2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty Review

The 2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty is essentially unchanged.

If you want the ultimate in pickup capability, it's hard to go wrong with the 2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty.

If you're interested in a 2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup, it's safe to say you've got some special requirements. You're not looking for a truck that can just schlep furniture back to your place or serve tailgating duty on Sunday. No, you need the kind of all-out capability that not even the similar F-250 provides. Enter the Ford F-350.

Ford’s F-250 and F-350 are similar enough that we think of the latter as simply an extreme version of the former. Most notably, although the 350 shares the 250's engine options -- a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 and a 6.7-liter diesel-powered V8 -- it's available with a dual-rear-wheel setup, and this has a profound impact on load limits. Properly equipped, the F-350 "dually" tops out at a 22,800-pound tow rating and a 7,260-pound payload rating, or thousands more on each front than its little brother can manage. Otherwise, the F-350 shares the F-250's roster of features, so you can get pretty much all of the comforts of home, including the MyFord Touch infotainment system with its big 8-inch display screen.

If even the F-350 won't cut it for you, there are other choices. Ford also has its formidable F-450, with even higher towing and capacity ratings. The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD is still a very capable truck, but even more appealing this year is the updated Ram 3500, which features stronger engines and new tow/haul ratings that surpass even those of the F-450. Ford doesn't have a monopoly on cool cabin tech either, as the Ram can be outfitted with an 8.4-inch touchscreen interface that's easier to use than the Ford's.

Nonetheless, the 2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty remains a compelling option, providing just about everything a heavy-duty trucker could ask for. If you're shopping for a rig like this, the Ford F-350 is a must-drive.

All 2014 Ford F-350 models employ a six-speed automatic transmission and offer a choice between rear- and four-wheel drive. The base engine is a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Maximum towing capacity without a fifth wheel is 15,000 pounds when properly equipped, while adding a fifth-wheel hookup raises that limit to 16,000 pounds.

Optional is a turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel V8 engine that produces 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. In performance testing, a diesel F-350 with the standard rear axle went from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, about a second slower than GM's diesel-powered 3500 HD pickups. Maximum towing capacity without a fifth wheel is 18,500 pounds, while the fifth-wheel setup boosts the max up to 23,200.

The 2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, trailer sway control, hill start assist, side curtain airbags and the SOS post-crash alert system.

An integrated trailer brake controller is standard on XLT and higher models, while the Lariat trim level adds rear parking sensors and power-adjustable pedals. A rearview camera is optional on the XLT and standard on the Lariat and above.

It's hard not to be impressed from behind the F-350 Super Duty's wheel. Both engines feel quick and capable, while the ride is impressively quiet and supple by segment standards. Even the massive diesel V8 doesn't add much noise to the serene cabin. As with any heavy-duty pickup, bumps can temporarily ruffle the F-350's composure, especially with an empty bed. The biggest flaw in the F-350's formula is its steering, which feels slow and vague, whereas Chevy and Ram deliver a more confidence-inspiring feel through the wheel.

Towing is generally effortless with the F-350, particularly if you spring for the torque-monster diesel. In Edmunds testing, tugging a 10,000-pound trailer up a steep grade turned out to be a cakewalk for Ford's workhorse. The driver can opt to lock out higher gears to ensure optimal towing progress, but we were impressed by how well the transmission managed the ascent without our input. The descent was similarly smooth, thanks in part to the diesel's exhaust brake.

Heavy-duty trucks haven't historically been known for their luxurious cabins, but that has been changing in recent years, and the F-350 has fallen a bit behind. One look at the Ram 3500's lavish new interior will convince you that Ford's got a little room for improvement. Hard plastics dominate the F-350's dashboard on lower trim levels, and for better or for worse, the overall look screams "work truck." But to be fair, the Lariat creates a distinctly upscale vibe with leather and the MyFord Touch interface, while the King Ranch and Platinum models are fancier still.

There's no shortage of storage in the Ford F-350. There's a lockable bin under the middle of the available 40/20/40-split front bench seat, and the middle seatback folds down to serve as an armrest. Another lockable bin for longer items lives under the rear seats, and it includes a 12-volt power point. The available 40/console/40 front bench can swallow a laptop and even hanging files or other business-related items; it also provides a 12-volt power point of its own, along with a 110-volt inverter.

Standard from the Lariat on up is a large multifunction display in the instrument cluster that allows the driver to customize settings, and relays trip computer, fuel economy, towing and off-road information. Lariat and higher trims also get the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which includes two USB ports, an SD card slot and an 8-inch touchscreen that controls phone, climate control, entertainment and navigation features and also includes an expanded voice control vocabulary. Note that this version of MyFord Touch incorporates large physical buttons for the climate and audio controls that allow them to be operated by those wearing work gloves.