2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights, moving away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model. The massive headlights were contoured to look less like a glass-fronted dorm fridge, resulting in a more mature appearance. However, the design was still a modest evolution from the 2017 model year, and as newer models like the 2021 F-150 hit the road, the Super Duty began to look dated. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, ideally suited for work use but less inviting compared to rivals like Ram. Trim levels ranged from the basic XL with 17-inch steel wheels and vinyl seats to the luxurious Limited with power-retractable running boards and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered a distinctive appearance with various grilles, finishes, wheel sizes, and styles. Available in Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab styles, and trim levels including WT, Custom, LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country, the Silverado catered to a wide range of preferences. Off-roading enthusiasts could opt for the Trail Boss treatment. The Silverado LT Trail Boss, equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and several option packages, had a custom appearance with black paint, wheels, and trim. The interior, however, was industrial in appearance with silver plastic trim and a busy, layered design. Despite leather seats, the cabin felt dated and unrefined, especially for a truck nearing $60,000.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came with a standard 6.2-liter gas V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. It also offered a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and an astounding 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and a new 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 had a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 7.3-liter gas and 6.7-liter diesel engines came with a 10-speed automatic. The F-350 had impressive towing capacities: 24,200 pounds for conventional towing, 32,500 pounds for fifth-wheel towing, and 37,000 pounds for gooseneck trailers. It also offered a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds. The Tremor off-road package added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered five different engines and three transmissions. New for 2020 was a 3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, returning up to 27 mpg on the highway. The Silverado also broadened the availability of its turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder, 6.2-liter V8, and 10-speed automatic transmission. The 6.2-liter V8, producing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, provided impressive thrust and a commanding exhaust note. The LT Trail Boss, equipped with the Z71 Off-Road Package, performed well on rugged trails but had limited grip on pavement. The ride quality was impressive, and the truck averaged 16.8 mpg with Autotrac in Auto mode. The Silverado could haul up to 2,250 pounds of payload and tow up to 13,400 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened first. The Super Crew had a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom, and rear seats that folded up for a large load floor. The F-350 offered a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the regular cab only available with the longer bed. The 8-foot bed was also available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab had a cavernous back seat with impressive thigh support and available rear cushion heating. The front seats were comfortable, but the lack of a height adjuster for the front passenger seat was a drawback. Storage was plentiful, with dual glove compartments, a large center console bin, and hidden compartments within the rear seatback cushions. 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, thanks to its depth and high sides.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for easy navigation. However, SYNC 3 occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist included a 360 camera, wide-angle backup camera, and Trailer Reverse Guidance, making trailer maneuvering easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came with a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Chevrolet Connected Access services, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrades included a high-definition display, navigation, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, wireless device charging, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The Advanced Trailering Package offered up to 15 different camera views, including Transparent Trailer. New for 2020, the Camera Trailer Package added a cargo bed view camera system and an advanced trailering system smartphone app.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage. The Lariat added a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch included Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim added adaptive cruise control and adaptive steering, with all these features standard on the Limited trim.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 included a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver driving report card technologies as standard. However, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were limited to the LTZ and High Country trims. These trims offered forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning was available on the LT and RST trims. The Silverado received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Marginal rating for front passenger protection in IIHS tests, with Poor-rated headlights.