Can a new Ford F-150 XL work truck actually be quicker than a 2nd-gen Ford Raptor in a drag race? What if that new 2021 F-150 has a Hybrid powertrain with 430 horsepower? How would this F-150 compare to a Ram TRX in a drag race? We went to our test track at IMI Motorsports in Dacono, Colorado to find out. The results are surprising!
This drag race and 0-60 MPH performance test is part of the TFL Insider video series brought to you by our friends at 5 Star Tuning. Take a look at their site for all the latest truck and SUV performance parts.
On paper, the new F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid looks very good. It uses a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor for a combined 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. Indeed, this is less power than the high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the Raptor, but the Hybrid has way more torque. The Raptor’s engine is rated at 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.
The basic F-150 Hybrid has other advantages. This crew cab 4×4 FX4 package has a curb weight of just over 5,600 lbs. The fully-optioned Raptor truck you see here weighs just over 6,000 lbs. The Ram TRX TR1 package pushes on the scales with 6,500 lbs.
The Raptor and TRX have very large and heavy 35-inch tall all-terrain tires. The F-150 FX4 truck has much smaller 32-inch tall tires that are not as aggressive. It’s easier to get the smaller and lighter wheels going off the line.
The F-150 Hybrid ran a 5.7-second 0-60 MPH sprint, while our long-term Ford Raptor can usually manage around a 6.2-second run at our 1-mile high test track. There is about 17% less air density at a mile above sea level.
Yes, the F-150 Hybrid work truck does beat the Raptor in a drag race. However, the Ram TRX is another story. We had an unknown glitch with our truck when Roman was accelerating during the first two drag race attempts. We cycled the TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 (702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque). The glitch went away, and the TRX easily beat the F-150 Hybrid with a 4.6-second 0-60 MPH run.
Check out the video below for all the performance truck fun!
