2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty received subtle updates that were noticeable to keen observers. The front bumper featured more black painted areas and less chrome, while the grille adopted a less gaudy design. The headlights became sleeker, contributing to a more restrained styling. The F-250 was available in various trims, each offering distinct visual elements. The interior was functional but felt cold and mechanical, with plenty of hard plastics. The base XL model came with basic features, while higher trims like the King Ranch and Platinum added luxury touches such as leather upholstery and ambient lighting.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered a wide range of design details, making each version distinctive. Buyers could choose between Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab styles, with trims ranging from WT to High Country. The Silverado LT Trail Boss, equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine, featured black paint, wheels, and trim, giving it a custom appearance. The interior, however, felt industrial and dated, with plastic trim and a busy layout. Despite leather seats, the cabin did not justify the high price tag. The Silverado's back seat was spacious, and storage options were plentiful, but the overall design lacked refinement.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offered a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 with 475 hp and an astonishing 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was introduced, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 used a six-speed automatic. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when properly equipped. The ride was bumpy when unloaded, but the truck excelled in towing and hauling capabilities. The Tremor off-road package added features like 33-inch tires and a 2-inch lift for enhanced off-road performance.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered five engine choices and three transmissions. New for 2020 was a 3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA rating of up to 27 mpg on the highway. The test truck featured a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LT Trail Boss trim included off-road features like Rancho shocks and a 2-inch lift. The truck performed well on rugged trails but had limited grip on pavement. The ride quality was impressive, and the truck averaged 16.8 mpg. The 6.2-liter engine was recommended for its better performance compared to the 5.3-liter V8.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, SuperCab, and Crew Cab styles, with 6-foot-9-inch or 8-foot bed sizes. The cabin was spacious and functional, with deep cup holders and cubbies. The center console was large enough to store files or a laptop. The rear seats in the SuperCrew and Crew Cab folded up to reveal a load floor for large items, providing secure storage inside the cabin.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab offered a comfortable interior with leather upholstery and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, which was a drawback. The back seat was spacious with good thigh support and available heating. Storage options were abundant, including dual glove compartments and hidden compartments in the rear seatbacks. The Silverado could haul up to 2,250 pounds of payload and tow up to 13,400 pounds, depending on the configuration. The cargo box offered more storage room than competitors due to its depth and high sides.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base XL model came with an AM/FM/MP3 radio, Bluetooth, and a USB-C port. The XLT trim added more speakers, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, offering a WiFi hotspot and remote vehicle management via a smartphone app.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrades included a high-definition display, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Advanced Trailering Package offered up to 15 different camera views, including a Transparent Trailer view. New for 2020 was the Camera Trailer Package, which added a cargo bed view camera system and a smartphone app for advanced trailering.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came with standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, trailer sway control, and hill start assist. Optional features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. The F-250 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, and it would benefit from making more safety features standard.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 included a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology as standard. However, advanced safety features like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking were only available on LTZ and High Country trims. The Silverado received a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Marginal rating from IIHS for front passenger protection in a small overlap frontal-impact collision. The headlights were rated Poor by IIHS, indicating room for improvement in safety.