The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is a well-rounded full-size truck with a broad range of engine options and towing capability. It offers a smooth, comfortable ride and a long list of available features. The Ford F-150 is completely redesigned for 2021 with plenty of changes. Let’s take of look.
Design/Pricing
The Sierra offers a quiet, well-built cabin with plenty of quality materials. Your choice of cab style will decide your seating and comfort, with the Crew cab giving you the most space and legroom. The Sierra comes in three cab styles and three bed lengths - Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab; and 5 feet, 8-inch bed, available in Crew Cab models, 8 feet bed, available in Regular Cab models, and 6 feet 6-inch bed, available in Double and Crew Cab models. Cloth upholstery comes standard, and a rear-seat reminder comes in models with rear seats. A dual glove compartment, angular air vents, and a bold steering wheel come on all trims. Leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel are available on the SLT and higher trims. An available GMC MultiPro Tailgate has six distinct functions to help improve loading, unloading and accessing the cargo box. It is standard on the SLT, AT4, and Denali and available on the SLE and Elevation trims. Trims include: Sierra, Sierra SLE, Sierra Elevation, Sierra SLT, Sierra AT4, and Sierra Denali. Pricing starts at $29,700 for the Sierra and ranges to $55,200 for the Sierra Denali.
With an upgraded interior for 2021, the Ford F-150 is your home on the road. More premium materials and comfort are noticed throughout the cabin, along with more storage and convenience features; such as a mobile workplace. It offers several new functions on its tailgate to boost its usability on job sites, with cleats on either side of the tailgate to tie down long items and pockets to attach clamps. Additionally, the 10-speed automatic shift lever can be folded flat with the center console to create a large flat workspace. It also can be ordered with fold-flat front seats to provide space for sleeping. Three cab configurations are offered in both long and short bed lengths, with 8-foot, 6.5-foot, and 5.5-foot beds, though not every bed is offered with every cab style. The four-door crew-cab body style will be the most spacious and family friendly of the trims. Six trim levels will be available: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. Estimated pricing will start at $30,000 for the XL and range to $70,000 for the Limited.
Safety and Technology
The Sierra 1500 features plenty of available features on the SLE trim and above, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane change alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a surround-view parking camera system, a rear camera mirror, and a head-up display. A rearview camera and Teen Driver come standard. A safety alert seat that vibrates to alert you of hazards is also available; as well as its ProGrade Trailering system and new Jackknife alert.
Sierra’s infotainment system is easy to use and responds quickly to inputs. Controls are within easy reach of the driver and the menu layout makes it simple to adjust settings. Standard features include a user-friendly 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, a USB port and a six-speaker audio system (two speakers in Regular Cab models). Available in all but the base trim: wireless device charging, an 8-inch touch screen, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, additional USB ports voice recognition, and navigation. Other available features include a sunroof, keyless entry, automatic climate control, remote start, and two 120-volt household-style power outlets.
Ford offers plenty of standard and available safety features, with each trim level offering more. It includes a rear-facing camera for monitoring a trailer while on the go, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, surround-view parking camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking. And parallel and perpendicular park assist. Ford features smart new technology on an 8.0-inch infotainment display, with an updated version of the Sync 4 system. It provides traffic and weather updates, and onboard telematics to help track fleet vehicle location; as well as providing over-the-air updates for future software releases. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, and USB ports. Navigation and Sirius XM radio, a 12.0-inch touchscreen display, an eight- or 18-speaker premium stereo system from Bang & Olufsen, satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and wireless device charging are available options. Remote start, push-button start, a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control is also available.
Performance
The Sierra is full of power, towing capability and offers improved fuel economy and ample low-down torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is available. The base Sierra comes with a 4.3-liter V6 and 285 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque is available on the Sierra, SLE, and Denali. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 3.0-liter inline-six turbodiesel engine with 277 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque is available in SLE, Elevation, SLT, and Denali. A 5.3-liter V8 with 366 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission is available in Sierra, SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. A 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft or torque and a 10-speed automatic transmission is available in SLT, AT4, and Denali. It estimates 16/21 mpg in the city and on the highway with its base V6 engine. The Sierra can tow up to 11,800 pounds and haul up to 2,250.
You have the choice of six options when picking your powertrain for the F-150. For the first time ever, the F-150 will also be offered with a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.5L twin-turbo V-6, a 35-kW electric motor, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. It will give you a combined effort of gas and electric to tow and carry the load; and it will give you up to 700 miles of driving range on a full tank of gas. The 2021 F-150 will also be available with a 290-horsepower V6, 325-horsepower twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, a 400-horsepower EcoBoost V6, a 400-horsepower V8, and a 250-horsepower turbo diesel. They are all paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose between rear-and four-wheel drive with any of the F-150’s powertrains; and it features decent off-road capability with several off-road packages. When equipped, the F-150 can tow up to 14,000 pounds and haul up to 3,325 pounds. The F-150 gets 20/24 mpg in the city and on the highway with its base engine and rear-wheel drive.
Overall
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is a solid full-size pickup truck, with powerful engines, and an off-road trim for all your adventures. The all-new 2021 F-150 is tough and capable, with added features for your comfort and convenience.; as well as a new hybrid option, but will come at a higher price tag for its top-range trims.