2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty Review: Driving Impressions
2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty Price and Release Date - Find the best Ford deals!
Photo: Perry Stern
Ford offers the new 2023 F-Series Super Duty as a three-quarter-ton F-250 or one-ton F-350 and F-450, each available as a regular cab, SuperCab (extended cab), and Crew Cab (except F-450, which doesn't come as a SuperCab). Trim levels range from the basic XL that starts in the mid $40,000 range to the ultra-luxurious Limited with a base price of around $100,000.
I drove several variations of the new Super Duty at the Ford event in MI. I spent much of my time in an F-250 Lariat Crew Cab, painted in Stone Gray. Optional features on this truck included:
- Black Appearance package
- Lariat Ultimate package
- Pro Power Onboard 2kW
- Onboard Scales & Smart Hitch
- A 4.3 electronic locking axle ratio
The total manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for this truck was $76,910, including the $1,895 destination fee.
The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty is on sale now.
Independent Expert Opinion: Design, Comfort, and Utility - Find the best Ford deals!
Photo: Perry Stern
Still easily recognizable as a Ford Super Duty, the big truck gets refreshed styling for the 2023 model year. New front-end styling features signature "C-Clamp" running lights that bracket the grille, giving the truck a broad stance. Bars across the grille have a different look depending on the trim level, and multiple appearance packages add additional style. Ford says the new grilles also maximize engine cooling for improved performance under heavy load.
Inside the new Super Duty is a spacious cabin, especially in the 4-door crew cab versions. Even the vinyl seats on the base-level XL are comfortable, but most buyers will opt for the higher-end trims. The Lariat and higher trims all come with standard leather upholstery as well as upgraded seats that are both stylish and supportive.
Ford now equips the base-trim Super Duty with an 8-inch touchscreen display running the latest version of Sync, Ford's infotainment and communication system. Moving up to the Lariat nets a 12-inch display that nicely integrates into the dashboard. With either setup, Ford separates climate and audio controls for quick access.
The big truck can haul plenty of cargo in the pickup bed, but even the cabin offers good storage space. Ford installs dual glove boxes in front of the passenger seat, and the sizable center console storage can hold a small bag or purse. It's lockable as well. Cupholders are large enough for a water bottle or a Big Gulp, and sliding the top to the left turns two cupholders into four.
The Super Duty Crew Cab offers the most rear-seat legroom of the lineup, and, according to Ford, it beats all the competition. Three adults will easily fit in the back seat. In most versions, there are USB ports to keep devices charged.
When cargo needs to travel inside the cabin, the rear seat bottom folds up to provide a spacious, flat floor. You can also unfold a cargo box from the floor, creating additional storage. A locking mechanism delivers added security once the seat bottom lowers to its seating position.
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Photo: Perry Stern
In addition to its updated styling and added capabilities, the 2023 F-Series Super Duty gets Ford's latest infotainment system and a range of new innovative features designed to help with the truck's primary role of towing and hauling.
Ford's Sync is one of the more intuitive infotainment systems on the market, and the latest version employed in the Super Duty is no exception. The system is easy to navigate with clear, large icons, whether it is the 8-inch display in the XL and XLT or the larger 12-inch unit in the rest of the lineup. Shortcuts to audio, navigation, and vehicle settings always remain at the bottom of the screen for quick access.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all Super Duty trim levels with a wireless connection. Connecting a phone is about as easy as it gets. I started the pairing process with my Samsung Galaxy S21, and a Ford Sync screen immediately appeared on my phone with a button to connect. One click and I connected for Bluetooth and Android Auto.
With the larger display screen, there's enough real estate to show Android Auto, the shortcuts on the bottom, and an additional panel on the right that can show a trip computer, audio, or a camera view of the truck bed. This camera view is an excellent option for anyone who has hauled cargo in the truck bed and constantly worries about the load coming loose. Android Auto can expand to use the entire screen.
According to Ford, most Super Duty buyers will use their trucks for towing, and the company has created some impressive technology to help with this endeavor. With Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, the driver just backs up close to the trailer. Once engaged, this system identifies the trailer hitch and automatically backs the truck up to line the ball up perfectly below the hitch. Aligning the hitch and ball is a task that often takes two; speaking from experience, it can create a stressful situation with the spouse.
Once connected, the truck can cycle through turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights so the driver can go to the back of the trailer and confirm all lights are working. Customers can store trailer brake settings, blind-spot activation, and other data points for each trailer.
Ford also offers assistance when it comes to trailer parking. Even experienced drivers can find backing a trailer challenging, but Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes it easy for experts or beginners. Once engaged, the driver uses a dial on the dashboard to direct the trailer, turning it to the right or left to maneuver it in the same direction. Multiple camera views aid in the ultimate placement of the trailer. I placed a 32-foot trailer in a designated parking spot without drama or cursing.
