2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty First Drive Review: Everything to make work easier

• Buyers can choose between two V8 petrol engines and two V8 diesel engines.

• The Smart Hitch function balances the weight of the trailer.

• The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty starts at $60,874.

True leaders in the segment, Super Duty pickups continue to sit at the top. Identified by the manufacturer as real workhorses, these pickups, which were already very impressive, have been improved to make life easier for those who work hard.

Motor Illustrated traveled to the Mauricie region to discover and drive the new generation Ford F-Series Super Duty. Here are our first impressions.

For a better-balanced trailer

Among the new features offered by Ford with the new generation F-Series Super Duty is what Ford calls the Smart Hitch. Essentially, the system measures the weight of the drawbar. A graph on the dashboard touchscreen clearly indicates the weight distribution. Remember that an unbalanced load can lead to undesirable trailer and truck behavior. On Limited and Platinum versions, weight distribution is also presented in the form of flashing lights on the rear lights. So, if you’re on your own, you can position your equipment properly on the trailer and view the weight distribution without having to disembark.

Backing up a trailer with greater ease

Backing up a trailer is easy if you’re used to it and know what you’re doing. Anyone who pulls the same trailer every day in the course of their work will, over time, become more and more at ease. But those who launch their boat once in the spring, or move their trailer twice a year, may not have the same ease. For these users, Ford has designed the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. Thanks to this function, you don’t have to steer without really knowing in which direction the trailer will point. The trailer is controlled by a wheel located just to the left of the screen. If you want the trailer to lean to the left, turn the wheel to the left. And if you want it to steer to the right, simply turn the wheel to the right. This roulette wheel is very sensitive and takes some getting used to. On the other hand, it can be very useful for those who are not used to reversing a trailer or caravan.

Once again, hitching a trailer is not necessarily a simple and easy task for those who don’t have to do it regularly. When you want to hitch up a trailer effortlessly, simply activate the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist function. This automatically reverses the truck so that the hitch ball and trailer tongue are perfectly aligned. Then all that’s left to do is lower the trailer. It was disconcerting to realize how simple, efficient and easy this exercise was.

A camera at the end of the tailgate

On a Ford F-Series Super Duty, there are a multitude of cameras positioned just about everywhere. That said, one in particular caught our eye. It’s positioned on the upper end of the tailgate. As a result, you can back up with the tailgate down in complete safety. The camera in the central display changes automatically.

The tailgate can be lowered electronically from the inside. Of course, the tailgate refuses to be lowered if there is insufficient space.

This option is standard on King Ranch, Platinum and Limited versions. It is not available on other versions.

These are small details, of course, but it’s the little things that make all the difference.

A range of four engines

Consumers choosing the Ford F-Series Super Duty have a choice of four engines. A 6.8 L V8 gasoline engine developing 405 hp and 445 lb-ft is standard. A second 7.3 L V8 petrol engine is available as an option. It generates 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque.

In this segment, the diesel engine is a must-have and highly appreciated. Buyers can choose between two versions of the 6.7 L PowerStroke V8 engine. The regular-efficiency version delivers 475 hp and 1050 lb-ft of torque. The high-output version produces 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. If you’re not impressed by these figures and the performance of these two diesel powertrains, we don’t know what else to do.

There’s nothing affordable about the Ford F-Series Super Duty. It’s a tough pickup capable of taking on the toughest jobs, and there’s nothing affordable about its price. It starts at $60,874. But for that money, you get a completely entry-level F-250 that looks just like a highway vehicle.

For reference, one of the versions tested was an F-250 XL Super Duty 4X4 with the 6.8 L V8 engine. A few minor options were ticked off, making its total price in excess of $80,000. In contrast, a Limited version was priced at over $124,000.

Just a first glimpse

In closing, we’d like to point out that, all in all, we spent relatively little time behind the wheel of the Ford F-Series Super Duty. Indeed, we would certainly have liked to cover more kilometers and put all four engines through their paces. We would also have appreciated towing a heavy load on the road to get a better feel for the pickup’s behavior. The aim of the exercise was mainly to highlight the model’s new technological features.

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