2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular looks of the F-150 midsize pickup to the next level. Larger in every way, Super Duty models truly looked like heavy-duty trucks. This styling wasn't just for show, as Super Duty trucks carried many upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the trucks' tall ride height gave them better ground clearance for climbing over tough terrain or navigating a messy job site. The trucks featured giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and bodywork that could stand up to taking a beating on a daily basis. Depending on the cab configuration, the Super Duty's cabin ranged from tight and utilitarian to spacious and plush. The base XL trim offered good headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims got simple cloth upholstery, but higher trims, such as the Super Duty Limited, could be decked out with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled the quality of many luxury cars.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, despite being one of the most important vehicle debuts in decades, looked surprisingly normal. It had some unique exterior styling cues but, for the most part, resembled other run-of-the-mill F-150s on American roads. Shoppers could purchase an F-150 Lightning in one of four trim levels: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. Unlike other gas-engine variants of the F-150, the Lightning came equipped with only one cab style and one bed length—a crew cab and a 5.5-foot bed. The most recognizable cue was the big LED headlight bar stretching across the front. Below that bar, the space where the real grille on a gas F-150 would be was replaced with a plastic façade. At the back, there were badges on the rear flanks shouting the new model’s name, but otherwise, it was more tame F-150 styling. Inside, the F-150 Lightning offered a maximum of 43.9 inches of front-seat legroom and 43.6 inches of maximum rear-seat legroom, providing more space for passengers than most two-row crossovers. Interior materials were good, with plenty of plastic components but also a surprising number of nice touchpoints. The Lariat trim featured a massive panoramic sunroof, and the rear seat flipped up to reveal extra under-seat storage. The truck also had power outlets everywhere, including one up between the front seats, one for the rear seats, four in the frunk, and five in the bed, including a 240-volt outlet.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 that produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was available, producing 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. A 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was also available, rated at 475 hp and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines came paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) but could be upgraded with four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity specs were impressive, extending to 4,060 pounds in some configurations. Towing could reach over 36,000 pounds for models with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain. With options, the Super Duty could become a capable off-roader. Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling. The EPA did not require fuel-economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks or commercial vehicles, so the Super Duty trucks didn't have an official number in that arena. However, mpg levels were expected to drop considerably during towing or while hauling heavy loads.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning employed dual electric motors, one on each axle, providing 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery, but an insane 775 pound-feet of torque regardless of battery. The dual motors meant all Lightning models benefited from all-wheel drive (AWD). A Lightning with the standard-range battery could travel an EPA-estimated 230 miles on a full charge. The extended range battery added 90 miles of range for a total of 320 miles. With the additional horsepower and huge torque, it positively rocketed off the line. The Lightning also used an independent rear suspension, rather than the leaf springs on pretty much every other full-size pickup. The standard-range battery measured 98-kilowatt hours, while the extended-range battery was 131-kilowatt hours. Charging options included 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, with a DC station fast-charger outputting 150 kW, allowing the Lightning’s battery to rise from 15 to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes.

Despite being built with a focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty in the way of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing the driver and front passenger with a comfortable armrest with cupholders. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors. In terms of driving, Super Duty trucks were much more at home on job sites than cruising tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, while their large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a real pain at times. From behind the steering wheel, the F-250's flat hood and towing height could make it feel like driving a bulldozer. Loading child seats and entering the truck could be difficult, though running boards helped. The trucks also offered a clever tailgate design that could be optioned with steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was a pickup truck first and foremost, offering plenty of functionality and capability. The 5.5-foot bed wasn’t quite long enough to move most sofas but came equipped with plenty of tie-down points. The Lightning’s biggest party trick was its powered front trunk, or "Mega Power Frunk," which offered 14.1 cubic feet of space and an underfloor storage bin with a drain at the bottom. One of the highlights of the F-150 Lightning’s capabilities was its usefulness as a backup generator. With a full battery, the Lightning could power a typical household for three days. The F-150 Lightning’s 9.6-kilowatt onboard power supply was incredibly handy for powering smaller items, like power tools on a job site. The Lightning maxed out at 10,000 pounds of towing capacity and 2,000 pounds of payload capacity in the bed, though approaching those figures would likely reduce the truck’s driving range. Onboard scales displayed the weight in the truck bed, and the remaining driving-range estimate adjusted as the payload got heavier.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3, one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use infotainment systems on the market. Menus were clearly labeled and did not require several taps to navigate, making the system far less distracting to use on a daily basis. The base XL trim got a non-touch display as standard, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trim levels. The system ran Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims got upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with a variety of tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches for accessories and other powered gear, and more. Ford also offered a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks that could quickly raise the cabin temperature before the engine warmed enough to provide heat.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was loaded with visually impressive technology. All trims got at least a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 and offering three years of navigation. On the Pro and XLT trims, the 12-inch display was landscape-oriented, while the Lariat and Platinum trims got 15-inch portrait-oriented screens. The 15-inch screen was stunning but had a layout and organization that could be confusing. Pro trims had an AM/FM radio, while other trims got SiriusXM satellite radio. The Lariat added an 8-speaker B&O stereo, and the top-tier Platinum trim upgraded the B&O system to 15 speakers. The Lariat trim also featured a wireless charging pad and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The F-150 Lightning also had a selection of games programmed into the infotainment system, which were useful while waiting for the truck to finish charging at a public station.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though most advanced driver aids were added-cost upgrades or reserved for higher trims. A trailer tow package was available, bringing special camera views and Ford's excellent Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alerts, and more were all available. Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash-tested in the same way as light-duty trucks, such as the Ford F-150. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not issued scores for the trucks.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came equipped with plenty of safety features. All of Ford’s EV trucks got some level of the company’s Co-Pilot 360 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert all came as standard equipment. Shoppers could also add a 360-degree surround-view camera, Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance, and a forward sensing system as options on the Pro trim. The XLT trim level packaged the surround-view camera as standard equipment and offered additional options like adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Shoppers could add Ford BlueCruise at the Lariat level, a hands-free driving system that used a driver-facing camera to ensure the person behind the wheel was paying attention and worked only on designated stretches of road.