Overview

What's New for 2021

The F-250 is perfect for shoppers looking for a truck that they can customize to their liking. Ford avails customers of regular, extended, and crew cab models, as well as standard and extended bed lengths. Ford makes six trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. Rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive are available.

Pricing starts around $34,500 for the XL, which was made to be a basic, rugged work vehicle. Hence, there’s a straightforward quality to the standard equipment. Buyers get four-wheel disc brakes, steel wheels, a steel frame, aluminum body, a full-size spare tire, and automatic halogen headlights. Stepping inside, occupants get vinyl upholstery and a remote engine starter. Other features include air conditioning, Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch display, a USB port, and a wireless internet hotspot.

Stepping up to the XLT trim costs about $39,500 before options. Families will appreciate the power windows, power door locks, cruise control, and cloth upholstery. A SYNC 3 infotainment system includes an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The XLT rides on alloy wheels, and chrome trim accents the body. It also comes equipped with heated side mirrors and a power locking tailgate. One of the best parts about the XLT is its suite of driver safety aids, like forward-collision warning, auto emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring.

The Lariat costs about $47,500 to start. The audio is upgraded to a 10-speaker B&O Play premium sound system, and the seats are trimmed in high-quality leather. Both front seats receive 10-way power adjustment, while the driver has power-adjustable pedals and a leather steering wheel. Outside, there are body-color door handles, fog lights, power-folding mirrors, and a power rear sliding window.

Those wanting more of a western theme will love the King Ranch, beginning around $58,500. It has a chrome front grille with a Caribou inset design and two-tone body accent paint. In the cabin, the heated leather steering wheel has a Kingsville antique effect, and the upholstery is made from unique leather. Added amenities include navigation, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, a power telescoping steering column, rain-sensing wipers, and dual-zone climate control. The King Ranch is a fantastic truck for towing, with an Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System, trailer reverse guidance, and memory side mirrors.

The Platinum retails for about $66,000. It comes with body-color exterior accents and power-deploying running boards. The body also comes with LED fog lights, a satin aluminum front grille, quad-beam LED headlights, and chrome tow hooks. It also gets heated rear seats.

Finally, the Limited model, priced around $84,500, is pricier than rivals, but it adds a turbo-diesel engine, 20-inch polished wheels, and upfitter switches. The cabin gets exclusive two-tone leather and a sunroof.

The F-250’s notable options include a monochromatic paint package, two off-road packages, a high-capacity towing package, and a camper package.

The F-250’s standard layout is rear-wheel-drive, though a four-wheel-drive system is available. Most trims come standard with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. It mates to a TorqShift heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift technology.

A larger V8 is available, a 7.3-liter unit producing 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. It connects to a TorqShift 10-speed automatic transmission that also uses SelectShift for manual gear changes.

Ford also makes a 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo-diesel V8 engine that generates 475 horsepower and an immense 1,050 pound-feet of torque.

The F-250 has a maximum payload capacity of 4,260 pounds. It can tow up to 20,000 pounds conventionally when properly equipped, or 22,800 pounds with a fifth-wheel/gooseneck.

The F-250’s interior is refined and well-engineered. The buttons and materials feel high-quality, and the interior space is amongst the best in its class. In the crew cab, rear-seat passengers get virtually the same amount of room as those in the front.

Some rivals have slightly more luxurious styling, but few can match Ford’s practical design sense, and it nicely serves as a multipurpose vehicle. In-cabin storage is plentiful, with several bins and cubbies available for passengers to secure their stuff. Thanks to the F-250’s tall ride height, large windows, and an impressive available camera system, outward visibility is also excellent.

The entry-level XL trim doesn’t come with many features for the price, but then again, it’s made to be a basic work truck. The upper trim levels come with various standard features, like cloth or leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and modern driver safety technology.