2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD had a polarizing design that sparked significant debate upon its release. Critics, including CarGurus reviewers, often found the exterior unattractive, likening it to the controversial designs of the Camaro and Blazer. Despite initial resistance, the truck's design began to grow on some over time. However, the Silverado's interior remained largely unchanged, which was a positive aspect. The cabin layout was familiar and functional, with all controls easily accessible, making it user-friendly for work purposes. The Silverado HD offered various trims, from the basic Work Truck to the luxurious High Country, each adding more features and comfort.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty exuded a stately and purposeful presence, especially in its Limited trim. The truck's Iconic Silver paint, chrome grille, and polished wheels gave it a luxurious appearance. Inside, the F-350 provided a spacious and comfortable cabin with high-end materials like plush leather seats and real wood and aluminum trim. The crew cab configuration offered ample space for passengers and cargo, making it versatile for both work and leisure. The Limited trim included numerous luxury features, such as power-adjustable seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a high-end audio system, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD offered two powerful V8 engine options, both displacing 6.6 liters. The standard gas V8 produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, while the optional Duramax turbodiesel V8 delivered 445 horsepower and a massive 910 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth power delivery to either the rear wheels or available 4-wheel drive (4WD). The diesel engine, although not as responsive as the gas V8, built power impressively, making it one of the punchiest diesel engines available. The Silverado 2500HD could tow up to 18,500 pounds, with the 3500HD model capable of towing up to 35,500 pounds with a gooseneck hitch. During testing, the Silverado achieved an observed fuel economy of around 17 mpg, which was commendable for a heavy-duty truck.

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty, equipped with a 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8, generated 475 horsepower and an astounding 1,050 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided remarkable power, making highway merging and towing effortless. The F-350's fuel economy averaged 15.4 mpg on a standard testing loop and improved to 16.5 mpg during a week of heavy highway driving. The Powerstroke diesel, while emitting the characteristic diesel clatter, did not produce visible smoke, although it received poor greenhouse-gas emissions ratings from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The F-350's 10-speed automatic transmission performed admirably, especially when towing heavy loads. The Tremor off-road package further enhanced the truck's capabilities, offering features like a front suspension lift, custom dampers, and 35-inch all-terrain tires, making it suitable for challenging terrains.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD offered various bed and cab configurations, including a Regular Cab with a long bed, an extended Double Cab with either a standard or long bed, and a full 4-door Crew Cab with the standard or long bed. The Crew Cab configuration provided ample interior space, with massive cubbies and trays for gear storage. The center console bin was particularly large, and the rear seats folded up to reveal a flat load floor and additional storage trays. The Silverado also featured Chevrolet's CornerSteps and BedSteps, making it easier to access the cargo bed. The available power lift-and-lower tailgate added convenience, allowing users to open and close it with the key fob or cabin button.

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty, with its high ground clearance, required the integrated tailgate step or retractable bed step for easier access to the cargo bed. The configurable BoxLink system and optional spray-in bedliner added functionality and protection. Inside, the F-350 crew cab provided generous space for five passengers, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats in the Limited trim. The cabin featured ample storage options, including a large center console, dual glove compartments, and door panel bins. Rear-seat comfort was impressive, with plenty of legroom and heated outboard seats. The flip-up seat cushion revealed additional storage space, enhancing the truck's practicality.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD excelled in its restraint with technology, offering a straightforward and user-friendly infotainment system. The base Work Truck and Custom trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while the LT, LTZ, and High Country trims featured a larger 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a simple layout and large icons. The truck also had multiple USB ports and power outlets, with wireless charging available on higher trims. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard on the LT, LTZ, and High Country trims, providing connectivity for all devices.

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured an 8-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which, while functional, was becoming outdated compared to competitors. The Limited trim included smartphone integration, wireless charging, navigation, FordPass Connect services, and a premium B&O sound system. The screen size was a drawback, especially when using the reversing camera and trailer assistance features. The F-350 also offered an optional trailer camera and tire-pressure monitor, enhancing towing capabilities. The truck's voice-recognition technology was easy to use but occasionally unresponsive to natural commands. The driver information display provided extensive menus for safety, towing, off-roading, and efficiency, giving drivers control over various configurations.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD came with essential safety features, including a reversing camera, traction control, and a full array of airbags. The LTZ trim improved on this with a surround-view camera and trailer views. The available Safety Package II added forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert drivers to safety messages. The Safety Package I included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring, making maneuvering the large truck easier. The massive side mirrors with integrated trucking mirrors further enhanced visibility.

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty, weighing around 7,300 pounds, offered a range of driver-assistance systems to enhance safety. These included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, and rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control system performed unevenly in traffic, and the lane-keep assist operated subtly. The blind-spot monitoring system required proper mirror positioning to be effective. The F-350 also featured 911 Assist, which could automatically contact emergency responders following a collision if the paired smartphone had a signal.