Quick Spin: 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab

Tom Appel

6 years ago

2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab in Magnetic (metallic dark gray)

2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab 4X4

Class: Large Pickup Truck

Miles driven: 166

Fuel used: 12.8 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 13.0 mpg

Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: N/A

Base price: $62,110 (not including $1195 destination charge)

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	A
Power and Performance	A
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	D
Value	B-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Options on test vehicle: Power Stroke diesel engine ($8595), 3.55 electronic locking rear axle ($390), 5th-wheel hitch prep package ($370), trailer camera with tire-pressure monitoring system ($725), upfitter accessory switches ($165), rear inflatable seat belts ($185), spray-in bedliner ($495), Platinum Ultimate Package ($2785)

Price as tested: $77,015

Quick Hits

The great: Cavernous interior, impressive towing and hauling capacities

The good: Surprisingly easy to drive for the size

The not so good: Steep prices, fuel economy

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CG Says:

Ford’s ever-popular F-150 pickup trucks get a number of updates for 2018, but their heavy-duty Super Duty siblings (F-250, F-350, and F-450) mostly stand pat for the model year. So, our test of this 2017 Platinum Crew Cab 4×4 holds true for 2018 as well.

F-250 Platinum models come standard with LED headlights and taillights, a privacy-tinted rear window with power-sliding center section, and ritzy exterior-trim touches like the large satin-finish Platinum nameplate on the tailgate.

Platinum is the penultimate trim level of the F-250 line. It’s restricted to crew-cab models only, and includes such standard features as 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and starting, leather upholstery, heated/cooled front seats, adaptive steering, Sync 3 touchscreen infotainment system with voice-activated navigation, and heated power-folding rear-view mirrors with integrated turn signals. Our tester was further optioned up with the Platinum Ultimate package, which includes a twin-panel power sunroof, lane-keep alert, adaptive cruise control, and a trailer-tow camera.

Test Drive: 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab

The Platinum trim level brings luxurious cabin trimmings such as power-adjustable pedals with memory, ambient lighting, and leather upholstery–our test vehicle wore a handsome black/brunello two-tone treatment.

The biggest line item on the options list was the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine… it adds an eye-opening $8595 to the bottom line. That’s in step with pricing of rival GM and Ram heavy-duty diesel engines, but still a spendy option, even on a vehicle with a base price of $62,110. With the diesel engine comes impressive hauling and towing capabilities, however. When configured like our test vehicle, the F-250 Crew Cab Power Stroke 4×4 can tow up to 17,500 pounds with a conventional trailer and 14,700 pounds with a fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailer. Maximum payload is 3450 pounds.

Our F-250 test vehicle was outfitted with the “Tough Bed” spray-in bedliner, a $495 option. The tailgate’s built-in retractable step and grab handle are great conveniences; they make climbing in and out of the pickup bed easy.

The F-250 Crew Cab is a substantial truck—it’s no mischievous nymph in parking lots—but it’s still considerably easier to maneuver in traffic than the F-350 Super Duty “dually” Consumer Guide® drove earlier in the year. Compared to that big dog, it’s also a smaller and lighter package for the impressive power of the Power Stroke diesel (440 horsepower and 925 lb-ft of torque).

What’s remarkable about these latest gigantic pickups is just how tractable and easy to drive they are for their colossal size. The standard adaptive steering system can increase the steering ratio by up to 30 percent in close-quarters, low-speed conditions, which makes the F-250 significantly easier to maneuver in a tight parking lot.

First Spin: 2017 GMC Sierra HD Duramax Diesel

Badges on the front doors signify the presence of the mighty 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel V8 engine.

Curiously, overall mpg after 165 CG test miles (all in rear-wheel-drive mode) was 13.0—which wasn’t quite as good as we got with the F-350 Super Duty.

Our testers griped about the lack of a dead pedal for the driver’s left foot (the 2018 F-150 has one) and the somewhat jumpy empty-bed ride with the leaf-spring rear suspension, but gave high marks to the luxury-grade interior materials standard in Platinum and the very roomy cab with genuine 5-adult space. The interior is cargo-versatile as well; there are lots of thoughtfully placed pockets, cubbies, and bins, and the rear-seat cushion flips up to create a handy flat-floor storage space in the rear-seat area.

A Ford Super Duty pickup is more vehicle than the average new-vehicle shopper—even the average new-pickup shopper—will ever need. Its price tag is formidable, particularly in high-end trim, but it offers an impressive level of all-around refinement and luxury in addition to its heavy-duty credentials.