2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Review

Name: 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Review
Brand: Ford
Price: 32998 USD

Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch Crew Cab Pickup Exterior Shown

2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab Pickup Exterior Shown

Ford F-250 Super Duty XLT Crew Cab Pickup Exterior Shown

2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

+489

The Ford F-250 Super Duty has an appropriately brawny look for a heavy-duty pickup, and Ford backs it up with strong towing and hauling performance. Inside, the crew cab treats occupants to plenty of space and decent amenities, but Ram still leads by a large margin here.

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2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Diesel V8 generates immense power and torque
Plenty of payload and tow capacity
Aluminum body reduces overall weight, improving efficiency
Spacious cabs offer many convenience and tech options

Cons

Price tag soars with options
Tall ride height makes it hard to enter without side steps
Lengthy stopping distance

What's new

Small changes to feature availability and available exterior colors
Part of the third Super Duty generation introduced for 2017

Overview

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.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.2L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

Not EPA tested

$257/mo

Avg. Large Truck

Calculate my fuel costs

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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.7

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the F-250 Super Duty drive? Our F-250 crew-cab test truck had the optional diesel engine. It provides strong and smooth acceleration in just about any situation. There's a tiny bit of lag before the truck gets going, but the new 10-speed transmission shifts quickly.

Braking performance is disappointing, however. The brakes feel reasonably capable in typical conditions, but our truck took 153 feet to execute a panic stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average for the segment. The steering feels somewhat numb and inert, but the truck does track straight on the open road. This big Ford feels somewhat maneuverable, but there's no hiding its sheer bulk.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the F-250 Super Duty? If you have any heavy-duty pickup experience at all, the F-250 will seem sufficiently comfortable. It's not a benchmark by any means, but it does a decent job of keeping occupants happy. It's fairly quiet when it comes to wind and road noise, and the air-conditioning system has no trouble keeping the cabin cool.

It's hard to fault an F-250 for riding firmly when it's not carrying any load. Even though the overall feeling is agreeable enough, it's worth noting that the Ram 2500 is smoother-riding. The F-250's seats are what we're most lukewarm about. They're nicely adjustable and spacious, but the cushions — particularly the seat bottoms — feel flat and don't conform to an occupant's shape very well.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? No one should be surprised that it takes a big step up to get into this truck. It's tall even for its class. But unfortunately, our test truck didn't come with the relatively inexpensive option of side steps. For an F-250, we'd say those are a must-have.

Inside, there's more than enough space for everyone, and it's easy to fine-tune the positioning of the driver's seat and steering wheel to your liking. All of the relevant controls are within reach and operate as you'd expect them to. As for visibility, the F-250 gives you nice views out thanks to its big windows. All the same, we recommend opting for rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? Ford's audio and navigation system is built around the Sync 3 interface. The interface is proven and it works, but it no longer stands out. It's missing recent competitor innovations in screen size and menu control. That said, this system does well when it comes to voice recognition support and smartphone integration.

Safety equipment in the F-250 has caught up with most competitors thanks to features such as lane departure warning for the truck and attached trailer, a blind-spot monitor with trailer coverage, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Towing and Storage

8.0/10

How are the towing and storage? The F-250 offers strong towing and hauling capability. Its aluminum body saves weight, and the savings amount to extra payload capacity. In this class, it's all about the numbers, and the Ford can nearly match the Ram 2500 in most cases. Everyday loading, however, is hampered by the bed's tall sides.

Inside, both cargo space in the back half of the crew cab and storage for personal items are quite generous. And while toting kids isn't the first thing you think about when buying a truck, the big crew cab makes it easy to fit car seats of any size. (Getting the kids up and in is another matter.)

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The fuel economy of heavy-duty pickups like the Ford F-250 is a mystery because this class of trucks is exempt from official labeling and testing. We did record fuel consumption over 800 miles of driving, though, and it averaged 16.5 mpg over that distance. Our best tank on a mostly highway route was 18.9 mpg.

