2017 Ford F-250: Plenty of Power to Get the Job Done

With a redesign for the 2017 model year, the Ford F-250 remains a formidable competitor in the segment of full-size, heavy duty pickup trucks.
It is available in three cab sizes and two bed lengths: 6.75-foot and 8-foot. There are five trim levels: the XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.
This truck looks like a big, strong, hardworking machine, which is exactly what it is. The new frame is fully boxed, high-strength steel that Ford says is 24 times more rigid than the previous version. 
But, it is also almost 350 pounds lighter, because of its rugged aluminum alloy body. If you opt for the XLT trim level and above, you get chrome bumpers and a chrome grille, which add a touch of upscale styling. 
Tailgate dampeners and tie-down hooks are standard. Options offered are power/heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, skid plates, LED headlights and trailer equipment.
The F-250's power plant is a standard 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 385 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet of torque. Optional is a turbo-diesel 6.7-liter V-8 that makes 440 horsepower and 925 pounds-feet of torque. There is a six-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive optional. Top towing capacity is 21,000 pounds, or 27,500 pounds if you add a fifth-wheel gooseneck tow hitch.
Interior options include a front-row bench or bucket seats, with a few choices for rear seats based on cab size. In the Super Cab and Crew Cab, there is a rear flat-load floor for cargo loading convenience. 
Options include leather upholstery, power/heated front seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, navigation, Ford’s SYNC 3 multimedia system with voice command and power-adjustable pedals.
For safety options, the F-250 has a single tailgate camera, a full surround-view camera system, a new Trailer Reverse Guidance System, a customer-placed rear trailer camera and a new center high-mount stop lamp camera that enables you to more easily connect a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch. 
More safety features include a blindspot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision warning and emergency braking. Standard are airbags, anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability system. 
Optional is an Adaptive Steering System that fits the steering ratio to the vehicle speed. With low speeds, steering ratio rises and needs less steering effort. Higher speeds mean a lower steering ratio with more driver control. 
The F-250 starts at around $34,000, but if you top it out with everything, as our test model was, it can run up to $77,000. 
For a strong, powerful truck that can handle almost anything you throw its way, the F-250 is a superstar.