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The Ford Super Duty has been the king of heavy-duty trucks for decades, but we dig into the details to find out which is better, new or used.
Ford’s Trucks Are Ready for Duty
The Ford Super Duty has defined its segment time and time again. It’s always tough, strong, and a class leader in all the most important facets of truck design. It’s so good that it’s also one of our favorite used trucks. As we sit on the precipice of a refreshed 2022 Ford Super Duty we thought it would be good to consider two that are already available. The outgoing 2021 model added a few small benefits, but dating back to 2018, this truck is largely the same. With that in mind, let’s take a deep dive into this giant pickup and find out which is the better bet. We’ll look at how they get the job done, what features the new truck might have over the older, and we’ll see if the money saved on a used model is enough to make up for features it might be missing.
New vs Used Ford Super Duty Specs
In 2018, the Ford Super Duty had just seen a major update the year previous. The F-250, F-350, and F-450 were available with a couple different engines. The standard Super Duty came with a gas powered 6.2L V8 that sent 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. A 6.7L Power Stroke turbo diesel V8 was also available with 450 horsepower and an astonishing 925 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to tow some 31,900 pounds. Available in six trim levels, a used Ford Super Duty can be had today for anywhere from $29,000 up to around $85,000. Prices have actually risen some over the last year for these trucks. Nevertheless, they’re nothing close to what a fully loaded 2021 Ford Super Duty will cost.
New Ford Super Duty trucks will run at least $5,000 more for the same trim level (the same six are available), but the options can push the total cost into the six-figure range. The same engines from 2018 are present for newer 2021 models, but they are joined by a 7.3L gas-burner V8 that makes 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. It and the diesel use a ten speed automatic to power either the rear or all four wheels. That Power Stroke diesel by the way has seen power increased up to 475 horsepower and 1,030 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to tow 24,200 pounds with a conventional trailer setup and 37,000 when using a fifth-wheel hitch. To put that in perspective, that’s enough towing power to haul roughly six Ford F-350s behind you.
Driving Characteristics
While it might be as big a small barge, the Ford Super Duty is at least as comfortable if not more so. Both of the new and used versions of these trucks drive identically, aside from one small change noted below. The idea that someone could own a vehicle this large, this capable, and this comfortable is not something most of our grandparents would’ve imagined. Visibility is excellent and trucks equipped with both parking sensors and the overhead parking camera are incredibly easy to maneuver.
Regardless of engine choice, a Ford Super Duty is going to be more than powerful enough to get around. Most won’t even notice when they’re towing small to medium loads as this truck is so well built for just that. Both transmissions are fine, but we’d suggest going for the ten-speed whenever possible as it just makes even better use of its power. This is the one feature though where the new Ford Super Duty trucks have an edge. Adding in a new motor and a bit more power for the diesel makes them just that much more capable and that much more enjoyable to drive.
Braking is outstanding throughout the range in both model years. Stopping a monster like this is not the easy feat Ford would have you believe it is with a simple stab of a pedal. The pedal travel isn’t totally linear though. At about 40% pressure it seems to ramp up very quickly, so newer drivers will need to acclimate.
If there’s anything wrong with these giant vehicles on the road, it’s got to be the steering. Ford says that the 2021 Ford Super Duty has had its electro-assisted steering improved, but at high speeds, they’re both disconcerting. That’s because they both lack a feeling of solid connection to the front wheels. Load or no load, these Super Duty trucks can be numb above 50 mph. At city speeds, things get much better and even in tighter spaces, a new or used Ford Super Duty is remarkably good.
Interior Comfort
Big vehicles almost always enjoy the benefit of outstanding passenger space, and the Ford Super Duty is no exception. Front, back, driver, or passenger side makes no difference. There seem to be acres in each seating position. At 6’6 I couldn’t find a single space inside that felt cramped in any way. This is true of both model years.
Road noise could be slightly better, but let’s be real. This is a work truck first and foremost. Ford could’ve made their Super Duty quieter, but that would’ve required either adding power or lowering key metrics like towing capacity. That plays a role in how it handles bumps too. It’s jittery over imperfections. But of course, that’s without a load in the back or on the hitch, so that’s to be expected to some degree.
To find any real difference inside these trucks it comes down to nitpicking. We prefer some of the newer trim pieces of the newer trucks over the used ones. Aside from that, most drivers would be very hard pressed to tell the difference between a new or used Ford Super Duty as they feature identical layouts, identical materials (mostly), and identical seating.
Trims and Features
For our used Ford Super Duty example, the base 2018 Super Duty XL trim features 17-inch wheels, six speakers, and mostly manual features like door locks and mirrors. The XLT trimmed trucks get bigger 18-inch wheels, power mirrors, and a Sync voice-controlled 4.2-inch infotainment system. That grows to 8 inches in the Lariat trim and also sees the addition of dual-zone automatic climate control, a premium 10-speaker Sony sound system, and power-adjustable front seats. The King Ranch trim is only available in crew-cab form and gets LED box lighting, remote start, and heated/ventilated front seats. The Platinum adds 20-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, and LED headlights. Above that is the Limited trim which gets adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and two-tone leather.
The new 2021 Ford Super Duty has nearly identical features, but some small changes do exist. The XLT actually gets blind-spot monitoring, something only featured as standard on the Platinum and above in 2018. The XLT also gets an 8-inch screen, something only available on the Lariat and above in 2018. Then the Lariat gets a Bang & Olufsen 11-speaker system as opposed to the Sony system in the older truck. Adaptive cruise control is standard on the 2021 Platinum, whereas it was only available on the Limited in 2018. Overall, the 2021 Ford Super Duty gets some subtle improvements depending on the trim level.
Is a New Ford Super Duty the Way to Go?
Spending this much on a truck makes getting a great deal just that much more important. Depreciation is never fun, but we’re living in a time when values aren’t falling quickly. That makes the 2021 Ford Super Duty with its additional features the better deal right now. Not only are the older used Ford Super Duty trucks still nearly as costly as a brand new model, but in addition, the new truck carries a full warranty and a couple improvements.
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