Value

7.5/10

Is the F-250 Super Duty a good value? The heavy-duty pickup arms race is in full swing. This updated 2020 F-250 has done quite a bit to catch up, but it might not be enough. Sure, there's the new 10-speed transmission and more power, but the interior trimmings are still average. Ford's warranty coverage is average, though the diesel engine's coverage lasts for 100,000 miles instead of the 60,000 you get with the gas V8.

Wildcard

7.5/10

All heavy-duty pickups are big, but even among them the Ford F-250 makes a statement. It knows what it is, and the styling is hardly subtle. The driving experience matches that persona. It's no joy to drive, but neither is it a chore. Fun doesn't enter into it. The F-250 is built to work and to do a job, and it delivers on that promise.

Which F-250 Super Duty does Edmunds recommend?

Which F-250 is right for you depends what you plan to use it for. That said, we suggest starting with the XLT trim. It comes with a decent list of standard and optional features, and it's available with a variety of bed and cab configurations.

2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty models

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

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2.5/5Average

#17 out of 19 among Fullsize Trucks

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Ford F-250 Super Duty from 2008-2022.}

$989/yr

vs. $752/yr
for Average Fullsize Truck

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.12x/yr

vs. 0.98x/yr
for Average Fullsize Truck

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

23.8%

vs. 19.9%
for Average Fullsize Truck

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty.

5 (70%)

4 (9%)

3 (0%)

2 (0%)

1 (21%)

4.1

33 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 33 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

This is a great truck for towing an RV

RV'n In North Carolina, 12/02/2019

2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty XLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)

Bought this truck to replace my older RAM 1500 HD MegaCab with Hemi. Nothing wrong with the Ram other than it has 180K and I did not want to take it on long trips with my 31' 9800lb Travel Trailer. I looked at the RAM 2500 and the Ford F250, both gas powered trucks and each had it pro's and cons. What landed me on the Ford was a slightly better fit and finish and the price of the Ford …

Paint issue

Patrick, 07/22/2020

2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty XLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)

Truck run asnd drives great. The paint on the bed of the truck had a few issues. Drivers side bed panel between the wheel well and trail gate, there is a little area where the paint did not cover. You can see the green primer. It stands against the dark blue paint. The passenger side bed panel behind the rear door is a touch mark. These issuses came from factory because these issues …

Superduty, leaving the competition in the dust

Bill Harris, 06/20/2019

2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty Limited 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.7L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A)

This is my second superduty, my first was a 2015 XLT F-250 4WD 6.7, my new one is the 2019 XLT F-250 4 WD 6.7. The difference between 4 years is amazing, same trim levels of XLT, with the 2019 having far more features than the 2015. The 2015 gave me an average mpg on the highway between 16-19, the 2019, with 2,000 miles gives me an average of 22 Mpg! This is based on driving at 75 Mph …

Traded my Tundra for an F250

RadChad, 08/28/2019

2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat 4dr SuperCab 4WD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)

I have owned Toyota Tundra’s for the last 10 years, did not think Ford could come close to the Value that my Tundra provided. I recently purchased a 5th wheel trailer and needed a diesel with major towing capacity, but was skeptical on the vehicles. After driving all 3 of the big trucks (GMC, Dodge,Ford, not Nissan! I decided to get a Platinum F250, its been the best decision that i …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty, so we've included reviews for other years of the F-250 Super Duty since its last redesign.

See all 33 reviews of the Ford F-250 Super Duty

Write a vehicle review

2021 F-250 Super Duty Highlights

Type:

Crew Cab

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$37,820
Engine Type	Flex-fuel (ffv)
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	18,200 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the F-250 Super Duty models:

Blind-Spot Monitoring: Alerts the driver when a vehicle comes into the truck's blind spot. The zone can be enlarged to cover a trailer up to 33 feet in length.
Trailer Tow Camera System: Lets you know what's behind your trailer when reversing.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System: Warns you if a tire is below the recommended pressure. Coverage can include trailer tires as well.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover19.1%

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2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Review

2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.2L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Towing and Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which F-250 Super Duty does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

This is a great truck for towing an RV

Paint issue

Superduty, leaving the competition in the dust

Traded my Tundra for an F250

2021 F-250 Super Duty Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.2L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.}