The three-quarter-ton 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty is a significantly beefier vehicle with a different, more conventional chassis design, even though it has superficial similarities with Ford’s half-ton F-150. With a payload capacity of 4,260 pounds and a towing capability of up to 20,000 pounds, this truck is designed for truck jobs, much like other heavy-duty models. However, it is available in various configurations, from industrial rigs to opulent luxury vehicles, much like the smaller F-150.
Within the three-quarter-ton segment, there are only five competitors: Nissan’s Titan XD, GMC’s Sierra 2500HD, Ram 2500, and Chevrolet’s Silverado 2500 HD. Among these competitors, the Ford triumphs simply on strength; it is nearly tied with the Ram for the most outstanding value in the class and can pull more weight than that truck. While there are several places where GM’s products meet or surpass the F-250, the Ford is almost as large and a rock-of- Gibraltar of an investment.
With a starting price of $38,190, the F-250 XL is considerably less expensive than the basic Silverado, much cheaper than the lowest trims of the Sierra and Ram, and about $10,000 cheaper than the Titan XD. The XL is a straightforward work truck with three seats, a single cab, and painted steel wheels. Following that are the Platinum ($69,555), King Ranch ($66,240), Lariat ($51,250), and XLT ($42,865).
The introductory price of the top-of-the-line Limited is $88,275, which is by far the costliest in the competitive group; however, it does come standard with the diesel engine and the majority of the extra-cost options seen on the lesser trims. Ford continues to offer enough add-ons that purchasing one with everything included may push the sticker price beyond $95,000.
The basic 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine produces torque of 430 pound-feet and 385 horsepower. A 6.7-liter diesel V8 with 475 horsepower and a powerful 1,050 pound-feet of torque and a 7.3-liter gasoline V8 with 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque are optional. Ford costs $10,495 for its diesel, which is standard on the top-of-the-line Limited, more than its rivals, even though there isn’t a cheap diesel in this class.
The F-250 Super Duty can go at 75 mph on an open highway for the whole day with any engine, but it does drive like a large truck due to its size and sturdy, old-fashioned design, as well as its hefty, robust structure. We had the optional Tremor package installed on our 7.3-liter Lariat Crew Cab. It’s a competent off-road vehicle with 35-inch tires and 10.8 inches of ground clearance, but just as agility is restricted in city settings, the length of the F-250 affects the Tremor’s break-over angles.
Performance: Ford F-250
In the 4X4 Crew Cab configuration, the basic 6.2-liter gasoline-powered V8 engine produces 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, with a conventional trailer rating of 12,500 pounds. With 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, the 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine can pull 14,700 pounds. The best of the lot for towing is the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbocharged diesel V8, which has 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque for a conventional trailer load of 20,000 pounds. These figures are tied with the Ram 2500 and almost equal with the closest rivals of the F-250 Super Duty.
With a maximum payload capacity of 4,260 pounds, the Super Duty outperforms the Ram in standard cab configurations. Still, it is comparable to the Chevy and GMC offerings in crew and extended cab versions. Crucially, that upper figure refers to the standard cab model. The most common model, the Crew Cab, weighs a maximum of 3,370 pounds, less than the crew cabs offered by Chevy or GMC. The margins became narrower and more competitive overall in Super Cab and regular cab models.
Although the Super Duty’s enormous size is more manageable for inexperienced drivers to get used to, the awareness of bulk never totally goes away thanks to its strong acceleration, six- or ten-speed automatic transmissions (the diesel engine only comes with the latter), commanding visibility of the road, and decent vehicle dynamics. The F-250 has the driving characteristics of a large, conventional truck.
Fuel Efficiency: Ford F-250
The EPA does not provide fuel efficiency figures for heavy-duty trucks. We drove 175 miles on a combination of metropolitan streets, freeways, and backroads through mountains and got 10.4 mpg overall using the optional ($2,045) 7.3-liter gasoline V8.
The average fuel efficiency for 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks, both diesel and gasoline, was 13.6 mpg, according to real-world data from drivers using apps like Fuelly. However, some drivers record as much as 18.4 mpg for the diesel, which raises the average. According to data, the F-250 has the segment’s second-best combined gas/diesel average. RAM has an average mileage of 13.9 mpg, whereas GMC and Chevrolet have low mileage averages of 13.2. At an average of only 11.2 mpg, the Nissan Titan XD, the only vehicle in the group without a diesel option, is at the end of the pack.
Tech for Safety and Driver Assistance:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates the Ford F-250 Super Duty with five stars for total crash protection for two-wheel drive Crew Cabs and four stars for four-wheel drive Crew Cabs and all other standard cabs. The Insurance Institute (IIHS) has not yet tested it.
A lane departure warning is included on the basic XL. However, further features need to be upgraded to a higher model. Automatic high lights, trailer towing, the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert, automated emergency braking, and forward collision warning are all standard features of XLT. Moving up to Lariat or King Ranch is necessary to get adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake assistance, which are optional ($750 for Lariat and $740 for King Ranch). Only on Platinum and Limited is it standard. These features are standard on the Nissan Titan, but active safety equipment is optional on the GMC, Ram, and Chevrolet vehicles.
The F-250 has outstanding all-around visibility for a vehicle of this size. Similar to the active safety equipment, additional costs apply. These may be incurred by choosing the King Ranch or Platinum trim levels or adding optional equipment.
Infotainment: Ford F-250
XL work trucks come standard with an AM/FM radio and a USB connector, but an optional 8.0-inch SYNC3 touchscreen with phone connectivity is available for $450. On XLT variants, the infotainment system and screen are standard, as are two USB connections, a five-speaker music system, and compatibility with satellite radio.
