2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2019 Ford F-150

The notion of "luxury trucks" might seem a little weird if you haven’t bought a new truck in 20 years, but anyone who's been in the market lately should be more than familiar with the idea. Not only that, they should be more than accustomed to the sticker shock associated with these high-end, luxury pickups.

Some old-school types will scoff at how trucks have gotten soft or too expensive (or both), but good automakers build the cars and trucks people want, and shoppers have been snatching luxury trucks as fast as they can be built and shipped. These "soft" trucks offer a template for seemingly dozens of purposes. They can tow, haul, carry people and goods, play road-trip family car, and even be the ride for a night on the town.

The Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500 all got redesigned for 2019, while the F-150 was last updated in 2018, following a full redesign for 2015. There are a few modest feature updates for 2019 as well, but will that be enough when the F-150’s main competition is all-new for the same model year?

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“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Winston Churchill was likely not referring to the heavy-duty pickup truck market when he uttered this quote, but it resonates nonetheless. It seems like every year the Big Three American truck-makers are trying to one-up one another, whether it's towing and hauling, passenger space, or technology.

It's unclear how many truck owners shop on superlatives alone. It’s also unclear how many shoppers need “the most” of one particular attribute. Sure, some will need the towing capability for certain jobs. But far more will buy these trucks and want a balance of attributes that is as well-rounded as their needs. While the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty gives up a bit of ride quality to achieve some best-in-class numbers, it’s a well-balanced truck. Read on to find out why.