Car Review: 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab

THE 2012 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB REVIEW

Full Review by Andy: Who, Not What

As each person has a distinct personality and physicality, so does each automobile. Hybrids are marathoners: lean, energy-conserving, and not particularly exciting to watch. Italian supercars are supermodels: lithe, seductive, and as fun to ride as – oops, scratch that. Heavy duty trucks are die-hard athletes who drink a dozen raw eggs every morning. The 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty crew cab is a Samson, a big lumbering hulk used for work that would break the backs of lesser mortals. Who, not what, is the Ford F-250?

What Does It Look Like?
The Ford F-250 is big and brawny, first by nature and second by necessity. With 8.5 inches of ground clearance and bed walls rivaling the Pentagon, the F-250 crew cab is built specifically for men and tall Scandinavian women capable of entering its cabin without resorting to step-ladders. One also imagines the F-250 driver with a George Clooney-esque broad jaw and a countenance similar to Jason Statham. The truck can be paired with a 6′ 8” bed or an 8′ bed.

(See 80+ images of the 2012 Ford F-250 Crew Cab.)

Packin’ a Powertrain
A big man needs big clothes and big food. As a big truck, the F-250 Super Duty needs big engines, and the truck has one straight out of the box, a 6.2-liter flexfuel V8 putting out 385 horsepower. The options roster has a 6.7-liter turbodiesel generating 400 horsepower and a tremendous 800 lb-ft of torque, a number on par with the class-leading Ram 2500. In a tip of its hat to Mother Earth, Ford designed the diesel-powered engine to run on B20 biodiesel fuel. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to assist in towing and hauling. The EPA does not require fuel economy estimates for heavy duty trucks and so Ford provides none.

Tech Tidbit: In order to meet fuel emission standards and save the pandas, the diesel engine must be serviced with a special exhaust fluid every 6,500-7,500 miles.

Tech Tidbit Two: Due to a high-capacity turbine damper, the diesel powerplant can dip as low as 900 rpm.

Driveline Performance
Men and women who own F-250 trucks are usually employed in hands-on trades. Their hands are calloused from hours of hard work. Such men and women care little for speed but much for endurance. Zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds? Who cares? Towing and hauling capabilities are infinitely more important. Equipped with the turbodiesel engine and either rear-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive, the F-250 can conventionally tow up to 14,000 pounds. The gasoline-powered V8 can lug about up to 12,500 pounds. Payload capacity varies between 3,070 and 3,690 pounds. Exact figures depend on engine, wheelbase, drivetrain, and rear axle ratio.

The F-250 crew cab drives very well for a truck with the same dimensions as Monstro. It has a quiet and semi-comfortable ride on par with the heavy duty editions from Ram and Chevy. The soft brakes are easy to modulate but instill little confidence. However, the pickup is as easy to park as maneuvering a Boeing 747 onto a helicopter pad.

Safety Information
All models share hill ascent assist, trailer sway control, and the requisite gamut of safety features. Upper models incrementally add a trailer brake controller, foglamps, towing mirrors, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.

Comfort & Cargo
The Ford F-250 crew cab wears work boots, chews nails, and laughs at ergonomically designed chairs in use at the Cubicle of Corporate. Lower level trims are dedicated work horses. The truck can accommodate up to six people in space if not luxury. With the rear seats folded, the Crew Cab offers up to 58.6 cubic feet of storage space, as much as a small crossover SUV. The truck also has a number of storage compartments that lock, slide or cover up. (See a full list of standard and optional features).

Feature Highlights
The 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab is available in five configurations. Base XL ($32,550) is suited to life as a work truck, but it does not lack modern basics. The mainstream XLT ($37,600) adds the rest of what buyers expect, such as cruise control and keyless entry, along with an upgraded audio system, and a gamut of ergonomic upgrades. The luxurious Lariat ($42,420) stuffs the pickup with upgraded interior materials, top-notch electronics such as SYNC and satellite radio, a sixth seat/console, and gobs more. Besides safety features and heated/ventilated seats, the King Ranch ($47,185) adds mostly materials upgrades.

Who is the 2012 Ford F-250 crew cab? A good purchase.

Details:
Engine:
6.2-liter V8: 385 hp @5,500 rpm/405 lb-ft of torque @5,500 rpm
6.7-liter turbocharged diesel V8: 400 hp@2,800 rpm/800 lb-ft of torque@1,600 rpm
Transmission: six-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain: RWD/4WD
Fuel Economy: Miserable
Base MSRP: $32,550

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