2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

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, giving them a more refined look. These subtle changes resulted in a more mature appearance for the heavy-duty pickup. However, the design was still a modest evolution of the 2017 model year, and as newer trucks like the redesigned 2021 F-150 hit the road, the Super Duty began to look dated. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, which was not particularly inviting compared to rivals like Ram. The interior was ideally suited for work use, offering plenty of usable space.

Trim levels for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty included XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. The XL trim featured 17-inch steel wheels, black bumpers, and vinyl seats, giving it a "work truck" look. The XLT added 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome bumpers, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. The Lariat bridged the gap between work and luxury trucks with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The King Ranch featured a unique two-tone exterior and special saddle-style leather upholstery. The Platinum added 20-inch polished aluminum wheels and massaging front seats, while the range-topping Limited offered power-retractable running boards and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 was known for its styling and the upscale Denali trim level. The Denali was akin to the Mercedes of trucks, boasting chrome bling and a high price tag. The Sierra AT4, priced at $66,695 MSRP, was the off-road-ready version with a factory-installed 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension, skid plates, and unique design details like red front recovery hooks. The AT4 CarbonPro Edition Package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed and a MultiPro Audio System for the six-position configurable tailgate. The black-on-black Sierra looked good but was difficult to keep clean. Inside, the truck featured caramel seat trim and metallic accents, but the cabin was dominated by black plastic, reflecting an industrial-themed design.

The Sierra's interior offered large, wide, and supportive seats covered in durable leather. Both front seats had power adjustments, heated and cooled cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were heated, and the truck had rear air conditioning vents and a power sliding rear window. High-clearance side rails and the innovative six-position Multipro tailgate made accessing the cargo bed easier. The CarbonPro Edition's cargo bed saved 60 pounds of curb weight and improved dent, scratch, and corrosion resistance. The bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, with up to 12 cargo tie-downs. However, the Sierra's cab storage space was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups.

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. There was also a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. New for 2020 was a 7.3-liter gas V8, putting out 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 engine and the 6.7-liter diesel engine came with a 10-speed automatic. 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 had 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, providing 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine for $995. It produced 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm. The Duramax was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which was adept at choosing gears and putting the engine in its torque band. The Sierra's automatic four-wheel-drive system was easy to use, and the truck averaged 21.1 mpg during testing. The AT4's suspension handled tough terrain confidently and provided a comfortable ride on highways. The Sierra with the Duramax diesel could tow up to 9,300 pounds and had a payload capacity of 2,150 pounds. The test truck had an 8,800-pound towing capacity and a payload rating of 1,810 pounds.

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 the rear seats folded up to create 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 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 had large, wide, and supportive seats covered in durable leather. The front seats had power adjustments, heated and cooled cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were heated, and the truck had rear air conditioning vents and a power sliding rear window. High-clearance side rails and the six-position Multipro tailgate made accessing the cargo bed easier. The CarbonPro Edition's cargo bed saved 60 pounds of curb weight and improved dent, scratch, and corrosion resistance. The bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, with up to 12 cargo tie-downs. However, the Sierra's cab storage space was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for Audio, Phone, Navigation, Apps, and Settings. However, SYNC 3 occasionally experienced hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The F-350 also had impressive towing features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which included a 360 camera, wide-angle backup camera, and Trailer Reverse Guidance. This system made backing up a trailer easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 had numerous camera-based technologies, including a surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. The Technology Package added a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display. The Sierra's infotainment system offered a choice between a 7-inch and an 8-inch touchscreen display. The test truck had the 8-inch display with large volume and tuning knobs and physical menu shortcut buttons. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Sierra AT4's Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as the Ford F-150's Bang & Olufsen or the Ram 1500's Harman Kardon audio systems.

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. 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, and the Limited trim provided all these features as standard equipment.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking as options. The Denali trim included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat were available depending on the trim level. Adaptive cruise control was an option for the Sierra SLT, AT4, and Denali. The Sierra's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Marginal" ratings from the IIHS for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility.