2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, yet remained imposing. The massive headlights, though still large, featured additional detail and contouring, making them look less like a glass-fronted dorm fridge. These subtle changes resulted in a more mature-looking heavy-duty pickup. However, the design was still a modest evolution of the 2017 model year, and as newer models like the 2021 F-150 hit the road, the Super Duty began to look more dated. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, ideally suited for work use but less inviting compared to rivals like Ram. The F-350 Super Duty was available in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited, each offering a range of features from basic work truck amenities to luxury touches.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD’s styling was polarizing, with a front end and grille that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. It conveyed a strong sense of machismo, appealing to those who valued a rugged appearance. The cabin, however, was more conventional, focusing on quantity over quality. Despite not having the best fit and finish, the cabin's size was comparable to a living room, offering ample space. The Silverado 3500HD was available in four trim levels: W/T, LT, LTZ, and High Country. Standard features on the W/T included two USB ports, vinyl seat trim, two-tier trailering mirrors, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added more comfort and convenience features, culminating in the High Country trim, which offered luxury touches like heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose premium sound system, and a spray-in bed-liner.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came with three engine options. The standard 6.2-liter gas V8 produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was introduced, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful option was the 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8, which generated 475 hp and an astounding 1,050 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 could be paired with either a six-speed automatic transmission or an available 10-speed automatic, while the 7.3-liter gas engine and the 6.7-liter diesel engine came standard with the 10-speed automatic. The F-350 offered rear-wheel drive or available four-wheel drive with low range. When properly equipped, the F-350 had a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 pounds, a fifth-wheel towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and a gooseneck trailer capacity of 37,000 pounds. It also boasted a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds. The Tremor off-road package added features like 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine choices. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 delivered 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque, mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains could be configured with rear-wheel drive or available four-wheel drive with low range. The Silverado 3500HD featured an automatically locking rear differential as standard. When properly equipped, it could tow up to 36,000 pounds with the single-cab/long-bed/dually configuration and the max trailering package. It also had a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds. The LTZ trim included an advanced trailering system with an app to monitor critical trailer functions and a trailering checklist, enhancing its towing capabilities.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab, an extended cab with rear-hinged half-doors, provided decent space for rear-seat passengers but required opening the front door to access it. The Super Crew, a full four-door crew cab, offered a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom. The rear seats folded up to create a large load floor for gear, and the front-seat occupants benefited from a massive center console with multiple deep pockets. 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 Super Cab and Super Crew could be configured with either bed length, and the 8-foot bed was available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate, aiding in loading items.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed configurations. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs provided two rows of spacious seating with plenty of headroom and legroom. The Silverado featured helpful bed steps integrated into the corners of the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side of the bed, ahead of the rear wheels. These steps made it easier to access the bed, addressing a common issue with large vehicles.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for Audio, Phone, Navigation, Apps, and Settings. However, SYNC 3 occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, particularly 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 it easier to back up a trailer by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with upgraded trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and the High Country trim adding navigation. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials and a helpful home button. The Silverado offered numerous trailering features, including guidelines for the backup camera and additional camera angles for trailering. The trailering app provided a pre-trailering checklist and critical trailering status updates.

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, which could account for trailers. The Lariat trim included a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch added Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim featured adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, and upgraded quad-beam LED headlights. The range-topping Limited trim included all these features as standard.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Additional safety features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also optional, providing helpful assistance given the Silverado 3500HD’s size.