2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty

2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2022 Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup consists of a broad range of brawny full-size pickup trucks available in all kinds of versions, from contractor special to souped-up luxo-barge.

Updates for 2022 mostly concentrate on high-end models. Lariat and above trims add a 12.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment, while various exterior and interior styling packages can dress the Super Duty up for, well, duty.

With a choice between two big V-8s or a turbodiesel, plus available rear- or all-wheel drive, the Super Duty range offers serious hauling ability. Properly configured, these trucks can lug as much as 37,000 pounds, and Ford even offers a fifth-wheel trailer setup.

Fuel economy isn’t an F-Series Super Duty virtue, though these trucks are too big to qualify for evaluation by the EPA.

Similarly, this lineup of big pickups hasn’t been crash-tested. They do stand apart from rivals by coming standard with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors in all but the base, work-ready XL trim level. Adaptive cruise control is available as an extra-cost option on higher-trim versions.

Model Lineup

From work-ready XL through decadent Platinum and King Ranch trim levels, the F-Series Super Duty lineup is as broad as it gets.

Most buyers probably know where they land in this hierarchy, though.

Base XL trucks are nearly wash-out-ready with their vinyl seats, rubber floors, and crank windows. Don’t look for luxuries at this price point.

The XLT subs in cloth upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus the option to add even more features. They also include blind-spot monitors and automatic emergency braking, a pair of features that come in handy on trucks this big.

The Lariat swaps cloth for leather, plus it comes with ​​automatic climate control, a new 12.0-inch touchscreen with a sharp display, and B&O speakers. Platinum and King Ranch versions go full-tilt with heated and cooled front seats, soft leather upholstery, and the option to add a sunroof.

Various additional option packages range from work-oriented tech like extra towing gear, skid plates, and lane-departure warnings to luxuries such as upgraded audio, blacked-out trim, and an off-road package with beefed-up shocks and all-terrain tires.

Exterior

Suave, sleek, and sexy, the F-Series Super Duty is not. These are purposeful trucks, with a massive front end, a massive side profile, a massive bed, and, well, you get the idea.

They’re intentionally boxy and oversized. Look for big C-clamp headlights up front and Ford’s characteristic bump-up in the belt line. Regular, extended-, and crew-cab configurations are offered, with various different bed sizes.

Each trim has its own style. XL models are light on brightwork, which arrives with the XLT. Lariat and King Ranch versions add available two-tone trim for a classic look, while the Platinum is tonier with more chrome.

Interior

Function takes precedence inside the F-Series Super Duty, though you might have to reach quite a ways to operate all of its switches and knobs. These are enormous trucks.

Those squared-off lines carry over to the cabin, which can look almost luxurious in Lariat and higher trim thanks to this year’s new 12.0-inch touchscreen.

A bench seat is standard up front, though captain’s chairs separated by a big console are optional and likely common on most higher-end versions. Extended-cab versions have decent space in the rear, but it takes stepping up to the crew cab for family-friendly utility. Few vehicles offer as much rear-seat room as the F-Series Super Duty.

Driving Impressions

The base 6.2-iliter V-8’s 385 hp offers good power for medium-duty use, and it’s well-matched to the standard 6-speed automatic transmission. A 10-speed automatic comes in higher-trim versions instead.

The optional 7.3-liter V-8 thrusts forward 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, and it can lug as much as 28,000 pounds in certain configurations. It’s smooth, quiet, and plenty thirsty.

Forget about the turbodiesel’s 470 hp. What’s more important here is its 1,050 lb-ft of torque. You read that right. It pairs well with the 10-speed automatic to confidently pull any load most drivers can imagine. Those who really need it can spec one out to haul 37,000 pounds, too.

An option worth considering is the available hydraulic assistance for the power steering, which makes these trucks easier to maneuver at low speeds. While hardly suited to in-town use, these big bruisers come into their own on the open road – preferably with a trailer attached.

Rear-wheel drive is standard, while a part-time transfer case meant for use on slippery terrain is optional. Even with the available off-road packages, the F-Series Super Duty is hardly a rock crawler. It’s best for stomping across fields from one job to the next, work trailer in tow.

Final Word

If you really need its abilities, the Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup checks off every imaginable box. These are hugely capable (and hugely proportioned) pickups ready for duty.

 

—by Andrew Ganz with driving impressions by The Car Connection