2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty had a visually commanding presence that epitomized the sheer power and capability expected from a full-size truck. Originating from a 2017 redesign, the truck maintained its massive form, with a pronounced dual-bar grille and substantial squared-off headlights defining its front end. Ford offered the F-250 in six trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited, each with its unique aesthetic touches. The base XL trim showcased a no-nonsense look with a black plastic front bumper and grille, riding on 17-inch steel wheels. The XLT stepped up with 18-inch painted aluminum wheels and chrome accents. Moving up, the Lariat trim featured a Sport styling package with a distinct black appearance on the grille and wheels. The King Ranch trim added unique chrome wheels, a standout grille, and a two-tone paint scheme. Both the Platinum and Limited trims carried unique grilles and full body-color bumpers, with the Limited trim coming fully loaded with features.

Stepping inside, the F-250 offered an incredibly spacious cabin with abundant storage solutions. The Lariat trim we drove came with an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The XL trim, however, presented a more utilitarian vibe with vinyl seating and a smaller 4.2-inch screen. The King Ranch introduced a luxurious saddle-inspired interior theme, while the Platinum and Limited trims elevated luxury with features like 20-way power front seats and a panoramic moonroof.

In comparison, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD had a polarizing exterior design that generated mixed reactions. Despite its contentious looks, the Silverado was built for functionality. The cabin layout remained largely unchanged from previous models, ensuring familiar placements for vents, dials, and buttons. Our test Silverado was fitted with the LTZ trim, which included leather upholstery and heated seats among its amenities. The truck’s practical design extended to bed configurations and built-in steps, such as the CornerSteps and BedSteps, which were designed to accommodate large work boots.

The Silverado's trims varied from the base Work Truck with its 7-inch touchscreen to the higher-end High Country, which came with more luxurious features like a wireless charging pad. The LT trim, recommended by CarGurus, offered a balance of comfort and cost, featuring upgraded cloth seats and a power lift-and-lower tailgate. The top-tier High Country trim catered to luxury needs with standard features that were optional on the LTZ, making it the peak of Silverado’s offerings.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty was equipped with two powerful V8 engine options. The standard 6.2-liter V8 produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The second option, a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8, churned out 450 horsepower and delivered an astounding 935 pound-feet of torque. Despite the enormous power output, the diesel engine also relied on a 6-speed automatic transmission, which didn’t provide the same acceleration efficiency as competitor models with 10-speed transmissions. Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations were available, with the truck's towing capacity reaching up to 18,000 pounds and a payload limit of 4,270 pounds. Fuel economy was not EPA-rated, but testing showed a combined mileage of about 17 miles per gallon.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD also offered two robust engine options, both displacing 6.6 liters. The standard gas V8 generated 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, while the optional Duramax turbodiesel V8 produced 445 horsepower with a substantial 910 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired to a more advanced 10-speed automatic transmission, allowing for smoother power delivery and better fuel efficiency. When properly equipped, the Silverado 2500HD could tow up to 18,500 pounds, and the Silverado 3500HD’s capabilities surpassed this with the ability to tow 20,000 pounds conventionally and 35,500 pounds with a gooseneck hitch. Our test model, set up for gooseneck towing, made clear that the Silverado HD is a versatile workhorse. The observed fuel economy was around 17 miles per gallon, comparable to the F-250 despite the Silverado’s larger fuel tank.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty came in various cab and bed configurations to suit different needs. The Regular Cab was available with an 8-foot-long bed, while the Super Cab could be paired with either the standard 6.75-foot bed or the long bed. The Crew Cab version also provided the choice between the standard and long beds. Our Lariat test truck featured a standard bed with an optional spray-in bed liner, bed LED lights, power outlets, and a versatile tie-down system. Additionally, Ford’s integrated tailgate step offered convenient access to the truck bed.

Similarly, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD offered diverse configurations, including a Regular Cab with a long bed, an extended Double Cab with standard or long beds, and a Crew Cab also available with both bed lengths. As with Ford, the Silverado impressed with its practical design, featuring Chevrolet's CornerSteps and BedSteps for easier access to the bed. Our LTZ Crew Cab model's cargo space was enhanced by fold-up rear seats that revealed a flat load floor and additional storage trays. The power lift-and-lower tailgate on the LTZ added another layer of utility, controlled conveniently via the key fob or cabin buttons.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty integrated SYNC infotainment systems across all trims, though functionalities varied. Base models like the XL and XLT included a basic version with a 4.2-inch screen, AM/FM radio, and four speakers, reflecting the truck’s work-centric design. Higher trims like the Lariat and above benefited from SYNC 3, which featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sync 3 interface was lauded for its user-friendly design, though it lacked a persistent home button, making navigation less intuitive than some competitors.

In contrast, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD emphasized practicality with its infotainment systems. The Work Truck and Custom trims included a base 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims such as the LT, LTZ, and High Country offered an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout and a helpful home-button bar at the bottom of the screen. The Silverado boasted a variety of USB ports and power outlets, along with an option for a wireless charging pad. Furthermore, the Silverado provided an available 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, enhancing connectivity for multiple devices on the go.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty provided a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and trailer-sway control. Advanced safety options on higher trims included lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. Our test model came equipped with essential features like a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring, which were crucial for maneuvering such a large vehicle.

Similarly, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD came with a full array of airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control as standard. The LTZ trim elevated safety with a surround-view camera system, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision avoidance, packaged in the optional Safety Package II. The truck also featured blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors via the Safety Package I. Using the Safety Alert Seat, the Silverado provided a unique way to alert drivers to safety messages through seat vibrations, proving to be a helpful addition for maintaining driver attention.