2020 Ford Super Duty F-250/F-350: 6 Pros and 3 Cons

Don’t mess with a sure thing. This is especially true when you’ve got the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S. and it’s time to introduce updated versions of the hard-working, heavy-duty models. That explains why Ford hasn’t gone wild with the Super Duty version of its sales-topping F-Series pickup.

Related: 2020 Ford Super Duty F-250/F-350 Review: Finding New Power

From the outside looking in, you’d never know how much has changed between the 2019 and 2020 model years. Heck, even when looking around from inside the F-250 (or its larger F-350 sibling), you won’t spot many differences. A revised front grille here, a few new cabin textures there … and that’s about it.

But if you could flip this massive pickup truck upside down, you’d understand exactly how hard Ford has worked to update the Super Duty. The main changes are mechanical, and they nudge the Super Duty models to the top of the towing-and-hauling heap.

Follow the related link above to read our complete review of the updated Ford Super Duty by Cars.com’s Aaron Bragman. If you need to get hauling and just want the quick lowdown on some serious trucks, then keep reading.

Here are six things we like and three things we, well … like less, about the 2020 Ford F-250/F-350:

Things We Like

1. Brand New 7.3-Liter V8

Like we said, the 2020 Ford Super Duty conceals its updates behind some remarkably familiar sheet metal. One of these hidden charms is a brand-new 7.3-liter gasoline-fed V-8 that delivers 430 horsepower and 475 pounds-feet of torque. This awesome motor is coupled to a similarly new 10-speed automatic transmission. It serves up smooth shifts and is stout enough for towing pretty much anything this side of an entire continent.

2. Diesel Has Crazy Amounts of Torque

Speaking of towing, the upgraded diesel engine is a torque-spitting beast. The Power Stroke turbo-diesel 6.7-liter V-8 produces 475 hp and a staggering 1,050 pounds-feet of torque. Yes, you read that correctly: This Ford pickup truck has a four-digit torque rating. If you’re new to the heavy-duty truck scene, we assure you: That’s a lot.

3. Class-Leading Lots of Things

With all that power and torque, you can bet Ford’s Super Duty commercials will go on (and on …) about class-leading towing, hauling and basically anything short of running-through-brick-wall capability. Granted, some claims are tied to the larger F-450 version, which is for the hardest-of-hardcore truck customers. But even the F-250 and F-350 deliver their own best-in-class bragging rights for things like gooseneck towing and dually payload ratings.

4. Tremor Is an Off-Road Animal

The name alone should send a shiver down the spine of competing trucks. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.) The Tremor turns the Super Duty into an all-terrain monster — something you may not expect given the size and girth of this truck. Available with either the gas or diesel engines, the Tremor includes goodies like a 12,000-pound winch, front-end lift, 18-inch matte-black wheels, locking rear differential, progressive rate springs and more. The changes make this Super Duty a much more capable truck when paved roads end.

5. Handsome Looks Inside and Out

We know, truck buyers are mostly interested in hard numbers. Stuff like towing and hauling are important; aesthetics, on the other hand, aren’t the primary concern. Yeah, sure — tell that to everyone who freaked out over the funky exterior of the latest Chevrolet Silverado HD models. The Ford Super Duty has a large and imposing design, but one that should age gracefully. There are a few new exterior changes, including a revised grille, redesigned headlights, reprofiled bumpers and new wheel designs. The interior is also mostly carried over but, by and large, the outgoing version was just fine, thank you very much.

6. Towing Made Easy

If you need to tow but are a novice in the art, fear not, this Ford has you covered. With features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance, much of the skill and guesswork of towing or reversing bulky trailers is now handled by the truck itself.

More From Cars.com:

• Shopping for a 2020 Ford F-250? Research One, Here
• Find a 2020 Ford F-250 for Sale Near You, Now
• 2020 Ford Super Duty Video: Familiar Outside, All-New Inside
• 2019 Ford Super Duty F-250 XL: 5 Things We Like and 3 Things We Don’t
• More Pickup Truck News on Cars.com

Things We Don’t

1. You Pay a Price for This Much Truck

A bare-bones version of the Ford F-250 rings in around $35,000, though almost no one buys these trucks minus any options. A more realistic price range is between $60,000 to $80,000, while a loaded F-450 gets surprisingly close to breaking into six-figure pricing. Yes, this is a whole lot of truck … but it had better be for that kind of money.

2. Gas Mileage? Don’t Ask!

If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle, Toyota will gladly sell you a Prius. Heavy-duty trucks don’t have official EPA mileage estimates attached to them. That’s probably for the best, because even the most efficient Super Duty fitted with the Power Stroke diesel is going to have an enormous thirst for fuel — plus a very large tank when it’s time to fill up. That’s nothing against these Fords specifically, it’s simply something expected with heavy-duty trucks.

3. Ford Plays It Safe

Perhaps Ford played it a little too safe with the exterior and interior? With the trend toward loading all types of technology into every car, truck and SUV, Ford evidently decided the status quo was fine. Upmarket versions like the Platinum and King Ranch come with plenty of leather and fancy trim, though they’re not going to upend everything you thought you knew about work-truck interiors.

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