2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty Review

The 2015 Ford F-450 gets an upgraded engine with an additional 40 horsepower and 60 pound-feet of torque, along with chassis upgrades such as new front springs, which allow it to tow more than 30,000 pounds. Also added are standard 19.5-inch wheels.

With additional power on tap this year, the 2015 Ford F-450 is immensely capable. Luckily, it also has several luxury options available for the more upscale truck owner.

If you're interested in a heavy-duty truck it's likely because of necessity rather than preference. With a heavy-duty truck like the 2015 Ford F-450, you've probably got much bigger tasks planned than hauling a small load of lumber or helping a friend pick up a new couch. With those super-heavy loads in mind, Ford has given the granddaddy of its Super Duty trucks added power and an upgraded the chassis this year, allowing it to pull more than ever before.

From a towing perspective, the changes to the 2015 Ford F-450 are massive. It comes with just one powertrain, the highly capable 6.7-liter diesel V8 that's been significantly revised to produce 440 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque (up from 400 and 800, respectfully). Ford has also upgraded the wheels, steering, suspension and fifth-wheel gooseneck to increase towing power. When properly equipped, the F-450 can now tow a colossal 31,200 pounds – 6,500 more than last year's model.

Thanks to power and towing capability increases, there aren't any non-commercial vehicles out there that can tow as much as the Ford F-450, but that may not be your only concern. The closest rival to the F-450 is the 2015 Ram 3500. It boasts a similarly mind-blowing 30,000-pound max towing capacity and as an added bonus, a more comfortable ride and a nicer interior. The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD maxes out at a relatively measly 23,200 pounds, but if you aren't pulling that much weight the Chevy is still an excellent option. Also, the Ram and Chevy both come in multiple body styles, while the F-450 is only available in one configuration: a four-door crew cab with an 8-foot cargo bed and dual rear wheels.

While competitors may offer a few advantages over the Ford F-450, there's no denying the numbers. Yet, with some nice interior touches on upper trim levels, though, the F-450 is more than just a tow rating, nice enough even to garner an Edmunds "B" rating after some extensive testing, and we believe it's worthy of any heavy-duty truck shopper's attention.

The 2015 Ford F-450 is powered by a turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel V8 engine that produces 440 hp and 860 lb-ft of peak torque. The F-450 also features engine exhaust braking to help maintain control on downhill grades while towing.

A six-speed automatic transmission, limited-slip differential and four-wheel drive are standard. Properly equipped, the F-450 Super Duty can tow up to 19,000 pounds with a conventional trailer hitch. When configured for fifth-wheel towing, this figure increases to 31,200 pounds. When properly equipped, max payload for the F-450 is 7,260 pounds.

During Edmunds performance testing, an empty F-450 went from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, which is a good performance for the segment.

The 2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty comes standard with antilock brakes, trailer sway control, hill start assist, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and an SOS post-crash alert system. Stability control isn't available.

In Edmunds testing, the F-450 in Platinum trim came to a stop from 60 mph in 146 feet, which is a few feet longer than average, even for such a big, heavy vehicle.

If you have a lot to tow, the 2015 Ford F-450 is surely up to the task but it casts an imposing shadow. At nearly 22 feet long and 9 feet wide, this big pickup can be a handful in tight quarters like crowded urban streets or parking lots. A wider track compared to Ford's other Super Duty models also means that turning around will require some extra room.

When we put the F-450 through our full barrage of tests, it came out the other side with an Edmunds "B" rating, receiving top marks for drivability. We found the six-speed automatic transmission to be very competent, with crisp and well-timed shifts. The transmission's standard Tow/Haul mode gives the driver an extra measure of control when climbing or descending hills, backed up on downhill sections by the F-450's standard exhaust brake.

While the XL base model's no-frills interior matches the stereotype with its vinyl seats, bare floors, hard plastics and sad little two-speaker AM/FM radio, the upper trim levels do a bit better. The overall style and materials quality may not match a Ram 3500, but the F-450, especially in King Ranch and Platinum guises, has quality leather, abundant luxury features like ventilated seats and high-tech equipment like the MyFord Touch electronics interface. Some older styling and poorly laid out controls, however, remind us that the F-450 is in need of an update, especially when compared to the recently redesigned F-150.

At its core, however, the F-450 is all about getting the job done, and that explains the thought that went into interior details such as lockable storage bins, and the available front seat console designed to hold laptop computers and hanging files.

On the Lariat trim and higher, there is a large multifunction display in the instrument cluster that allows the driver to customize settings, and relays trip computer, fuel economy, towing and off-road information. They also get the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which includes two USB ports, an SD card slot and an 8-inch touchscreen that controls phone, climate control, entertainment and navigation features. This version of MyFord Touch also incorporates large physical buttons for the climate and audio controls that allow them to be operated by those wearing work gloves.