2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty

The F-350 Regular Cab is available in two trims, namely the XL and XLT. The price for the XL trim starts at $35,925 and goes up to $40,715 for the XLT trim. With an update last year the Ford F-350 SuperDuty was updated heavily to keep up with rivals like the RAM 3500, GMC Sierra 3500HD, and Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, which are some of its arch-rivals.

While the F-350 SuperDuty comes in a total of six trims, with a lot of different bed and cab configurations, when talking about the Regular cab variant you only get to choose between two trims, the XL and the XLT. Both of the trims come with standard RWD and an optional 4WD. Also, there is a choice for the single or dual rear-wheel drive too. 

The Regular Cab configurations are more of what you would choose for work rather than personal use, so the list of features remain fairly spartan and they satisfy the basic needs expected from a work truck.

Which Trim should you buy?

With only two trims to choose from, you don't have much of a choice. If you just want a heavy-duty work truck, then you will be happy with the base XL trim, however, if you like to maintain a work-life balance and drive the truck for personal use as well, go for the XLT model as it comes with slightly better comfort features and amenities and is not as bare-bones as the base XL trim. Our choice is the XLT trim which comes with features like a 4.2" LCD productivity screen, rearview camera, steering mounted controls, 4G WiFi LTE hotspot, automatic high beam headlights, premium AM/FM stereo with 5-speakers, SYNC 3.0 with 8-inch center stack, etc. 

In total there are three engines to choose from for the 2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab. The most powerful of all is the power stroke diesel engine that offers an immense torque output of up to 1,050 pound-feet. The standard engine however remains a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Another bigger V8 gas-powered engine is also available which makes 430-horsepower and 475-pound-feet of torque. A 4WD system is optional in all the trims.

The standard engine might be low on power for such a behemoth but comes with an advantage: it can run on flex-fuel, which is the combination of gas and methanol or ethanol. The standard engine offers a towing capacity of up to 16,700 pounds, and the option for the turbodiesel gives the F-350 a class-leading capacity of up to 21,000 pounds and when properly equipped with a dual rear-wheel-drive configuration, it increases to a whopping 35,750 pounds. These trucks are no speed machines, so it is fruitless to expect fast 0-60 MPH times, however, for a heavy-duty truck, the 7.3 seconds 0-60 mph time is quite impressive.

Both the GM cousins are fastest to 60 mph while the RAM offers more torque with the standard engine than the rest of the trucks. The RAM 3500 is also the slowest to 60 mph and in quarter-mile drag as well. But in most driving conditions, a better torque is appreciated for work trucks rather than speed. However, the Ford has the highest top speed and it also offers the most payload and towing capacity.

How well does the 2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab handle?

Pickup trucks are not the best handling vehicles, their main purpose is to tow, or haul around heavy loads from point A to point B. With high torque outputs and no weight at the rear, you would assume that the F-350 would zoom ahead, but that is not the case. The standard engine seems to lack power, which makes it slower at the highways and takes time to perform overtaking maneuvers.

The ride also feels a bit bouncy due to the rear leaf spring suspension, but it remains poised and planted when loaded. The steering feels light and easy to turn at low speeds, but it gets heavier as you increase the speed of the truck. Over corners it fails to impress and just like any other pickup truck, the F-350 doesn’t seem to like corners and sways around if tossed in a corner at high speeds. However, driver aids like roll stability control and trailer sway control help in maintaining stability. 

2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab Braking Performance

The mammoth-like pickup truck needs adequate braking power to stop, and while the brakes offer good power and added safety features that keep the truck in control, the pedal itself does not respond well. The brakes feel a bit sluggish when you press the pedal lightly, and as you slightly increase the pressure the brakes catch on with a bite so getting used to the brakes would come with time. 

The F-350 is equipped with 14.3-inch rotors in the front and in the rear. Both the brakes work hard and bring the truck to a complete stop from 60 mph within 163 feet of stopping distance. We would have appreciated a better braking performance but for now, you have to let do of the available braking performance. Apart from this, the brakes on the F-350 perform well and come with ABS, stability, and traction control to keep it in control.

Even with bigger brakes, and less weight than the RAM, F-350 takes more distance to come to a halt than the RAM 3500. The RAM 3500 gets 14.2-inch rotors in the front and 14.1-inch rotors in the rear and despite being 5909 lbs, it stops within 140 feet of stopping distance. Stopping distances for the Chevrolet and Ford are undisclosed.

Trucks are not the best choice of vehicles to discuss efficiency. With a big bulky V8 engine and a heavy body capable of towing up to 17,000 pounds, the fuel economy takes a back seat. The standard engine returns 16 mpg in combined driving conditions, 14 mpg in the city, with a slightly better 18 mpg on the highway. The EPA does not even test heavy-duty trucks for fuel economy, so these figures are what we have to go with, but real-world results may vary. It has a 34-gallon fuel tank which allows for up to 544 miles of range in combined driving conditions. 

The F-350 is more fuel-efficient than the rest of the trucks by a small margin. The RAM 3500 can travel up to 480 miles in mixed driving conditions on a 32-gallon full tank of gas. The Silverado 3500HD can travel about 522 miles despite being less fuel-efficient, owing to the larger capacity of the fuel tank. The Sierra 3500HD is also expected to offer similar efficiency figures.

