Ford F-250 Super Duty 2021 Review

No other class of vehicle on sale today has quite the breadth of features, body styles and engines as pickup trucks. That's especially true of full-size heavy-duty trucks such as the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty. Whether you're looking to haul a trailer to a job site or drive a luxed-out truck with all the features, there's an F-250 for you. Ford even offers the Super Duty Tremor package that increases this truck's capabilities off-road.

The current F-250 — part of Ford's F-Series line of trucks that have been among the most popular vehicles in America for decades — was redesigned in 2017 and carries over into 2021 mostly unchanged. But Ford Super Duty trucks are far from alone in this class. The Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and Ram 2500 have been battling it out with Super Duty trucks for years, and both offer roughly the same variety of configurations as the Ford. So is the F-250 the best heavy-duty truck for you? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating to help you decide.

Which F-250 Super Duty does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty is available in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. There are three cab configurations — a regular cab, an extended cab (aka SuperCab) and a crew cab — that can be paired with either a 6.8- or an 8.2-foot bed. Rear-wheel drive is standard on most trims, and four-wheel drive is available on all.

The F-250 Super Duty, depending on the configuration, is available with three powertrains:

• 6.2-liter gasoline V8 (385 horsepower, 430 lb-ft of torque) paired with a six-speed automatic transmission
• 7.3-liter gasoline V8 (430 hp, 475 lb-ft) paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission
• 6.7-liter turbocharged-diesel V8 (475 hp, 1,050 lb-ft) that's also paired with a 10-speed automatic.

XL The base F-250 Super Duty XL is a spartan beast intended for work-truck duty. Standard features include:

• Black-painted steel bumpers
• Black plastic exterior trim
• 17-inch steel wheels
• 4.2-inch center display screen
• One USB-C port
• FordPass Connect (includes remote services and onboard Wi-Fi)
• Vinyl floor covering and upholstery
• 40/20/40-split bench seat
• Manual windows
• Manual-folding mirrors

XLT The XLT is a big step up in terms of refinement over the base XL. Besides all of the XL's features, the XLT trim comes with:

• Chrome bumpers and grille
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Heated exterior mirrors
• 8-inch touchscreen display with available navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Two USB-C ports
• Carpeted floor and cloth upholstery
• Power windows and door locks
• Two 110-volt household-style outlets
• Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab)

Lariat The Lariat is only available as an extended-cab or crew-cab truck. It includes all the XLT's features and adds:

• Power-folding tow mirrors
• Power-sliding rear window
• Rear parking sensors
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 11-speaker B&O audio system
• 8-inch instrument cluster screen
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats

King Ranch The crew cab-only King Ranch adds a Western flair to the F-250 Super Duty. It includes all Lariat content plus:

• LED bed lighting
• Remote tailgate release
• Remote start
• King Ranch-specific leather interior
• Keyless entry with push-button start

Platinum Ford keeps layering on the premium features with the Platinum trim. Standard equipment includes:

• Body-colored bumpers and mirrors
• LED headlights
• 20-inch wheels
• Massaging and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ford and the car in front)

Limited The top-tier Limited trim turns up the premium feel even further. Additions include:

• Standard four-wheel drive
• Two-tone leather upholstery
• Moonroof
• Suede headliner and wood interior trim
• Premium two-tone leather upholstery

Many features found on the upper trim levels are optional on the lower trims. Other options, depending on the trim level, include:

• Trailer Tow High Capacity with Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System and Pro Trailer Backup Assist package
• Lane keeping alert (warns you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Upgraded axle
• Increased tow capacity
• Trailer backup assist (knob-based steering controller to make reversing with a trailer easier)
• 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the F-250 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• FX4 Off-Road package
• Hill descent control
• Off-road shock absorbers
• Transfer case and fuel-tank skid plates
• Tremor Off-Road package
• Locking rear differential
• Front limited-slip differential
• Upgraded suspension with increased ride height
• 18-inch wheels with off-road tires
• Lane keeping alert
• Skid plates
• Revised bumpers with better approach angles
• Rock and Trail Crawl modes