2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Test Drive Review: Workaholic
The Ford F-250 reminds us a lot of the Constructicons, a group of Transformers - yes, we're talking about the fictional world of toys, films, and video games, but allow us to explain. In Transformers, the Decepticons were the main bad guys. In some stories, they formed a group called the Destructicons, which, as their name implies, were known for destroying things. At other times, they formed a group called the Constructicons that would build things for their evil purposes. The 2021 Ford F-250 feels like that - a builder of great but evil things, especially with the off-road Tremor package that adds a lifted front-end, uniquely-tuned suspension, 35-inch Goodyear maximum traction tires, 18-inch black wheels, Trail Control, and selectable drive modes with a rock-crawl mode. We stacked it up with insanely expensive lumber for a weekend project (not evil) with our only complaint being that the bed on this particular truck wouldn't fit a sheet of plywood laying down. If you're getting a heavy-duty truck, make it work for you with an eight-foot bed.
The Ford Super Duty goes up against other accomplished heavy-duty pickups, mostly from Chevy and Ram - the three dominate the market - but also from the big Nissan Titan XD, which sits in between half- and three-quarter-ton capacities. This one also features the bonkers 7.3-liter "Godzilla" V8 making 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, along with a 12,000-pound Warn winch. We didn't do anything evil with it, but we certainly could have.
2021 F-250 Super Duty Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 231.8 in | 142.0 in | 77.9 in | 80.0 in | 5,677.0 lbs |
2021 F-250 Super Duty Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
The F-250 has a somewhat old-school setup at the rear. It consists of a solid rear axle and leaf springs. While this gives it good articulation and the strength needed to carry large loads, this kind of setup isn't known for being comfortable. Like most heavy-duty trucks, if you're not carrying anything heavy, it will feel bouncy on normal roads. And we do mean heavy. We had about 300 pounds of wood in the back, plus a few hundred pounds of metal shed, and the Ford's suspension didn't even notice.
Obviously this thing is monstrous and you'll have to repark it a few times to get it straight in your driveway, and if that driveway is normally two cars wide, you'll really have to pin it to the side to let anyone else pull up. It's not a peach in a parking lot either; get used to seven-point turns when exiting a space.
The steering effort is heavy with this big truck. That makes those multiple-point turns a little worse but it seems to sit dead straight on the expressway. Placing the tires right where you want them takes a little practice, but this pickup is far more precise than the Ford trucks of yore. And we've owned some. We were surprised at how little noise was made on the highway, even with those 35-inch mud tires. We'll thank the generous amount of insulation for that.
Power with the 7.3 V8 that we had on test was never a problem. The F-250 gets off the line surprisingly fast, though you'll want to put it in four-wheel drive if you're trying to beat someone to the next stoplight. You can really feel the car's weight when you get on the brakes though; like parking, it takes some practice. The truck sounds fantastic, though we're not sure we like the name Godzilla for the engine, considering the fact that in the car world that means one thing: the Nissan GT-R. Unfortunately, the name is apt. The ten-speed transmission was flawless in our week in the vehicle.
2021 F-250 Super Duty Interior
2021 F-250 Super Duty Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty A Good Truck?
The current Ford Super Duty pickups were new in 2017, but got a big refresh in 2020 at the Chicago Auto Show, along with the addition of that Godzilla engine option. It's well into its lifecycle, which means any weird gremlins should be figured out, and in our weeklong test it performed flawlessly.
The new Ford F-250 truck starts at $34,230 for the base model, although the Platinum, Tremor, Crew Cab, winch-equipped version we tested is more than double that at over $75,000. The Ram 2500 starts at $35,425 and features a cabin and a comfortable ride that blows the Ford away. The Ram has coil springs in back as opposed to the leaf springs on the Ford, which soften the ride both loaded and unloaded, which is where the Ford struggles. In its top trim, the Ram 2500 Limited will set you back $62,840.
In the truck world, loyalty is key, and Ford seems to have it. Last year, it sold more than 787,000 pickups in all forms while Chevy moved just over 594,000 and Ram sold more than 563,000. The amount of work you could do with this truck is staggering - we're just mad we didn't construct anything more than a simple outhouse and a jungle gym for kids. Next time, we're going to build a full communications array to contact the F-250's evil alien brethren.
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Comparisons
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs GMC Sierra 2500HD
Much like Ford, GMC also caters to a diverse audience with the Sierra. Instead of offering two gas engines and one diesel, GMC offers one of both. The 6.6-liter V8 does a decent job, just like Ford's 6.2-liter V8. The 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 is a monster, however. While its 910 lb-ft of torque can't quite match Ford's four-figure torque output, its maximum towing capacity of 18,510 lbs isn't lacking. The Sierra is more of a luxury truck, though. It comes with some impressive kit such as an available 15-inch diagonal color head-up display. In addition to that, the top-spec Sierra is cheaper than the high-end Ford. At the workhorse end, the Sierra is more expensive. Choosing between the two depends on what you want to do with the truck. To our eyes, the Ford is the better buy. The Ford's interior more than makes up for the price difference, not to mention the better towing capacity and more potent diesel engine.
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Being cousins, the Silverado has the same issues as the GMC. It has a modern interior, powerful engines and is nearly a match for the Ford. Both trucks do a fine job of towing, but the Ford will remain the winner thanks to 1,050 lb-ft of torque. The Silverado has a bigger, more practical bed, however. It can manage more cargo as well. Ford's F-250 has a nicer, more user-friendly interior, but this match is closer than the one above. Still, the Ford just edges it thanks to its more robust diesel engine and superior towing specs, both of which count for a lot in this segment.