2023 Ford F-450 Super Duty

Ford is always pushing the boundaries of the heavy-duty pickup segment, and the 2023 Ford F-450 Super Duty is now back for its fifth generation with even more impressive capabilities than ever before. Many of the updates are a response to what rivals like the Ram 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD are doing. The pinnacle of the F-Series comes equipped with a 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 engine in two states of tune, with the high-output variant developing 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. This enables an insane maximum towing capacity of 40,000 lbs in gooseneck configuration. Ford has also made a significant effort to ensure that the upper trim levels can compete with the likes of Ram in terms of luxury and comfort, so it seems likely that the F-Series will continue to dominate the segment.

The new Ford F-450 Super Duty pickup truck has been redesigned for 2023 with the express intention of beating out the competition with top-tier towing and hauling capabilities. A 6.7L V8 turbodiesel does duty in every trim with a high-output version available. All but the base model come with 4x4 as standard, and the upper trim levels provide access to modern safety tech and luxury features. It is also the first truck in the USA with built-in 5G Wi-Fi access.

You have to pay for remarkable capability, so the price of the base-level 2023 Ford F-450 Super Duty is already up there at $58,455, while the XLT will cost you $65,696. Both can upgrade from the Regular Cab to the Crew Cab, pushing up their respective prices to $63,455 and $69,035. The larger body style is standard for the remaining trims, and the Lariat is the next up at $78,665. It is a significant bump in price for the remaining grades, with the King Ranch at $91,090, the Platinum at $92,535, and the Limited at $103,030. Aside from the top-tier trim which comes with the high-output engine as standard, each model can replace its base mill with the high-output variant for an additional $2,500. These are the MSRP figures and do not include the hefty $1,995 destination charge or any other administrative fees.

It is hard to recommend a specific trim without knowing a buyer's needs, but we can say that lower-weight XL and XLT models boast the highest towing and hauling capacities when equipped with the stronger engine. However, the upper trims can still handle impressive loads, and the added luxuries you get from the King Ranch upwards are quite something to behold. We are not sure it's worth spending six figures on, though.

In the past, the interior of the F-450 Super Duty has seen it struggle to compete with more premium rivals. Now, if you are willing to spend enough money, you can have a truly luxurious and well-appointed cabin, with loads of interior space, regardless of the cab size you choose. Of course, the Crew Cab is far better suited for family use, and it allows you to throw in even more impressive features, like an 18-speaker sound system. The look and feel of the interior is still what one would expect from a hardy pickup, with a chunky dashboard and hard straight lines separating different sections. There are plenty of physical controls below the touchscreen, and you get access to a large 12-inch driver-info display and head-up display on the top trims. Getting in and out of the car is easy, though small children will need a helping hand.

With the Regular Cab, you get a single row of seating with loads of head- and legroom for up to three passengers. Switching to the Crew Cab opens up additional seats in a second row, and it comes with just as generous space for taller folk, which means even large adults can spend the whole day in the back without ever feeling the need to complain. From the Lariat upwards, you get a power-adjustable driver's seat, and further upgrades in trim levels unlock more direction of adjustability, with Max Recline seats available in the Limited. The height and clear sight lines grant a commanding view of the road, but you will welcome the standard blind-spot assist with trailer coverage when pulling a load.

Trucks don't have a traditional trunk, but you can store some cargo inside the cabin, with 10.9 cubic feet on offer behind the seats in the Regular Cab, or up to 53.4 cubes in the Crew Cab when you fold down the rear seats. Instead, you will be using the truck bed for hauling most of your goods. There's only one bed size available on the F-450, and that's the eight-food bed, which gives you a cargo volume of 78.5 cubic feet. And, depending on the power- and drivetrain in use, the truck can handle a payload of up to 6,457 pounds with the Regular Cab or 5,622 lbs with the Crew Cab.

Small-item storage is also generous, especially if you have switched out the front bench for the two bucket seats. With the bench, you can fold down the middle seat for a pair of cupholders, but these are standard in the big center console if you choose the bucket seats. This also gets you a storage cubby, which can hold larger items like the glove compartment. The door pockets could be bigger, though. Passengers in the back get a fold-down armrest with cupholders, too, along with seatback pockets.

Ford has made an effort to improve the quality of the materials inside the cabin, though you'll still have to settle for hardy vinyl in the base-level XL trim. This is presented in Medium Dark Slate only. The XLT upgrades to softer cloth upholstery and adds Baja to the availabe interior colors. From the Lariat upward, you get leather in varying qualities and designs, but it is simple, at this point, in either Black Onyx or Baja. Kingsville antique effect leather in Java lives up to the reputation of the King Ranch, while the Platinum gets high-quality leather in Black Onyx, but the standout feature here is the multi-contour front seats.

At the top of the range is the luxury leather of the Limited, presented in Admiral Blue/Light Slate. The trim around the cabin is quite basic, but the doors and dash will match the color scheme you select. Hard plastics are mostly kept out of sight, but they are present. We can't fault the build quality, though.

The standard list of features is nothing to write home about on the base truck, but they improve significantly as you move through the trim levels. The XL starts you off with manual air conditioning, remote keyless entry, a pair of power outlets, a 4.2-inch driver-info screen, and cruise control. Infotainment is accessed through an eight-inch touchscreen with functions including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 5G Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Only four speakers are installed as standard, though Crew Cabs get six. The XL adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and an additional power point.

