I've been really impressed with the new 6.4L engine in the Super Duty. At any speed above 5 mph, boost was always available, and we were able to launch nearly at full boost (30 psi) on the dragstrip. At the dyno event at Redline Diesel Performance, I couldn't even tell the vehicle was running until the rollers started spinning. That's how quiet the F-250 is. As long as it's reliable, I think this will be an engine anyone will be happy driving hundreds of thousands of miles. The ride is a little harsher than I expected, but I guess that impressive tow rating has to figure in somewhere. I, along with almost everyone else who has looked at it, thought the interior was very well done.
- Jason Sands
This is the most advanced diesel vehicle I've ever driven, so I opened the hood to show people the new 6.4L every chance I got. I was disappointed to find that people seemed more interested in the all-new interior than in the powertrain. That said, the 6.4L is stronger, quieter, and far more complex than last year's 6.0L. The power doesn't feel as explosive as you might expect, which I'm sure other magazines will claim is due to turbo lag. Those magazine's will be wrong. The new emissions standards are here, and they're clearly a challenge for engine calibrators. I'm sure the aftermarket will get a lot more power out of these engines.
- David Kennedy
I think the new Super Duty is a great truck-and I don't even like Fords. Even with electronic trannies in the throttle and the engine computer, it was a blast to drive. There's no turbo lag, just a computer brain hoping you aren't really mashing the pedal and killing the fuel economy and emissions output. With all that power on tap, you need good handling, steering, and brakes, and the Super Duty's got it all. Bumps that rattle the bones of my 3,800-pound dailydriver were quietly soaked up by the front coils, and the rear axle hop was minimal and noninvasive. The steering was predictable and makes the truck feel smaller than it is, which isn't easy in Los Angeles. The interior design is too busy for my tastes, with more than five different materials being used, but it's functional, and Ford people seemed to love it. The touchscreen navigation/radio was not easy to use, but none of them is-no harm, no foul. Altogether, driving the new Super Duty is great. It's got great power, handling, and braking-everything we expect from a sports car...errr, 3/4-ton turbodiesel truck.
- Trevor Reed