2023 Ford Super Duty: The King is Still, Well, the King

It’s no surprise that Ford keeps ruling the full-size pickup segment. It’s been this way for over half a century, something the people in Dearborn are extremely proud of and love to brag about. Always looking to offer the most capable truck lineup on the market, they’ve made key upgrades to the Super Duty for 2023.

It’s not like the GM and Ram teams are standing still with their arms crossed, but Ford maintains the lead and owns the most “best-in-class” claims year after year.

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What’s New?

The cosmetic revisions to the 2023 model are just enough to call it a “new” truck, but the fact of the matter is they only apply to certain parts. The list includes a new front fascia, new wheels, new tailgate and new taillights. Ford designers also took a page from GM by adding corner steps to the rear bumper.

Inside, the changes are noticeable but not that dramatic. Part of the dashboard was redesigned to accommodate the new digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch centre touchscreen, both of which prove more ergonomic and responsive than GM’s units. That being said, there are so many functions on the screen that it’s easy to be overwhelmed at first, so you must pay more attention to keep it all simple. As far as comfort is concerned, the Super Duty’s cabin is still the best, mainly because of the superb seats and low noise levels.

Likewise, fit and finish along with the array of features and amenities on King Ranch, Platinum and Limited models are literally unsurpassed. These are true luxury pickups that impress with performance and comfort alike. By comparison, a Lariat looks and feels almost mundane—though it clearly isn’t. If you want just the basic stuff, Ford has you covered with the entry-level XL.

Terrific Engine Lineup

While most Canadian customers opt for the diesel burner, gasoline V8 engines still have a place in heavy-duty pickups. Ford is the only manufacturer to offer two, including a new-for-2023 6.8-litre V8 producing 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft. of torque—more than what GM and Ram are selling. It’s dangerously close, at least on paper, to the 7.3-litre V8 that gained an extra 10 lb-ft. of torque for a total of 485 lb-ft. The latter is a remarkable performer, and perfectly matched to the 10-speed automatic transmission.  

Now, about the 6.7-litre PowerStroke turbo-diesel V8. Ford has a standard-output variant delivering a class-leading 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft. of torque, plus a high-output variant that defies any logic with as much as 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft. of torque. Engineers achieved these numbers by reworking the turbocharger, exhaust manifolds and ECU, creating further separation with the competition.  

Combined with the extremely rigid chassis and capable suspension, the diesel-powered 2023 Super Duty boasts best-in-class towing capacity—up to 35,000 lbs with fifth-wheel towing and up to 40,000 lbs with gooseneck towing (F-450 Super Duty with dual rear wheels). Maximum payload, meanwhile, is up to an unprecedented 8,000 lbs.

Sure, real-world capability may not always match these impressive figures, but at the media event Ford gave us every reason to believe the new Super Duty has what it takes to endure the worst kind of abuse. We drove three PowerStroke-equipped models pulling massive loads that ranged from 24,000-40,000 lbs, and they all seemed to have a field day doing it. The F-350 Super Duty had no trouble towing a 28,000-lb fifth-wheel trailer up a 12-degree incline.

Towing for Dummies

Not comfortable backing up a trailer in a tight spot? Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist is exactly what you need. Just pick a spot on the screen where you want the trailer to go and the truck will take care of everything, leaving you with control of the throttle only. For this to work, of course, you must first create a trailer profile with the exact measurements. Hitching a trailer is just as easy, by the way, with the help of a rotary controller to the right of the steering wheel. Obstacle and blind spot detection is available, too, even when reversing with the tailgate down. It’s all there to help minimize the risk of a collision when towing.

But wait, there’s more. Available Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch can inform you of cargo weight in real-time and provide guidance on trailer tongue weight distribution directly on the centre touchscreen, FordPass app or within the taillamps. If the load exceeds the maximum capacity, the system will alert you.

Following the various towing exercises, we put an F-250 Super Duty Lariat SuperCrew to the test on the road, with no trailer attached behind it and the standard-output diesel engine stuffed under the hood. Once again, the truck showcased its rugged capability, but we were even more impressed by the smooth ride. Never has an HD pickup proven so much comfortable before. Vibration and harshness are exceptionally well countered, resulting in a uniquely stable and refined driving experience. It would be a whole other story with the Off-Road Package or FX4 Package, mind you.

Speaking of which, we ended the day with a session off the beaten path in a Super Duty XL that featured skid plates, 33-inch tires, electronic locking differentials and a raised air intake. Most SUVs would not have been able to head down the same trails because the conditions were pretty challenging. As we found out, you don’t necessarily need the Tremor Off-Road Package to pull off smile-inducing feats away from the pavement, but you must make sure the truck is properly equipped.  

On that note, Ford offers Super Duty customers a myriad of options and packages to personalize the vehicle. The question is, how much can you afford? You see, it’s fairly easy to push the price into six figures—selecting the diesel engine will do it. One of the F-350 Super Duty Limited models we tested almost topped $130,000. And that’s not counting the applicable taxes, including the new luxury tax collected by the federal government (around $6,000 in this particular case).  

Prepare to wait

Other than a fast-increasing bill, the biggest problem with the 2023 Ford Super Duty is availability, especially if you want the diesel engine. Right now, you’d be looking at a wait of over a year since customer demand far exceeds dealer allocations. Well, at least in Canada. Some of the production that would normally head north of the border is staying in the U.S., where dealers make more profit. The simple fact is that Ford just can’t build enough Super Duty trucks to satisfy everyone across the continent.