2012 Ford Super Duty Charlotte NC

The Ford Super Duty is the largest mass-market pickup truck you can get, offered in the widest array of configurations and most of the highest ratings that pickup truck bragging wars often revert to. It is more than capable of handling all reasonable recreational or commercial needs.  New for 2012, a strengthened frame and trailer hitch provides 17,500 pounds of conventional towing capacity when properly equipped. Ford also offers a CNG/LPG prep package for gas-engine trucks, and a gooseneck hitch is available for the 6.75-foot cargo box. The F-Series Super Duty is Ford's line of heavy-duty pickup trucks, which are available in a variety of configurations and three model series: F-250, F-350 and F-450. The 2012 Ford Super Duty comes in four trim levels, three cab sizes and two box sizes, virtually all in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The XL, XLT and Lariat trims extend to most models. Only on Crew Cabs can you get the top-line King Ranch interior, however.

Handling of the '12 Superduty

A 6.2-liter V8 with 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque is standard on all F-250 and F-350 models. The F-450 pickup comes standard with the 6.7-liter turbodiesel rated at 390 hp and 735 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission offered, and four-wheel drive can be lever or switch operated.  A Super Duty has no obvious drawbacks in maneuverability for such a behemoth, and the cut-down front windows and large mirrors give a good view. The new hood's smoother edges and corners make it more difficult to judge close-in distances but with a hood that big you'll be out looking to see what the trail has in store frequently anyway. The word handling isn't ascribed to HD pickups as much as control is, and the Super Duty feels comfortable even with heavy loads. The new six-speed automatic is an ideal mate to either engine and offers the best control of any pickup automatic. It can be shifted manually by pulling the lever to M and pushing an up/down rocker switch with your right thumb.

2012 Ford F-250/F-350  Exterior

The Ford Super Duty is huge, and appears even bigger because of bigger horizontal bars in the grille, deeper airdam and bumper with bigger cooling air openings, and stacked lamps with the headlights on the bottom. Dimensions are easily given in yards rather than inches. Regardless of bulging flares or flared nostrils no Super Duty would be mistaken for anything less than a full-size pickup even with nothing scalable within sight. The clamshell hood essentially wraps around the diesel engine underneath, and the rounded edges and deeper airdam have improved the coefficient of aero drag from about 0.45 to 0.425. An optional tailgate step pops a 16.7 x 4.5-inch step with a half-ton load rating out of the tailgate and raises a grab handle rated at 300 pounds to make the climb safer; the step's handle makes box access easier.

New Ford Superduty Cabin

With almost six feet of space from door to door the Ford Super Duty cab is massive. Materials appear well assembled and are mission-appropriate. The center stack houses a pair of large vents, radio and navigation located top center where easily viewed, climate control, and most switchgear, including optional auxiliary equipment switches, Tow Command, SYNC inputs and one of up to five 12-volt power points. The ventilation system is capable of cooling or heating the cavernous volume and keeping forward windows and mirrors clear, and seat heaters are very effective; a supplemental cab heater is available for diesel models. On many models, all outside mirror elements are heatable as well. Some models include a productivity screen in the center of the instrument panel. In addition to odometer, outside temperature, compass and gear indications this offers six other menus. The gauge mode gives more detailed readings for oil and transmission fluid temperatures, and diesel boost pressure. A/B trip computers offer time/miles/gallons used/relative instant fuel economy.

Lineup of the 2012 Superduty

The Super Duty XL is work-truck, with vinyl seats and flooring, black painted grille and bumpers, plain trim, and AM/FM stereo, but it does include air conditioning, towing mirrors, trip computer, tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a weight-appropriate receiver hitch.

XLT trim adds chrome trim, aluminum wheels, 40/20/40 cloth front seat with under-seat lockable compartment, carpet, CD player, power windows/locks/mirrors, power-adjusted and heated towing mirrors, privacy glass, the integrated brake controller for single-rear wheel trucks, remote keyless entry, MyKey, and cruise control. Options include captain's chairs w/power and heat, Audiophile sound system, adjustable pedals, moonroof, and rear-seat DVD entertainment.

Lariat trim adds polished aluminum 17-inch wheels for F-350 dually and bright 18-inch aluminum wheels for single-rear-wheel trucks, heated leather power front seats, dual-zone climate control, power-adjust pedals, backup camera, SYNC, redundant sound/climate controls on wheel, woodgrain trim, power fold-and-telescoping tow mirrors, illuminated visor mirrors, privacy glass, keypad door entry, 110-volt outlet and a powered sliding rear window. Options include those offered on most Super Duty models plus captain's chairs and universal door opener.

The King Ranch adds two-tone paint including most trim pieces, driver memory package, heated/cooled power front seats, unique forged alloy wheels, rearview camera, and Chaparral-leather for the steering wheel, four captain's chairs and both center consoles.

Conclusions

Safety equipment includes electronic stability control, trailer sway control, and hill-descent control, antilock brakes, SOS post-crash alert, dual front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, adjustable height outboard belt anchors, child-seat LATCH anchors, three rear seat headrests on Crew Cab and a passenger airbag deactivation switch on regular and SuperCabs. Visit the official Ford Super Duty website for more on this model!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com