More capable than the ultra-popular full-size F-150 but not as extreme (or expensive) as the F-350 or the F-450, the 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty is a heavy-duty truck that provides an appealing combination of capability and everyday usability. It has a massive tow rating, lots of available high-tech gear, and a cabin that can keep any family comfortable.



The F-250's amount of available driver-assist features is impressive. The adaptive cruise control, for example, is capable of operating in normal scenarios or while the truck is pulling a full 25,000-pound load. For added peace of mind, there are also features available such as lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring that can be programmed with the length of your trailer, and a rearview camera that can be mounted to the back of your trailer and connected to the infotainment screen. Getting your toy-hauler into a parking spot just got much easier.



As we've come to expect from Ford trucks lately, the F-250 is both highly capable and modern. There's abundant space in the cabin, supportive seats, and plenty of trim-level upgrades that are creature-comfort oriented. Hook up your trailer, load up all your heaviest gear, and you'll still have a vehicle that will pamper you on the longest of road trips. The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty is at the head of a class of modern heavy-duty trucks with maximum comfort and capability.



Our F-250 crew-cab test truck had the optional diesel engine. We found that it provides strong and smooth acceleration in just about any situation. The only weakness is right off the line, where there's some initial lag before the truck gets going. Braking performance, however, is disappointing. The brakes feel reasonably capable in typical conditions, but our truck took an exceedingly long 166 feet to execute a panic stop from 60 mph.



The steering feels somewhat numb and inert, but the truck does track straight on the open road. The adaptive steering option is also effective at reducing the amount of steering needed on tight winding roads. It helps the big Ford feel somewhat maneuverable, but there's no hiding its sheer bulk.



If you have any heavy-duty pickup experience at all, the F-250 will seem sufficiently comfortable. It's not a benchmark by any means, but it does a decent job of keeping its occupants happy. It's fairly quiet when it comes to wind and road noise, and the air-conditioning system has no trouble keeping the cabin cool.



It's hard to fault an F-250 for riding firmly when it's not carrying any load. But even though the overall feeling is agreeable enough, it's worth noting that the Ram 2500 is smoother-riding. The thing we're most lukewarm about is the F-250's seats. They're nicely adjustable and spacious, but the cushions — particularly the seat bottoms — feel flat and don't conform to an occupant's shape very well.



No one should be surprised that it takes a big step up to get into this truck. It's tall even for its class. But helping you out are side steps, chunky grab handles and generously sized door openings.



Inside, there's more than enough space for everyone, and the driving position is easy to fine-tune. All of the relevant controls are within reach and operate as you'd expect them to. And other than a few minor exceptions, everything is easy to find at a glance. There's lots of glass area, and the view out is especially open to the sides. All the same, we recommend opting for rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring.



The F-250 offers strong towing and hauling capability. Its aluminum body saves weight, and the savings amount to extra payload capacity. But its towing and hauling advantage has been matched by more recently redesigned rivals. Everyday loading is hampered by the bed's tall sides.

Inside, both cargo space in the back half of the crew cab and storage for personal items are quite generous. And while toting kids isn't the first thing you think about when buying a truck, the big crew cab makes it easy to fit seats of any size. (Getting the kids up and in is another matter.)



Ford's audio and navigation system is built around the Sync 3 interface. The interface is proven, and it works, but it no longer stands out. Recent competitor innovation in screen size and menu control are missing here. That said, this system does well when it comes to voice recognition support and smartphone integration.



The F-250 is also behind the curve when it comes to driver safety aids, mainly because it lacks automatic emergency braking, even as an option. You can add forward collision warning, lane departure alert, and blind-spot and cross-traffic alert systems, but there's no intervention capability. These are optional on the Lariat on up and standard on the Limited, but unavailable on the XLT or below.