2021 Ford F-250

The Ford F-Series can be given the tag of ‘The Truck of America’ without a doubt. The F-Series has been the best-selling range for close to five consecutive decades. Although the F-150 gets the major chunk of the volume for Ford, there are many other heavy-duty models in the range that have been ruling the respective segments. We recently laid our hands on the 2021 F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab. This Limited trim F-250 featured a four-wheel-drive system and came with the V-8 diesel mill that puts out a four-digit torque figure! Read on to know more about it.

2021 Ford F-250 - Driven

Specifications

Make: Array
Model: 2021 Ford F-250 - Driven
Engine/Motor: V8
Horsepower: 475
Torque: 1050
Transmission: Ten-speed automatic
[do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

2021 Ford F-250 Exterior

The 2021 F-250 Super Duty is offered in three body styles – Regular Cab, SuperCab, and Crew Cab. You get to choose between either a 6.75-foot bed or an eight-foot bed. Both these bed options are available on the SuperCab and Crew Cab, but the Regular Cab model can be had only with the eight-foot bed.

Our test drive example was the Crew Cab model in the top-spec Limited trim. This trim is offered in six colors – Stone Gray, Agate Black, Iconic Silver, Carbonized Gray, Rapid Red, and Star White. The Rapid Red is a $395 option, whereas you’ll have to shell out $595 for the Star White color.

The Limited trim rides on 275/65 section tires wrapped around 20-inch wheels. 17- and 18-inch options are available on other trims. Other noteworthy features on the outside include quad-beam LED headlights, LED fog lamps, Powerscope mirrors, trailer brake controller, and twin-panel moonroof, amongst other things.

The Ram 2500 and Chevy Silverado are 238.8- and 250 inches long, 79.5- and 81.9 inches wide, and 80.2- and 79.9 inches tall, respectively. You get an option of different wheelbases on each truck, but our F-250 example came with a 160-inch wheelbase. The Ram 2500 has a 149-inch wheelbase, whereas the Silverado 2500’s wheelbase is 159 inches long. Mind you, the Ram 2500 and the Chevy Silverado 2500 that we’re comparing it with are also the Crew Cab models.

Ford F-250 vs Competition Exterior Dimensions

	Ford F-250	Ram 2500	Chevrolet Silverado 2500	Length	250	238.8	249.95
Width	80	79.5	81.85
Height	81.5	80.2	79.82
Wheelbase	159.8	149	158.94
Front Track	68.3	68.7	68.1
Rear Track	67.2	68.1	68.3

The F-250 Crew Cab doesn’t have an exorbitantly heavy engine or build. Yet, it weighs significantly more than the Ram 2500 and the Silverado 2500.

The Ram 2500 Laramie can also tow as most the same – 19,780 pounds - but can haul up to 4,380 pounds. The Chevy Silverado 2500 can tow up to 18,500 pounds and haul up to 3,800 pounds.

2021 Ford F-250 Interior

The F-250’s cabin is spacious and everything looks well laid out. Behind the chunky steering wheel is an analog-digital instrument cluster to provide relevant drive data. The F-250 that we got came with dual-tone black-and-beige interior. On the center console, you get an eight-inch touchscreen that runs on the SYNC3 infotainment system. There are supplementary knobs and buttons to help you control the system.

It comes with some other features like:

- Dual-zone climate control

- Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel

- 10-speaker B&O sound system

- Wireless charging pad

How Spacious Is The 2021 Ford F-250?

The Ram 2500 offers 40.9 inches of headroom, which is almost on par with the F-250, but lacks in all the other departments. It offers 40.9 inches of legroom, 65.9 inches of shoulder room, and 52.9 inches of hiproom; almost 10 inches less than the F-250. The Silverado, on the other hand, is marginally better than the F-250 in terms of headroom and legroom, but falls behind in the shoulder room and hip room department. It offers 43 inches of headroom, 44.5 inches of legroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, and 61.2 inches of hip room.

Even in the second row, things aren’t too different between the three American trucks. In terms of headroom, the Blue Oval offers 40.4 inches, the Ram offers 39.8 inches and the Chevy offers 40.1 inches. The F-250 offers 43.6 inches of legroom, the Ram 2500 offers 40.2 inches, and the Chevy Silverado offers 43.4 inches. Coming to the shoulder room and hip room, you’ll get 65.9- and 64.7 inches in the F-250, 65.6- and 62.7 inches in the Ram 2500, and 65.3- and 60.2 inches in the Silverado, respectively.