The Regular cab models are not the most passenger-friendly trucks. They come with a single 40/20/40 split-folding front bench, which can seat up to 3 people. The seats come with standard vinyl covers with the XLT trim gaining cloth upholstery, leather upholstery is available on the higher trims which usually comes in either crew cab or double cab variants. The interior remains pretty basic, as regular cab models are mostly used for work purposes. 

The XLT trim also gets many good features like a 4.2" LCD productivity screen, rearview camera, steering mounted controls, secondary glove box, cruise control, manual air conditioning, dash top tray, 100-volt/400-watt dash-mounted outlet, etc. Some optional features like a rearview mirror with electrochromic dimming, an 8-inch productivity screen, power-adjustable pedals, upfitter switches, remote start system, all-weather floor mats add to the convenience. 

Both the GM cousins offer slightly better space than the Ford, however, it still offers respectable space inside the cabin. The F-350 Regular Cab offers good headroom and legroom for the passengers but can’t beat the GM twins. Both the GM cousins also take the win in terms of overall available space for the cargo bed while RAM not only offers a smaller cabin but also has a smaller bed. Some of the key interior features are:

• 40/20/40 split-folding bench seat
• Vinyl upholstery (XL)
• Cloth upholstery (XLT)
• 4.3-inch productivity screen
• Rearview camera
• 100-volt/400W dash-mounted outlet
• Manual air conditioning 
• Steering mounted controls 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The base XL trims come with a basic infotainment system paired with a 4-speaker sound system that has Bluetooth connectivity, a 4G hotspot, and basic SYNC software. Moving up to the XLT trim, an 8-inch display becomes available, with a 5-speaker sound system and availability of smartphone integration in the form of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

Also, physical buttons are offered for climate controls and the infotainment system, which allows ease of access. The steering wheel gets mounted controls too. You also get access to SiriusXM satellite radio and an optional navigation system. Some key highlights of the infotainment system include:

• Android Auto smartphone integration (XLT)
• Apple CarPlay smartphone integration (XLT)
• Satellite radio
• 4/5-speaker audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• WiFi hotspot
• 8-inch multimedia touchscreen(XLT)

The 2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab is not shy to accept that it is a rugged workhorse, and that can be seen in its looks too. It has a big hood, with quad headlights and a big grille which give the front a bulky look and at the rear, a dual rear-wheel-drive configuration gets you wider wheel arches which contrast the high payload and towing capacity of the F-350.

The rear profile is that of a typical truck with vertical tail lamps and the tailgate gets a power lock as well. The XL trim comes with 17-inch steel wheels, while from thereon you get 18-inch alloy wheels available in various designs.

The GMC is the heaviest while Ford is the lightest. The Ford also has lesser ground clearance by quite a margin. Dimensionally, both the Silverado and the Sierra are the biggest while the RAM appears to be the most compact, for its segment. The GM twins are longer as well and sit on a longer wheelbase, offering class-leading cargo capacity. Some of the key exterior highlights of the F-350 are:

• 17-inch steel wheel (XL)
• 18-inch alloy wheels (XLT)
• Quad dual beam halogen headlamps
• Automatic high beam headlamps 
• Tailgate with power lock 
• Optional fog lamps
• LED cargo box lighting 

Mostly, heavy-duty trucks are not tested by the safety institutions for crash test ratings, so there is no say on how safe the structure of the F-350 would be, but by the looks of it it seems safe enough as build quality is robust with abundant use of steel in the construction. Ford also includes a slew of safety features that comprise of both standard and advanced safety features. The standard features include six airbags, traction and stability control, ABS automatic headlights, and tire pressure monitoring system etc. Some of the highlights of the safety features are: 

• Blind Spot monitoring
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• SOS post crash alert system 

2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab vs 2021 RAM 3500HD Regular Cab

While RAM 3500 offers a well-equipped cabin and better looks, the F-350 comes with more towing and payload capacities alongside better driving dynamics and a more spacious cabin. The F-350 is also slightly more fuel efficient. It is up to you if you desire more comfort and features, or want a rugged workhorse, the choice remains pretty clear. 

2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Regular Cab

The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD shines with a well-equipped and modern cabin with ample features and advanced tech. The F-350 is more fuel-efficient than the Silverado and offers better-towing capabilities with more payload capacity which proves to be a better work truck than the Silverado. The Silverado 3500HD offers better ground clearance than the F-350 SuperDuty which can be a saviour in many off-road conditions. 

2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab vs 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD Regular Cab

The GMC Sierra 3500HD is basically the Silverado in an expensive suit. The Sierra is more of a luxurious truck than a workhorse, so it comes with a well-appointed interior and offers more comfort unlike any other truck in the segment. The Sierra feels like a truck that one would buy for personal use whereas F-350 would be used more for commercial purposes. The F-350 is more fuel-efficient than the Sierra 3500HD and offers somewhat better handling too. 

In a world where vehicles have focused on being more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient, trucks like the Ford F-350 chug fuel to make immense power. The truck is not a comfortable daily driver by a long, however, it is a capable work truck with an unmatched towing capacity and a rather affordable price tag. So, if you need a workhorse, the 2021 Ford F-350 SuperDuty Regular Cab is a choice worth going for.