V8 outputting 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque.

Pro Power Onboard

With the different engine and trim options available, the F-150 is also available with Pro Power Onboard. Depending on the engine and trim level you choose, Power Pro Onboard adds electrical outlets in the truck bed for various purposes, such as tailgating, running tools, powering a job site, or even helping to power things in your home during significant power outages. Available on gas engine models is a 2.0kW power option. Hybrid PowerBoost trucks have a standard 2.4kW with an optional 7.2kW. Ford says the 7.2kW Pro Power can supply enough power to a framing crew, mobile metal and welding shop, or a dirt bike shop for 32 straight hours.

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