Ford F-250 vs Competition Exterior Dimensions

	Ford F-250	Ram 2500	Chevrolet Silverado 2500	Length	250	238.8	249.95
Width	80	79.5	81.85
Height	81.5	80.2	79.82
Wheelbase	159.8	149	158.94
Front Track	68.3	68.7	68.1
Rear Track	67.2	68.1	68.3

2021 Ford F-250 Drivetrain

Our F-250 came with the 6.7-liter, turbocharged Powerstroke V-8 diesel mill that makes 475 ponies at 2,600 rpm and a massive 1,050 pound-feet of twist at just 1,600 rpm. This strong low torque bandwidth, coupled with the 10-speed automatic gearbox, will make pulling off from a start a breeze even with the trailer hitched to the ass. This model is available with a four-wheel-drive system. A 3.31 non-limited slip axle ratio comes as standard, but you can opt for an electronic locking axle in the same ratio for $390 bucks. 3.55 axle ratios are also available in both non-limited slip and electronic locking mechanisms.

The F-250 Super Duty is available with two more engines – both naturally aspirated V-8s. The 6.2-liter mill makes 385 horses and 430 pound-feet of torque, whereas the 7.3-liter Godzilla puts out 430 ponies and 475 pound-feet of twist. The Godzilla is mated to a 10-speed automatic, but the 6.2-liter V-8 comes with a six-speed auto gearbox.

On a side note, Ford Super Duty models suffer from something known as the ‘Death Wobble’. The truck violently judders out of the blue while you’re cruising. The issue is prevalent since 2005 and for some reason, Ford couldn’t fix it. There have been no cases reported since 2019, so the new models are most likely not prone to them. A lawsuit was also filed that reported that the most common factor that triggers the death wobble is when you are traveling at over 50 mph and one of the tires hits a bump, groove, or a dip in the road. Quite a scary moment for folks who've experienced it.

Our test example came with two paid options – the Rapid Red exterior shade and the spray-in bedliner. They are priced at $395 and $595 respectively. There’s also a destination fee of $1,695. So, the total cost comes up to $86,975. Opt for the other packages and optional goodies and you could see the prices get even closer to the $90,000-mark.

2021 Ford F-250 Competition

Ram 2500 Crew Cab

Of the seven trims, the F-250 goes up against the Ram 2500 Crew Cab model in the Limited trim. The Crew Cab model can be had with either a 6’4-foot bed, or an eight-foot bed. It features a 6.7-liter inline-six oil-burning mill under the hood that puts out 370 horses and 850 pound-feet of oomph. This is 105 horses and 200 pound-feet of torque less than the F-250’s outputs. A six-speed automatic gearbox powers the wheels here. Just like its rivals, the Ram 2500 can be had with either a two-wheel- or a four-wheel-drive system.

For the 2020 model, the company introduced a new Night Edition package for the Laramie and the Big Horn trims that black out a lot of exterior and interior components. Ram even introduced a five-link coil system and an air suspension system for the 2500. Inside the cabin, you get a 12-inch touchscreen powered by the UConnect 4C infotainment system.

The Ram 2500 HD starts at $35,425 and goes all the way up to $63,040.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab

The F-250-rivalling Silverado 2500 Crew Cab model is the LTZ. The 2500 is offered in Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab body styles. It can be had with a 6.6-liter, turbodiesel V-8 mill that makes 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed Allison automatic gearbox. It can be had with a two-wheel- or a four-wheel-drive configuration.

The LTZ trim comes with 18-inch wheels as standard wrapped around 275/70 section tires. Every trim features different grille designs to distinguish them from one another. On the inside, it features a spacious cabin. An eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system graces the center console. The Chevy Silverado 2500 starts at $36,995 and goes up to $64,995. This is nearly $20,000 less than the top-of-the-line Ford F-250 Super Duty.

2021 Ford F-250 – Packages

There are seven packages on offer with the F-250 Limited trim:

- 9,900 GVWR Package – No additional cost

- Trailer Tow High Capacity Package – $1,185

- Heavy Service Front Suspension Package – $125

- FX4 Off-Road Package – $400

- Snow Plow Prep Package - $250

- Power Equipment Group 2 – Included

- Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System – Included

2021 Ford F-250 – Warranty

The 2021 F-250 Super Duty comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty on the powertrain and roadside assistance. The diesel engine gets a 5-year/100,000-mile warranty.