The 12.0-inch infotainment screen on Lariat and above versions is standard and runs Ford’s newest SYNC4 software, which is far more complete in connection and has a prettier aesthetic. A 10-speaker Beng & Olufsen audio system and navigation are included with Lariat and above versions, but only after a 90-day trial period that requires a subscription. There is free navigation for three years on Platinum and Limited variants. The XLT option for voice-activated navigation costs $570.
Coziness & Space:
Today’s top-trim three-quarter-ton trucks come with roomy crew cabs equipped with convenience and comfort options formerly exclusive to luxury cars. Compared to GM’s trucks, which seem decidedly work-grade, Ford and Ram’s Super Duty interiors always get frequent updates and improvements, making them appear much more modern.
Although the inside of one of these enormous trucks can never be considered “small,” F-250 crew cabs provide somewhat less front-seat room than GMC and Chevy and more than Ram and Nissan. Everyone has exactly one inch of headroom in the rear seat, so even tall people can stretch out.
Storage & Cargo Space
Customers who want one cab may purchase an XL or XLT variant. They’re all Super or Crew Cab after that. XL, XLT, and Lariat variants of super cabs provide 8.0-foot-long beds in addition to the 6.8-foot regular bed. Both mattresses are standard on crew cabs, which also come in five trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum. The 6.75-foot bed is the sole option for the premium Limited.
A year ago, Ford eliminated the center armrest storage, which decreased the amount of storage space inside the cab. With a standard bed size of 65.3 cubic feet and an extended bed capacity of 78.5 cubic feet, the truck bed is much less than that of GMC and Chevrolet and somewhat more significant than that of Ram.
Design: Ford F-250
The 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty is indistinguishable from any other car. Even if you removed every badge, most people could still identify it. Ford keeps spending money to maintain the F-Series trucks’ appeal to survive in a cutthroat and demanding industry. The Platinum and Limited are actual luxury vehicles; the features and interiors of the primary and lower-trim models are inferior. Its inside is luxurious and more imaginatively designed with storage possibilities than the Ram’s, but it is still years ahead of the Chevy and GMC trucks.
Is the Ford F-250 Super Duty (2022) a Good Buy?
Those purchasing a three-quarter-ton pickup truck should give the F-250 serious consideration. It’s not far behind in any statistic among three-quarter-ton trucks when it’s not the clear victor. It has much power, solid mechanical components, and many appealing features. Still, many must be upgraded to the Lariat, our unquestionably best value option. We also advise adding the optional adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake assistance ($750) to the Lariat base price of $51,250. More comfort and safety on long-distance travel is worth a little investment.
How Much Does Ford F-250 Super Duty Insurance Cost?
Insurance for the Ford F-250 Super Duty is somewhat more expensive than for the majority of its rivals. Our research indicates that, on average, a 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record would pay $1,936 in annual premiums for an F-250 King Ranch; however, this figure applies to all 50 states. In contrast, the GMC Sierra 2500HD costs $2,043, the Nissan Titan XD costs $1,424, and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD costs $1,860.
Ford Super Duty F-250 Generations
Fourth Generation
2017 to Present
For the first time since its 1998 launch, the Super Duty underwent a complete makeover for the 2017 model year. Aluminum is heavily used in the newly designed body and frame, a technology shown on the 2015 F-150. The commercial chassis cab versions are only available with double rear axles and have a somewhat different layout than the F-250 and F-350 models, which have a fully boxed frame. This generation’s F-250 versions only have a single rear axle. 2020 saw the introduction of a new 7.3-liter V8, along with upgraded in-vehicle technologies and the option of a dedicated Tremor off-road package, in addition to the current 6.2-liter gas V8 and 6.7-liter diesel. For 2020, there was a notable increase in horsepower and torque for the turbodiesel V8.
Third Generation
2011 to 2016
The third-generation Super Duty had a completely new look and new engines, although it kept the previous frame with upgrades. The original 5.4-liter basic engine was replaced with a 6.2-liter V8, and the V10 was limited to the F-450 and F-550 models. The old 6.4-liter diesel V8 was swapped out with a 6.7-liter diesel V8.
Second Generation
2008 to 2010
Although the second-generation Super Duty was essentially a carryover of the first-generation model, it was given a complete redesign of the inside and an update to its style to better align both the exterior and interior with the then-current F-150. A lot more in-car technology was introduced with this model, including Ford’s first SYNC infotainment system. A 6.4-liter turbodiesel V8 was added to the 6.8-liter V10 and 5.4-liter V8 engines.
First Generation
1999 to 2007
Since its introduction in 1953, the F-250 designation has stood for a step up in the Ford pickup truck series from the F-100 or F-150. This was true until 1999, when the F-150 lineup was divided to make room for the more powerful F-250 and higher models. This freed the F-150 from making the same concessions heavier-duty trucks do to get their enormous tow ratings, making it a more driver-friendly and consumer-friendly vehicle. Beginning that year, the F-250, F-350, and commercially-oriented F-450 and F-550 chassis cab vehicles in the Super Duty range received a more extensive, heavier-duty chassis than the F-150. The 5.4-liter gasoline V8, the 6.8-liter gasoline V10, or the option of a 7.3- or 6.0-liter turbodiesel V8 were the engine options for the first generation of Super Duty F-series vehicles.
Verdict
When choosing between three-quarter ton heavy-duty vehicles, consumers look for features like ground clearance, extended range between highway fill-ups, passing power, towing capacity, and tough-looking exterior appearance. The F-250 Super Duty excels in every aspect and remains competitive even in areas where it falls short of the best in its class. With up to 20,000 pounds of pulling power and 4,260 pounds of payload capacity, the F-250 outperforms the Ram regarding towing and hauling, even if the GMC and Chevrolet trucks may beat it in a few key cabin parameters.
