2019 Ford F-250 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Regardless of which style you decide to buy, the 2019 Ford F-250 has something for everyone. With a brand new stereo system and a new package available, Ford is making a bid for top dog in this year's heavy duty pick-up category. Despite a few shortcomings with its driving performance, the F-250 is a solid mixture of comfort, technological prowess, and power. Also, if you play your cards right, you can get some seriously impressive towing and hauling ratings from the F-250.

What's New for 2019?

Ford has made a few important changes to the 2019 Ford F-250 line-up. This year, the F-250 gets the new Lariat Sport Package, which includes 20-inch black painted wheels made from premium aluminum, ebony black paint and trim, and a rear wheel well liner. As the name indicates, this package is available exclusively for the Lariat. Also new for the model year is a B & O Play audio system, which replaces the former Sony sound system.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2019 Ford F-250 – The Pros

1. The Payload Capacity

One of the biggest lures for buyers of heavy duty trucks is a good payload capacity, and the 2019 Ford F-250 offers just that. Depending on which configuration you choose, this truck can get you anywhere between 3,288 and 4,315 pounds of payload. The F-250 has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds, which gives the F-250 the ability to haul around almost anything you can imagine. The available LED bed lighting is a nice touch that allows you to see what you are loading in the dark.

2. The Towing Capacity

As can be expected from Ford, the F-250 has a strong towing capacity that makes for a major selling point. On its own, the truck has a tow rating of 12,300 to 13,300 pounds. When you equip the High Capacity Trailer Tow package, you can max out towing to a whopping 25,700 pounds. Drivers are also able to program the truck to be able to recall blind-spot settings and brake gain on various trailers.

3. The Lightweight Body Design

Thanks to its use of aluminum, the 2019 Ford F-250 has a lightweight design that grants it something of a nimble nature compared to other heavy duty pick-up trucks. Since the use of such a lightweight construction material reduces the weight of the vehicle, the F-250 is able to function more efficiently, especially when it comes to making it through tight corners and getting up to speed on the highway.

4. The V8 Diesel Engine

Although the gasoline-powered 6.2-L V8 engine is able to produce plenty of power (385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, to be more precise), the turbocharged 6.7-L V8 engine outperforms this by garnering a hefty 450 hp and 935 lb-ft of torque. The diesel V8 provides a predictable acceleration for the 2019 Ford F-250 by hesitating for just a moment after you apply your foot to the gas then unleashing its powerful torque. This ample acceleration happens regardless of what conditions you are driving the truck under.

5. A Selection of Spacious Cabs

Choose any cab configuration, and you will find you get plenty of space. Those riding up front have plenty of space, and passengers in the rear seat will enjoy how much knee and leg room they get. Even larger adults will not have a problem fitting in the back. Also, no one will likely be bumping their heads on the ceiling or rubbing elbows with their fellow passengers since there is more than enough space.

6. Adaptive Steering

When you first get behind the wheel of the 2019 Ford F-250, you might notice how lightweight the steering feels. Give it a minute. The steering weight will bulk up as resistance builds, and you might find yourself feeling more confident in this vehicle's steering capabilities. Also, thanks to the F-250's well-designed adaptive steering, more feedback will come through while cornering and going through any other motion that forces more weight to be shifted to the front end of the truck.

7. A Transmission That Smoothly Shifts

The standard 6-speed automatic transmission pairs up nicely with either the gasoline or diesel engine options, which are known to be slightly lagging in their performance. However, the 6-speed provides a seamless upshifting capability that is difficult to find on a lot of other trucks in this segment. Downshifts feel just as smooth and effortless, and the tow-haul mode does an excellent job of moderating shifts.

8. A Fun Off-roading Experience

Ready to go off-roading? That's not a problem for the 2019 Ford F-250. Even though this truck is massive, its lightweight design and optional FX-4 off-roading package (which features hill descent control) combine to make the F-250 a spunky off-roader that never feels like it will lose its grip on the surface.

9. An Extremely Comfortable Cabin

Not only is the cabin on the Ford F-250 spacious, but it packs in a ton of comfort. The cloth upholstery on the lower trim levels has a soft feeling to it, and the leather upholstery that comes with the higher trim levels oozes well-bolstered sophistication. The cabin is also very well-insulated, and the only noise you will ever hear is a light humming from the engine. Even when the vehicle is unladen, it has a smooth ride quality, absorbing most of the bumps you will encounter in the road.

10. The Sync 3 Infotainment System

A lot of manufacturers have infotainment systems that are downright confusing. The 2019 Ford F-250 comes with the more user-friendly Sync 3 system, which makes the truck feel high-tech without complicating the controls. Sync 3 has one of the most refined voice control systems as well. Android and Siri voice prompts can both be used on the Sync 3 system by holding the voice button down for a few extra seconds.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2019 Ford F-250 – The Cons

1. Braking Feels Somewhat Disconnected At First

A minor gripe that some drivers will have regarding the 2019 Ford F-250 is that the brakes feel a little bit disconnected at first. The brake pedal does gain a softer feel over time, but initially, it provides a much grabbier level of feedback to the driver. The brakes take some getting used to, but they do respond well when you apply more force with your foot.

2. Options Get Expensive

While the base price of the Ford F-250 is pretty modest, this truck will get more expensive as you add on optional packages and stand-alone features. Since there are so many different options to choose from, it is probably wise for consumers on tight budgets to stick with getting what they will need the most on a lower or mid-level trim. The XLT and Lariat trims offer quite a few standard features without the additional costs.

3. Handling Can Be Rough

Handling is not as refined as it could be on the new Ford F-250. While the truck does a decent enough job navigating around town, getting the F-250 through rough mid-corner bumps seem to rile up the chassis. Of course, it is hard to keep it smooth in a truck as big as this, but this is the one aspect of the F-250's driving performance that is truly lacking a lot of finesse.

4. Difficulty Parking In Confined Spots

With a bigger truck comes more issues with trying to park in a confined space. The F-250, with its lengthy bed in the rear and elevated hood line, has a ton of blind spots that make visibility quite limited. Drivers will have to rely on the blind-spot monitoring system to help them out, and the system's indicators are on the smaller side.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2019 Ford F-250 vs. 2019 Ram 2500

The 2019 Ram 2500 is a top competitor for the F-250 this model year, thanks to its massive amount of comfort offered in the cab and very competitive pricing. The Ram 2500 also has a diesel engine option that closely rivals that of the F-250. However, the Ram 2500 lacks certain desirable features, such as adaptive cruise control, making it feel a little bit less contemporary than the 2019 Ford F-250.

2019 Ford F-250 vs. 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

The new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is, like the Ford F-250, a highly capable hauler with a diesel engine option for those who do not want to deal with a gasoline-powered engine. The ride quality is also superb on the Silverado 2500HD, and the truck has a tough and durable feel to it. However, the Silverado 2500HD similarly suffers from poor visibility due to its design and, like the Ram 2500, does not offer certain options like adaptive cruise control.

Conclusion

Overall, the 2019 Ford F-250 seems to be hovering at the top of its pack in the heavy duty pick-up segment. With two strong powertrain options, impressive towing and payload ratings, and a surprisingly agile driving performance, the F-250 does a good job of mixing power with its many creature comforts.