2018 Ford F250 Pros vs Cons

The Ford F-250 is the smallest of Ford’s Super Duty pickup truck range, which was originally designed as a professional-grade alternative to the mixed-use F-150 truck. Since then, it has expanded its popularity and shifted its feature set accordingly. Prospective buyers will find the 2018 Ford F-250 to be not only a very powerful and capable work truck, but also one that can be equipped with some of the latest technology and comfort amenities as well.

What’s New for 2018?

The 2018 Ford F-250 is practically the same as the 2017 model, which saw a full redesign of the Super Duty line. The 2017 F-250 got a new stronger frame, coupled with a lighter body, as well as two powerful new engines and a whole slew of modern safety, technology and comfort features.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2018 Ford F250 – The Pros

1. Very Stylish

For a work truck, the 2018 F-250 is a very good-looking vehicle. There are plenty of accents across the exterior, which varies between different models. Even the base work trucks stand out from the crowd, while the upscale King Ranch or Platinum models exude a luxurious aura. Inside, even the base models are trimmed out in nice vinyl, while the high-end trucks are filled with soft leather and expensive accents.

2. New Frame and Body

The recent update to the F-250 improved not only the car’s looks, but the underpinnings of the vehicle as well. Using the same design as on the new generation of the F-150, Ford has combined a stronger steel frame with a lighter aluminium body, making the new F-250 significantly lighter than before. This helps the car’s maneuverability and mileage alike, which are both generally weak points for large trucks.

3. Powerful Gas Engine

The base engine on the 2018 F-250 is a very strong 6.2-liter V-8 that should easily satisfy both casual drivers and those who plan on using their F-250 to haul or tow. It’s performance clocks in at 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, which easily gets the truck in motion, empty or full bed alike. It is easily up to most task that it will be required to do as a work or commuter vehicle.

4. Impressive Diesel

While the gasoline engine is an excellent option for most everyday uses of the Ford F-250, the diesel engine is perfect for drivers who do a lot of towing, pulling, or other activities that require a lot of torque. The 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8 produced up to 925 pound-feet of torque, as well as 440 horsepower, allowing it to tow practically anything. That is more torque than either of the F-250’s major rivals.

5. Very Customizable

There are a lot of different configurations available for the 2018 Ford F-250, making it easy to create the perfect car for you. There are five trim lines, including basic work-truck XL and XLT as well as consumer-grade Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum models. There are also three cab sizes and two bed sizes to choose from, as well as a slew of optional packages, upgrades and dealer-installed options.

6. High Tow Rating

The 2018 Ford F-250 is an excellent towing machine, especially when coupled with the high-torque turbodiesel engine. The gas engine can tow up to 15,000 pounds, while the diesel, with its extra torque, can pull 3,000 pounds more, for a total of 18,000 pounds. And that number is limited more by the F-250’s smaller body than the engine power itself. The largest Ford Super Duty equipped with the same engine can pull up to 32,000 pounds, though few people outside of some specialized professions will ever need that kind of towing power.

7. Dynamic Steering

A big car like the 2018 Ford F-250 will never have the agility of a passenger vehicle, but Ford used some nice tricks to make it feel more composed and easier to drive. The most distinctive is its variable ratio steering, which changes the steering ratio depending on the truck’s speed. That makes it very easy to position it precisely at low speeds, while still retaining good driving dynamics at highway velocities.

8. Quiet and Comfortable

A lot of thought has gone into the creature comfort aspects of the Ford F-250, making for a quiet and composed driving experience. The suspension manages to keep the worst of the road imperfections under control, and noise insulation keeps the truck’s big engines from deafening you inside the cab. It definitely makes for a nicer ride than some rivals.

9. Innovative Camera Setup

A neat feature that adds a lot of quality of life to the large truck that is the 2018 Ford F-250 is its innovative camera system. Using cameras positioned on the side and rear of the car, it provides a live view of the areas to the side and immediately behind the truck. It is useful not only for making it into parking spots designed for regular-sized cars, but also for getting the truck into perfect position to link up a trailer.

10. Full Active Safety

Active safety features have taken their time moving from the passenger car class into the pickup truck world, but the 2018 Ford F-250 has all of the latest crash prevention gadgets. Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alerts are all available on the new F-250.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2018 Ford F250 – The Cons

1. Expensive

Depending on your chosen configuration and feature options, the 2018 Ford F-250 can command a significant premium. Its starting price is slightly higher than most of its rivals, and fully equipped models can quickly approach six figures. The F-250 offers several advantages over its rivals, but it is not really the value option in the class.

2. Spare Base Models

The entry-level versions of the 2018 Ford F-250 have almost no features, missing some that have even become standard elsewhere. The base XL is even available without power locks and windows, making it feel like a throwback to the 90s in terms of standard equipment.

3. Not Very Efficient

As is true for all large trucks, the F-250 consumes a lot of gas, even with some fuel-saving updates from the new body and engine options. That significantly increases the F-250’s cost to own over a smaller truck like the F-150, so drivers should really be sure they need the capabilities of the F-250 before moving up to one.

How It Stacks up to the Competition

The primary rivals for the Ford F-250 are the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and the Ram 2500. The F-250 comes out ahead of both of them, thanks to its excellent combination of performance, styling and features. The Chevrolet Silverado distinguishes itself with slightly better driving dynamics, but doesn’t fare nearly as well in a towing and payload comparison with the F-250, making it less useful as a truck. The Ram 2500 can match the F-250 in capabilities, but is far more uncomfortable to drive or ride in, as well as having more dated styling. The F-250, meanwhile, manages to combine both.

Conclusion

The 2018 Ford F-250 is the perfect truck for drivers who need the capabilities of a Super Duty vehicle but don’t want to feel resigned to a bare interior, a boring exterior and a clumsy driving feel. By combining both the performance and the comfort elements of truck driving, the Ford F-250 easily tops the charts when it comes to large pickups.