2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2020 GMC Sierra 1500

Heavy-duty trucks are all about getting work done. They have the highest tow ratings of any non-commercial vehicles, and they have the features and tools for worksites and contractors. But a trend over the past decade is the increasing popularity of the “luxury truck.” Owners also use their trucks as commuter cars, family haulers, and road trip vehicles.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is offered in a wide variety of trims to accommodate its equally wide variety of potential uses. For 2020, the F-350 gets a new 7.3-liter V8, expanded use of the new 10-speed automatic transmission, and a new off-road-inspired trim called the Tremor. But which Ford Super Duty is right for you?

It’s no surprise that trucks have improved and evolved over the years. After all, think about an average sedan from the early 1980s compared with a modern 2020 vehicle. Yet because pickup trucks are largely confined to a common shape, many shoppers are still surprised to see how nice they have become. This is especially true if your memory of trucks includes a vinyl bench seat.

Modern trucks heavily incorporate utility-minded innovations. Cargo-management tools, side steps, and bed steps make for a more useful vehicle. Under the hood, turbocharging has made V6 and even 4-cylinder engines usable, delivering the power of the larger engines they aim to supplant. And finally, cabins have become nicer and more comfortable than previously imagined for a pickup.

This evolution speaks to how trucks get used as family vehicles that can also do work. There are the work trucks, but there are also trucks like the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, which has many of the creature comforts of SUVs and crossovers. It says “I want a truck, but I could probably be used as a minivan.”

But somewhere in the middle sits Sierra's AT4 trim. It’s comfortable, sure, but it’s also capable. Does that make it a good fit for both the worksite and the daily commute?