Both the driver-info screen and infotainment touchscreen are upgraded to 12-inch units in the Lariat, and the front seats are heated and ventilated, while the rear ones are heated. SiriusXM enhances the infotainment, and a universal garage door opener is thrown in. The King Ranch upgrades the sound system to an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup and adds a head-up display. Strangely, you only get a power-adjustable steering column in the Platinum, and navigation is added at this level, too. Lastly, the Limited spoils you with a Max Recline driver's seat.

When it comes to performance, trucks are evaluated a bit differently from other vehicles. Acceleration and top speed are secondary to how much work the powertrain can do. Both engines on offer for the Ford F-450 are hardy pieces of equipment. The regular 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 develops 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and it comes equipped to all but the top-tier Limited as standard. However, every trim can upgrade to the high-output version of this engine, which makes 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. In any case, the engine comes mated to a ten-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. Power is sent to the rear-wheel drivetrain that comes standard in the XL, though you can upgrade to the 4x4 drivetrain that is standard in the rest of the range.

If you care about how fast this truck can go, then you'll be happy to know the Ford F-450 Super Duty shoots from 0-60 mph in under six seconds, which is impressive when you consider the truck weighs 8,587 lbs in its heaviest configuration. The top speed is less impressive, ranging from 90 to 100 mph. What will wow buyers is the insane towing capacity of this beast. Conventional trailering maxes out at 25,000 pounds with the Regular Cab or 30,000 lbs with the Crew Cab. With a gooseneck setup, the Regular Cab comes out on top at 40,000 lbs when equipped with the high-output engine and 4x2, while the Crew Cab can tow 34,700 lbs in the right configuration.

In terms of the driving experience, the F-450 wasn't designed with fun in mind. It turns tightly for a big truck, and the electronic assistance helps you with this, but such maneuvers should never be attempted at speed. Ride comfort is pretty good, but the suspension is definitely on the firmer side of things - piling some cargo in the bed helps smooth things out. You have plenty of ground clearance, especially when unladen, so this big beast won't shy away from some off-road adventures.

To grow up this big and strong, the F-450 Super Duty needs to eat a lot, or in this case, drink a lot. Even though the EPA doesn't test it, we know that it is a gas guzzler of note. Some real-world figures have been reported by owners, though, which tell us you can expect the Ford F-450 Super Duty to get around 11-12 mpg combined. Naturally, gas mileage will differ depending on whether you are using RWD or AWD, and pulling a heavy load will see it sip more heavily from the tank.

Luckily, you get a big tank with a large capacity for fuel. The Regular Cab has a 29-gallon tank, while the Crew Cab enjoys a 38-gallon tank. This means you should be able to travel around 350 or 575 miles, respectively.

The NHTSA and IIHS don't crash-test heavy-duty trucks, but the name says it all. These vehicles can take a real beating, so even without a safety review, the Ford F-450 Super Duty is regarded as a very safe car. However, it is a bit lacking in standard driver-assistance tech. You get ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags as standard, along with a rearview camera. To its credit, Ford has seen fit to bestow even the base-level F-450 with blind-spot monitoring that includes cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage. However, if you want pre-collision assist with automatic braking, post-collision braking, intersection assist, front and reverse sensing, lane-keep assist, lane centering, pedestrian detection, or trailer reverse guidance, you need to upgrade to a more expensive trim.

There is no official reliability rating for the Ford F-450 Super Duty, and while you may expect a brand-new generation to be relatively recall-free, the model has already been subject to several. This is a bit concerning, considering the brand has recently reaffirmed its commitment to better quality checks. Known recalls include incorrect software for the front door modules affecting the window operation, incorrect rearview camera images being displayed, and missing head restraint instructions. There was also an issue with the steering column bolts, which may be missing altogether. Lastly, many cars were recalled for improperly soldered joints in the instrument panel that may affect the display of vital information.

Despite these problems, every 2023 Ford F-450 Super Duty is covered by a warranty that is valid for three years/36,000 miles. The powertrain is covered for five years/60,000 miles, with roadside assistance provided for the same period.

As part of its redesign, the 2023 F-450 Super Duty has adopted design elements from the smaller F-150 and Maverick that have proved popular with consumers. These include the signature C-clamp headlights, as well as side vents that actually serve a purpose rather than just look cool. Naturally, the truck is extremely large and bold, and sitting between the enormous headlights is a grille that dominates the front fascia. The design differs between trims, with black accents being the norm on the XL and bright chrome on the upper trims. From the Lariat upward, the twin bars running the length of the grille are replaced with a solid element that incorporates the headlights, breaking away from the overly chunky design. The headlights are bolstered with foglights on the XLT, with both upgraded to LEDs on the Lariat. The taillights are only upgraded on the Platinum.

Every model rides on 19.5-inch wheels with dual-rear wheels as standard, and while the XL and XLT can choose between the Regular Cab or larger Crew Cab, the upper trims all get the latter. A twin-panel moonroof is available to all models but the base, and it comes standard on the Limited in Crew Cab.

When it comes to moving mountains, or at least trying to, a heavy-duty truck is your best option. Ford has been pushing the limits of this purposed segment for years, and now with its latest-generation F-450 Super Duty, the Blue Oval has once again blown the competition out of the water. Max towing is now a staggering 40,000 pounds when the high-output turbodiesel V8 is in play, and the famed model has shored up its weaknesses in terms of quality and features, too. Sure, you have to pay through the nose to enjoy the latter, but it is at least an option now. This includes a larger touchscreen that rivals that found in the Ram 3500, as well as more advanced driver-assistance tech. There is little that the F-450 can't do, and now that Ford has given it such an extensive makeover, it does everything a bit better and looks great doing it. If you need a workhorse that won't balk at the most insane loads, then there is no better option right now. At least until new models arrive from competing automakers.