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

Back in 2020, Chevrolet rolled out the Silverado 2500HD, a truck that quickly sparked polarized opinions about its styling. Many parallels were made between the Silverado and other controversial designs from Chevrolet, such as the Camaro and Blazer. The debate over its aesthetic was so heated that Chevrolet had to redesign elements of the Camaro just a year later. Initial impressions were harsh, but with time, people, including CarGurus reviewers, began to appreciate the Silverado’s unique style, though it remained controversial. Despite the aesthetic debate, the Silverado was lauded for its functionality, particularly for labor-intensive tasks. Inside, the Silverado retained a familiar layout that long-time Chevrolet users would find comforting. The cabin design had minimal changes, focused on maintaining a user-friendly atmosphere with all controls intuitively placed, and a beloved column shifter that traditionalists appreciated.

In terms of trim options, the Silverado 2500HD was offered in Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, and High Country trims. The Work Truck trim, despite being the base model, was equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen display, a V8 engine, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 3.5-inch digital instrument display. The Custom trim added visual enhancements such as 20-inch aluminum wheels and LED taillights. The LT trim offered more comfort with a chrome grille and upgraded infotainment options. The LTZ came with luxurious features like leather upholstery and heated seats, while the top-of-the-line High Country trim added even more, such as a power tailgate and park assist.

Ford’s 2020 F-250 Super Duty, however, took a subtler approach to design changes. The front bumper featured more subdued black painted areas, and the large two-bar grille was replaced with a less ostentatious design, complemented by sleeker headlights. Trims varied significantly, from the utilitarian XL to the luxurious Limited. The appearance of each trim level offered distinctive features, such as the King Ranch’s two-tone paint and saddle leather interior, and the Platinum trim’s unique bumper with LED fog lights.

Inside the F-250, practical functionality was prioritized, with logical control layouts and deep storage cubbies to stow large items. Base models were more utilitarian, with vinyl upholstery and fewer tech features, whereas higher trims added amenities including leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, and massaging seats in the Platinum trim. The King Ranch featured a unique saddle leather interior that showcased an iconic Western theme.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD came with two robust 6.6-liter V8 engine options: a standard gasoline engine producing 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque, and an optional Duramax turbodiesel V8 offering 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering power to either the rear wheels or an available 4WD setup. With the Duramax turbodiesel equipped, the truck could tow a staggering 18,500 pounds, making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks ranging from hauling equipment to towing large trailers. During testing, the Silverado achieved around 17 mpg, providing a commendable balance of power and efficiency for its class.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty also offered a range of powerful engine options. It came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 delivering 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, alongside a formidable 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 producing 475 horsepower and an awe-inducing 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new addition for 2020 was the 7.3-liter gasoline V8, generating 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the turbodiesel worked with a six-speed automatic. The F-250’s top towing capacity reached up to 30,000 pounds when equipped with the diesel engine, making it one of the most capable in its class for towing heavy loads. The Super Duty’s performance also included notable towing and off-road capabilities enhanced by packages like the FX4 and Tremor off-road packages.

In terms of cargo configurations and payload capabilities, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD offered versatile options with Regular Cab, extended Double Cab, and full 4-door Crew Cab configurations. Bed lengths included standard and long bed options. Our Crew Cab test model with a standard bed featured Chevrolet's practical CornerSteps and BedSteps, useful for ease of access even with work boots on. The cabin layout in the Silverado was exceptionally user-friendly, with controls and toggles positioned for ease of use, especially vital for a work environment. The interior was spacious, with ample cubbies and a massive center console for storage. Rear seats folded up to reveal a flat load floor and additional storage trays.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty also provided flexible configurations with Regular Cab, extended SuperCab, and full 4-door Crew Cab options, and bed lengths of 6-foot-9-inch or 8-foot in size. The F-250’s interior was equally functional, designed with practicality in mind, featuring deep cup holders and storage compartments. The center console was expansive, capable of holding files, tools, or a laptop. Rear seats in the SuperCrew and Crew Cab models folded up to reveal a flat load floor, useful for securing large items inside the cab. The inclusion of a tailgate step and handle was a smart feature to facilitate bed access.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD stood out for its balanced approach to technology, ensuring functionality even with work gloves on. The Work Truck and Custom trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims such as LT, LTZ, and High Country upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. The system was praised for its straightforward layout, featuring large icons and an easily accessible home-button bar. Additionally, the Silverado offered multiple USB ports and power outlets throughout the cabin, with a wireless charging pad available in higher trims. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard on LT and above, providing connectivity for multiple devices.

In contrast, the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty’s base XL model started with four speakers, an AM/FM/MP3 radio unit, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT and higher trims added more speakers, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive interface and sensible menu layout. SYNC 3 also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect, standard across the lineup, featured a WiFi hotspot capability for up to 10 devices and allowed for remote operations like locking/unlocking and vehicle status updates via a smartphone app.

Safety features in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD included a reversing camera, traction control, and numerous airbags. The LTZ trim enhanced these with a surround-view camera system and optional Safety Package II, which included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to signal safety alerts. The Safety Package I, also included in our test truck, provided front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring, essential for maneuvering the sizable truck in tight spaces.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered standard safety features like front and side airbags, trailer sway control, and hill start assist. Additional optional safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. While the F-250 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, it was noted that making some of these features standard would be beneficial, given the increasing size of trucks and the necessity of these aids for safe navigation in crowded environments.