2023 Ford Super Duty Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
Drivers who need the ultimate truck in Ford's lineup should look no further than the F-350 Super Duty. Available with dually rear wheels, this is the biggest, most capable passenger vehicle to wear the Blue Oval badge, and it's been redesigned for model year 2023.
What's New
- Exterior styling with seven different grille choices
- Bed-access steps on the rear bumper and in the bed sides
- STX, Sport, and Black appearance packages
- Standard 6.8-liter V-8 and optional 6.8-liter turbocharged diesel V-8
- Standard four-wheel drive on XLT trim levels and above
- Available F-350 XL Off-Road package on four-wheel-drive, single-rear-wheel rigs
- 2023 Tremor models now feature Trail Turn Assist for mitigating tight bends
- Customizable 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- Standard 8.0-inch center display on XL models and 12.0-inch screen on higher trims
- Four USB ports
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Redesigned center console with more storage
- Max-Recline front seats
- Flat rear floor
- Eight- or 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
- Driver assist features Trailer Navigation, Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch, Ford Co-Pilot 360-Degree Trailer Camera System, and Blind Spot Information System for fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing
- Ford Pro with its Upfit Integration System, which simplifies adding and using accessories and equipment like lights or snow plows
- Wi-fi capability
- Pro Power onboard 2.0-kilowatt auxiliary power system
What We Think
The Ford Super Duty succeeds in providing plenty of capability for the worksite and the same general livability as Ford's light-duty truck. It has the same decent driving manners as the Ford F-150, and it rides surprisingly well, as we noted in our First Drive review. The interior is largely the same as well. We found the Super Duty felt confident in our towing tests with the 7.3-liter gas V-8 and the high-output Power Stroke, although you can hear the roar of the cooling fan working hard uphill. Capable and filled with useful tech, the Super Duty holds its own against rivals.
Gasoline and Diesel Engines
The F-350 will be sold exclusively with V-8 engines. Gasoline options comprise 6.8- and 7.3-liter units. The former produces 400 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, and the latter makes 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque.
A turbodiesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine is also available in two states of tune. On the "low" end is the variant that makes 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A high-output version has an upgraded turbocharger and develops 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque.
All of these engines are bolted to a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD available.
Driver Assist and Safety Features
The 2023 F-350 should be less taxing to drive thanks to its many available driver-assist and active safety features. Among these are adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, a huge help in highway driving. Beyond normal blind-spot monitoring, blind-spot sensors can be attached to a trailer to extend this feature's efficacy. Parking this leviathan is easier thanks to front and rear parking sensors and automatic braking. Other features like trailer theft alert and the ability to schedule ignition hours add appeal for fleet managers.
Interior Room
The F-350 is built in Regular Cab configuration as standard, providing seats for three passengers across. The Available SuperCab and Crew Cab add rear doors and seats for another three passengers.
Bed Sizes
Two bed lengths are available for the F-350, with Regular Cab models getting the longer bed and SuperCab and Crew Cab models offering a choice between the shorter and longer beds. Ford has also outfitted its Super Duty pickups with plenty of ways to climb in and out of the bed, namely integrated side steps and handholds, rear bumper steps, and a tailgate step that's closer to the ground.
Towing and Hauling
Depending on specification, the F-350 can haul and tow preposterously heavy loads. Models with the 6.8-liter V-8 and rear-wheel drive offer a payload capacity of 8,000 pounds. For maximum towing, choose the rear-drive, regular-cab dually with the high-output diesel engine—it can pull 40,000 pounds behind it.
Technology
With its many tech features, the F-350 looks to be a truck for the modern era. A standard 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is replaced by a 12.0-inch unit on higher-end models; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. Beyond a 12.0-inch digital gauge display, a head-up display is also offered. The four standard USB ports can be supplemented by a wireless charger. Premium audio systems from Bang & Olufsen are available with eight or 18 speakers.
Software for telematics and fleet management under the Ford Pro brand lets businesses keep tabs on Super Duty usage. 5G wireless connectivity provides fast internet access. Numerous cameras are distributed throughout the truck's exterior. One is an industry-first tailgate down camera, in addition to a hitching camera and 360-degree view system that works even when a trailer is attached. A semi-autonomous hitching system easily aligns the truck with a trailer. Once it's hitched up, the built-in navigation system can plan a route that uses the trailer's dimensions to plan a route free of clearance concerns. Over-the-air updates and available onboard payload scales are also new.
Pro Power Onboard
Thanks to its Pro Power Onboard generator setup, the F-350 can make up to 2.0 kilowatts of electric power. With outlets in the cab and bed, work equipment and other accessories can be plugged into the truck. This helps negate the need for an auxiliary generator to be hauled along to job sites or campgrounds.
F-350 Ways to Off-Road
No F-350 is going to be as trail-ready as the Ford Bronco, but the Tremor package makes it more capable on tough terrain. This package adds lifted suspension, along with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch tires. A Dana front axle with a limited-slip differential adds traction. Various off-mode driving features such as new trail turn assist help the F-350 Tremor package maneuver through technical terrain.
All models from the 2023 F-350 XLT on up come equipped with standard 4WD, so nearly every trim has some off-road capability. Even the XL base model now has an off-road package available for 4WD, single-rear wheel pickups. It includes 33-inch tires, a raised air dam, water-fording axle vent tubes, skid plates, and an electronic locking rear differential.
