2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 displayed a style that looked like it belonged to the Transformers universe. The small headlights with the odd body panel intrusion into the grille area suggested an aggressive stance, which might have seemed like overcompensation to some. However, it was in line with Chevrolet's current vehicle designs. Additionally, there were multiple appearance packages designed to spruce up its look, such as the Rally Edition, Midnight Edition, and Redline Edition.

Inside the cabin, the Silverado presented a functional design. The placement of controls was intuitive and varied based on the trim level. There were two distinct interior layouts: the older design in the WT and Custom trims and the more modern setup in other trims like LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2. The Work Truck (WT) came with basic vinyl seats and analog controls, while higher trims boasted more luxurious touches such as leather upholstery, large touchscreens, and advanced driver settings.

In comparison, the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty underwent an evolutionary redesign, retaining its imposing presence while incorporating modern touches. Available trims ranged from the basic XL work truck to the luxury-level Limited. The base XL included essential comforts like an 8-inch touchscreen and Wi-Fi hotspot, while higher trims like the King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited featured lavish amenities such as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, and a massive 12-inch touchscreen.

Performance in the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 started with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. For more power, users could opt for a 5.3-liter V8 making 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, or a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. A six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine was also available with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with 4WD as an option. The Silverado's towing capacity reached a maximum of 13,300 pounds with the 6.2-liter V8 and the Max Towing package. Payload capacity maxed out at 2,260 pounds for the base engine with RWD.

The Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a broader range of potent engines. The base 6.8-liter gas V8 churned out 400 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. There was also a 7.3-liter V8 producing 430 hp and 485 lb-ft. Diesel enthusiasts could select the 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbodiesel V8 with an astounding 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, or an even more powerful high-output version making 500 hp and an unimaginable 1,200 lb-ft. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth power delivery. The F-250 excelled in towing with a maximum capacity of 22,000 pounds and a substantial payload capacity, which made it a workhorse for heavy-duty tasks.

The Silverado 1500 was available in multiple body styles, providing flexibility for different needs. Options included a regular cab with a standard or long bed, double cab with a standard bed, and crew cab with a short or standard bed. Maximum cargo length was eight feet, with the regular cab serving work-focused trims like the WT and Custom. The full four-door crew cab model offered substantial interior space, both in the front and rear rows, making it highly versatile for both work and family roles. The rear bench could fold upwards to increase in-cabin cargo space, ensuring secure storage for valuable items.

In contrast, the Ford F-250 Super Duty was offered in regular cab, SuperCab (extended cab), and Super Crew (full four-door crew cab) configurations. The bed length options were a 6.75-foot or an 8-foot bed, available even with the full four-door Super Crew. The SuperCab featured rear-hinged clamshell doors, which required the front doors to be open for access—an inconvenience that offered a larger opening for the entire cab. The cargo area was enhanced with useful features like bed steps and grip handles, providing easy access. Inside, the Super Crew variant had ample storage, including multiple cupholders, a large center console bin, and dual glove boxes.

For the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the technology started with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the WT and Custom trims. These trims retained a more straightforward, functional interior. Higher trims, beginning with the LT, boasted a 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LTZ trim added more modern conveniences like wireless device charging and additional USB ports.

The Ford F-250 Super Duty began with an 8-inch touchscreen, also featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like our test model included a 12-inch screen with wireless versions of these connectivity options. This larger screen could display additional information like fuel economy and offered a logical control layout. The F-250 also provided multiple USB ports, a wall-style power outlet, wireless device charging, and a Trailer Navigation system to optimize routes based on the trailer's weight and dimensions.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was equipped with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims added features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control. The Silverado received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and high scores from IIHS.

Starting from the XLT trim, the Ford F-250 Super Duty included the Ford CoPilot 360 suite, which varied in specifics based on the trim. Features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering assist, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. The XL trim could be equipped with some of these features as options. Given its size, features like the 360-degree camera system were indispensable for navigating tight spots.