2017 Ford Super Duty: Styling and Interior
Debuting at the 2015 State Fair of Texas in Dallas, the 2017 Ford Super Duty proves to be just as substantially redesigned as its little brother, the all-new 2015 F-150. The differences are especially noticeable in the Super Duty's styling and interior.
Styling
Just like the outgoing model, the redesigned 2017 Ford Super Duty is a big truck. It becomes even more evident when one is parked next to a new Ford F-150. Although the heavy-duty and light-duty pickups share all three cabins now (crew, supercab, and regular), Super Dutys sit higher and have a more massive presence. Like the F-150's update, the Super Duty cabin is bigger than the model it replaces — about 4 inches longer for all models for greater interior space.
Also like the F-150, it's made out of aluminum — the cab and box are entirely constructed of the lightweight metal, while the chassis is rendered in high-strength steel. The bed contains 14 percent more aluminum by mass than the F-150's bed to allow for the Super Duty's greater payload capacity. The weight savings from switching to so much aluminum is considerable — but Ford took some of that savings and beefed up other components (like the frame, axles, and transfer case) of the Super Duty, so net the new truck is only up to 350 pounds lighter than the old one (depending on configuration). Regular-cab, SuperCab and crew-cab styles are again offered.
Outside, the Ford stylists tried to change the vertical orientation of the F-250 and F-350 into a more horizontal one by gracing the Super Duty with a massive plastic shield grille stretching between the headlights. Five different grilles are available for the Super Duty; they all feature the largest-ever 13-inch Ford blue oval logo smack in the center. The words Super Duty are stamped into the aluminum hood in greater clarity and relief than in the old steel hood. It helps a little bit, but not much — you're still struck by the size of the stacked headlights, which are now available in high-output LEDs, but the imposing, intimidating look is in keeping with the Super Duty's mission.
Interior
The new Super Duty's interior has been updated to mirror the one introduced by the F-150. It's not groundbreaking in terms of style, but it's significantly better than the truck it replaces in terms of material quality, assembly and comfort. Much of it is shared with the F-150, but there are a few key differences such as the standard panel of six overhead auxiliary switches for upfitters and accessories, and a split dual-level glove box on the passenger side. The trailer brake controller has been raised higher in the console but still sits relatively low on the dash above the driver's right knee. The rear seats also have a novel flip-up feature with a new under-seat box that allows for hidden storage of loose items. The SuperCab and crew-cab models feature a completely flat rear floor, making loading large items like boxed plasma televisions a snap.
The 2017 Super Duty will also feature Ford's new Sync3, a completely redesigned system that appears to be a cross between Chrysler's excellent Uconnect interface and the best smartphone screens. It's paired with a big 8-inch touch-screen in the center console. It looks easier to use and faster in its responses; we look forward to giving it a full workout in the future.
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