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For the week that we had the Super Duty, we went everywhere. From the day it was dropped off, we just wanted to drive it. And that is what we, did putting over 1,000 miles on the truck. The truck had plenty of features and the price tag to go with it, but is everything offered in Ford’s next-gen diesel truck worth it? Let’s dig deeper.
Exterior
Instead of diving right into the cab of the truck, we wanted to take a closer look at the truck from the outside. The outside of a vehicle for most people doesn’t get paid much attention to unless the vehicle is being washed. Ford put plenty of thought into the exterior of the 2017 Super Duty.
With a total of five exterior cameras, backing up the F-250 even into the tightest parking spot was a breeze.
Up front, the redesign called for headlights that set the truck apart from the rest of the market and make the Super Duty stand out from the crowd. The truck comes factory with automatic electric side steps. The rear of the truck had plenty of useful features as well.
We are usually not fans of side steps, but the electric ones on the F-250 came in handy multiple times.
The step mounted in the tailgate gave us easy access to check out the bed lights, Tough Bed spray-in bedliner, and fifth-wheel hitch prep package. The prep package makes s bed-mounted hitch installation easier, with predrilled holes through the bed.
With Ford's Tough Bed, the truck looked ready to go to work. It also had the fifth-wheel hitch prep package, which would easily accept an aftermarket fifth-wheel hitch.
Interior
The 2017 Super Duty seemed to have everything we would ever want in the interior of a truck. The exterior of the truck was done up in Ford’s Ruby Red Metallic, and the interior color, black and Brunello leather, complemented it very well.
The interior of the F-250 was arguably its best feature.
The eight-inch touchscreen had all the latest features. One that we used a lot was the navigation; not because we didn’t know where we were going, but because it popped up with a very realistic depiction of off-ramps and freeway intersections. It seemed as if the navigation knew what every turn looked like.
Anything that we wanted to move in the truck was at the push of a button, with what seemed like power everything. The power folding mirrors, 10-way power seats, pedal adjust, and power rear window slide were just a few of the features controlled by electronics.
With plenty of buttons, heated rear seats, and storage, the interior of the F-250 made us feel right at home.
Even for the rear passengers, interior comfort was a high priority. There was plenty of leg room for a six-foot-tall adult to getting in and out with a car seat. In addition, the rear seats did have a heated seat option, as well as a 110-watt power outlet. Suffice to say the kids could keep their devices charged on long drives.
Powerplant
Under the hood was Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke back by a six-speed automatic transmission. The Power Stroke has long been the cornerstone of Ford’s diesel truck market, and the fourth generation of the engine is no different.
Ford states that the Power Stroke inverse-flow configuration locates the turbocharger between the cylinder heads and the top of the block. The exhaust manifold is inboard and close to the turbocharger, allowing for faster air displacement and more power.
The 6.7-liter Power Stroke has a Smart Exhaust Brake function. When activated, it restricts the turbocharger’s exhaust flow to generate back pressure. This slows the vehicle for greater control while going downhill. Also, brake fade and lining wear are reduced, lowering the cost of maintenance. Three settings are available: On, Off, and Auto, the latter of which modulates engine braking based on the accelerator and brake pedal use.
On-Road Driving Impressions
Here in Southern California, we have plenty of open roads (and traffic) on which to drive the Super Duty and get a real feel for how it would do. To do some sightseeing, we packed up the family and headed out to Beverly Hills and the Santa Monica area. The trip gave us plenty of highway and city driving, letting us take in the entire truck.
On the highway, the truck had no problem keeping up with the flow of traffic, even as speeds neared 80 mph. Getting around slow drivers was not an issue. The ride quality and the comfort in the cab was enjoyable for all the passengers. The size of the truck gave everyone plenty of room, even with a car seat in the back.
Off the California interstate, the truck again had no issues maneuvering the tight streets in Venice. The only downside of the truck was its massive size. Finding a parallel parking spot in Beverley Hills was not going to happen; neither was parking in a structure.
Driving down Rodeo Drive and seeing people look at the truck could have been the highlight of the trip. In a land filled with high-end sports cars, seeing something that most people still consider a “dirty diesel” was amusing. All we could think of was rolling coal down the entire street! To find easier parking, we headed to the Santa Monica Pier and its open parking lot.
The entire time we were in the F-250, we did not hear anyone complain they were uncomfortable or asking if we could scoot the seat up. However, the “are we there yet?” questions still got asked.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, the truck was a blast to drive. It had tons of power under your right foot, and had plenty more for anything else we wanted to do. Long drives were not an issue, and the truck was comfortable enough to spend plenty of time in it. From the massive twin panel moonroof to the massaging captain’s chairs, this truck was hard to give up.
This truck comes with all the bells and whistles that one could imagine, but with a warranty. The $76,730 price tag of the truck we drove was hard to swallow at first, but after spending time driving it and truly seeing everything the truck could do, it made that pill easier to swallow. If you are in the market for a new diesel pickup, this is one that we could definitely get behind.
