‘Car and Driver’ Impressed by Refreshed 2020 Super Duty Tremor
Super Duty is a capable work truck with great tech and an alluring off-road gem in the form of the Tremor, says magazine.
The 2020 Super Duty might qualify as the best automotive refresh of all time. Ford tweaked the exterior to make it a little sexier, outfitted the trucks with some serious tech, and introduced a brand new 7.3 liter V8 into the mix. Additionally, Tremor models now offer truck buyers unprecedented off-road capability right from the factory. Ford seriously revamped the Super Duty lineup. As a result, it’s better than ever.
A number of automotive outlets recently evaluated the new Super Duty models and came away impressed. Chief among them was Car And Driver. The long-running buff book labeled the Super Duty as best-in-segment. They particularly enjoyed the new Tremor and were surprised at how well it performed off-pavement. Aside from some minor criticisms, the magazine concluded that truck buyers will like what Ford did with their heavy duty lineup.
A Substantially Improved Super Duty
As we all know by now, Ford introduced two big changes into the 2020 Super Duty lineup. The inclusion of the 7.3 liter “Godzilla” V8 is arguably the most important addition. Fortunately, Car And Driver liked the way the engine behaved with a moderate load. “While it definitely works harder than the ridiculously powerful PowerStroke, this big V-8 emits a satisfyingly deep growl and is more than capable of moving a moderately loaded Super Duty at a healthy pace. “We struggle to rationalize spending the significant upcharge for the diesel over the 7.3-liter unless you regularly tow ten tons,” says Car And Driver. The review makes an important observation about the price of PowerStroke. Basically, there’s little point in spending about $8,000 to get the diesel when the gasoline V8 offers so much performance. Some enthusiasts obviously might scoff at such a declaration, but it’s worth considering.
Ford introduced a kind of secret sauce into the new Super Duty that certainly helped sway the magazine. That ingredient? The relatively new 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford debuted the new transmission on the 2017 F-150. Since then, it’s spread to a whole bunch of Ford products, like the new Ranger. Fortunately, the magazine found the transmission worked well in the Super Duty. “Yet, aided by the smart-shifting 10-speed, which can rifle through its closely spaced ratios to keep either engine spinning strong, both setups feel quite quick in an unladen truck,” says Car And Driver. It’s a testament to Ford’s engineering prowess that the 10-speed worked so well it significantly narrowed the performance gap between the gasoline and diesel engines. Clearly, the diesel still remains the towing champ. But the company spent its time on the more realistic option for most truck buyers, and that’s very cool.
Great Strengths, Minor Issues
While Car And Driver liked the entire 2020 Super Duty lineup, they reserved a substantial amount of praise for the Tremor Off-Road Package. According to the magazine, Ford included enough equipment on the Tremor to make it a credible and capable off-roader straight from the factory. “Thanks to the upgraded differentials and massive Goodyears, it climbs impossibly steep hills and plows through thick mud with ease, and we can verify the Blue Oval’s claim that it can ford nearly three feet of water and muck,” says Car And Driver. The 2020 Super Duty Tremor isn’t going to compete head-on with something like the Jeep Wrangler. But that’s not the point. The package simply allows the truck to be its best self once the pavement ends. And it can accomplish that as soon as owners drive their Tremors off the lot. Super Duty shoppers are bound to appreciate it.
Because no car or truck is perfect, Car And Driver did have some qualms about the refreshed Super Duty. Ford’s extensive refresh left the interior relatively unchanged. The magazine felt the company could have added more premium materials to the lineup. They also wanted the Trailer Reverse Guidance System to operate while the truck moved forward. That may sound odd, but GM enabled that type of functionality with their heavy duty pickups. Additional towing assistance certainly doesn’t hurt. And Ford could probably issue a software update to fix the issue.
Overall, Car And Driver found a lot to like about the 2020 Super Duty. As one of the most respected automotive outlets on the planet, the magazine tends to be a bit restrained when reviewing new vehicles debuts. With the 2020 Super Duty Tremor, they made an exception. It’s just that good. And so is the rest of the revitalized lineup. Make sure to check out their in-depth review. It’s well worth your time.
Photos: Ford
