NEWS
Mike Hanley is the author
November 16, 2022
If you were looking for a new full-size pickup truck with a gas-electric drivetrain, you didn’t have a lot of options until recently. Ford has a hybrid system in its F-150, while Toyota has a hybrid in its Tundra.
The nicest Toyota pickup you can buy is the Toyota Tundra.
The Rides
When we had the chance to test the Tundra’s top trim level, which comes exclusively with the hybrid drivetrain, we thought it would be interesting to see how the fuel economy compares to the four-wheel-drive versions.
A number of design similarities exist between the F-150 hybrid and the Tundra hybrid. The trucks are powered by twin-turbocharged V6 engines that work with 10-speed automatic transmissions and an electric motor between the engine and transmission. The F-150 hybrid has a 1.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery compared to the Tundra hybrid which has a 1.87-kWh nickel-metal-hydride battery. The F-150 hybrid’s total system output is the same as that of the Tundra hybrid.
The Route
We drove the two trucks through northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin for the test. The drive included a mix of interstate highways, rural two-lane roads and suburban streets. During our trip, we encountered some stop-and-go driving conditions, but traffic was moving most of the time, with the average speed for the entire trip coming in at 35 mph.
To keep things consistent, we put the trucks in Normal drive mode, used their climate control system’s Auto air-conditioning setting, kept the windows and moonroof closed, and put their drive lines in rear-wheel drive. We switched drivers midway through the trip in order to balance out their driving styles. There was some damage to our F-150 from road debris at the beginning of the drive, but more on that later.
The Results
How did each truck fare? At the end of our drive, both trucks had surpassed their EPA estimates by a few miles, with the Tundra hybrid showing an average of 21.8 miles per gallon and the F-150 hybrid reading 25.9 miles per gallon. Over the course of our ownership of the F-150, we have tracked its fuel economy and found it to be close to the best we have seen.
The F-150 hybrid was close to its trip computer estimate, but the Tundra hybrid had a better fuel economy. The F-150 used over 7 gallons of gas, while the Tundra hybrid used less than 6 gallons.
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F-150 Active Air Dam Damaged … Again
The air dam of our F-150 was damaged after we came into contact with some debris. When we reached our driver change point, we noticed that the air dam was stuck in its lowered position, because it normally lowers at higher speeds to improve aerodynamic efficiency. When we stopped for lunch and checked it again, the air dam had partially retracted, with the passenger-side portion still lowered and the driver’s side up, leaving the air dam at an odd angle. For the rest of the drive, this was how it stayed. The F-150 was not getting the full benefit of the air dam, which Ford says can improve aerodynamic efficiency by up to 4%.
It cost more than $1,000 to replace our F-150’s active air dam. The air dam was gone so we had to replace it. We will know more when we get an estimate for the repair and report on the cost.
Takeaways
The gas mileage we observed is respectable when you consider the size, power and capability of these full-size trucks. We like how Ford uses the F-150’s hybrid system to do interesting things, like power high-draw items via its available 7.2 kilowatt Pro Power Onboard generator. The Tundra hybrid is only fitted with household power outlets meant for low-draw electronics, so it’s a missed opportunity. It will be interesting to see if Toyota revisits its decision.
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