Another innovative and helpful feature is the onboard scale, which helps to avoid overloading the truck with cargo or a trailer that might need rebalancing. Not only is the weight of the load shown on the primary display screen, but the taillights also feature four LEDs that light up to show if the load is over or under the maximum, making it possible to track the load status from outside the cab.
The big Ford also gets the expected advanced driver assistance systems. Automatic emergency braking is optional on the XL but standard across the rest of the lineup. Other available features include intersection turn assistance, which alerts the driver and applies brakes before turning left if there's an oncoming vehicle. The Super Duty also features blind-spot warning that can extend to the length of the trailer with added sensors for fifth-wheel and goose-neck trailers.
Higher-level trims come standard with adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. I tested this system on the roads outside Romeo, Michigan, and found it comes very close to being hands-free. After setting the speed, the truck stays centered in the lane. It maintains its rate until coming upon a slower vehicle, matching its speed smoothly. The Super Duty steers itself around curves without a problem, but after a few seconds, an alert told me to put my hands back on the wheel.
While the new F-Series Super Duty has the latest active and passive safety features, at this writing, neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published crash-test ratings for the truck.
Independent Expert Opinion: Driving the 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty - Find the best Ford deals!
Photo: Perry Stern
While the cabin is stylish and comfortable, the reason for buying a Super Duty pickup is its extreme cargo hauling and towing capabilities. Four engine options are available, ranging from the 400-horsepower 6.8-liter V8 that comes standard in the XL to the available 6.7-liter high-output turbodiesel V8 that can deliver an astounding (and class-leading) 1,200 pound-feet of torque.
According to Ford, the Super Duty delivers more hauling and towing ability than the Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD, or the Ram HD pickup. The F-350 XL regular cab with dual rear wheels and the base V8 engine delivers a maximum 8,000-pound cargo-carrying capacity—perfect for those customers that might need to move a female African elephant.
Regarding towing, the F-450 with the high-output diesel sets the bar for the industry, with Ford saying it can tow up to 40,000 pounds! For some perspective, that would be like hauling five fully loaded F-150 pickups.
I had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an F-450 with a 40,000-pound load on a goose-neck-style trailer. The truck had no problem moving this massive load, even accelerating up a 7-percent grade and using engine braking to slow on the way back down. The truck felt completely stable and controllable throughout the drive. It was clearly up to this challenge. Most consumers will never come close to hauling this much weight with their truck, but for those that plan to, know that it does require a lot of fuel. During my short drive, I averaged 4.1 mpg.
Ford can also equip the Super Duty for off-road adventures with the optional Tremor package. Available on XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims of the F-250 and F-350, the Tremor gets a raised ground clearance, rear electronic-locking differential, front limited-slip differential, performance front and rear shocks, skid plates, and 35-inch off-road tires.
Ford set up a comprehensive off-road course to test out the Super Duty Tremor, and the truck is quite impressive when heading off the pavement. With plenty of ground clearance, the F-250 Platinum Tremor easily managed a muddy trail with deep holes and tight turns. Setting the truck to Rock Crawl mode (exclusive to Tremor), I climbed a treacherous rock trail aided by multiple camera views and a predictable and easy-to-modulate throttle.
One of the most interesting features exclusive to Tremor is the Trail Turn Assist. Specifically designed for off-road use, the system can lock the inside rear wheel corresponding to the steering wheel turned all the way. Locking the wheel effectively pivots the truck around the stopped wheel, making it around tight turns that seemed impossible.
Finally, I had an opportunity to take a short drive in the F-250 Lariat with the larger V8 engine. The ride was solid and comfortable, but most surprising was how quiet the cabin remained. Virtually no road or wind noise came into the cabin. While I had no means of measuring the decibels, the quiet was on par with a luxury car.
Independent Expert Opinion of the 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty - Find the best Ford deals!
Photo: Perry Stern
Ford has set the bar for HD trucks for years, evident by its ownership of the lion's share of the market. Ford raises the bar even higher with this latest 2023 F-Series Super Duty.
With a spacious cabin that can be as basic or luxurious as a customer wants and the latest advanced safety features, the Super Duty takes good care of its passengers. At the same time, this truck brings class-leading cargo and towing capabilities with innovative technology that takes much of the stress out of these tasks. For any customer in the market for a heavy-duty truck, the F-Series should be at the top of their shopping list.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Living in the Pacific Northwest, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
The opinions expressed in this review are the author’s own, not J.D. Power’s.
No portion of these reviews may be reproduced, distributed, publicly displayed, or used for a derivative work without J.D. Power’s written permission. © 2024 J.D. Power
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