Ford’s 6.2L Gas V8 in the 2017 Super Duty is No Penalty Box
For 2017, upgraded from the gasoline V8 to the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel is a hefty $8,595. But do you have to upgrade? How is the new Super Duty to drive with the 6.2L V8 and the new TorqShift-G automatic transmission? The short answer? Pretty lovely, even at a mile above sea level.
Why would you choose the V8 over the diesel? If your towing needs aren’t that extreme, a properly-equipped V8 Super Duty can tow up to 16,700 pounds. Last time I checked, that’s still quite a bit. Also, you save the previously-mentioned $8,595 cost of entry for the diesel.
But when you drive the V8, it doesn’t feel like you’re driving something less-than-special.
Engineers worked hard on the tuning of the V8 for the 2017 Super Duty, and it’s a peach of an engine. It makes 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Plus, it’s all naturally-aspirated. I know that at the altitude we were testing the truck at, we could have lost nearly 60 horsepower over driving it at sea level. But that doesn’t matter because it still felt great behind the wheel.
Where you experience a bit of turbo lag with the diesel, you have nearly-instant throttle response with the gas engine. The new transmission is super-smooth with the shifts. In a lot of ways you feel like you’re driving a smaller truck or SUV.
Plus, the engine noise is glorious. In a work where turbocharging mutes the noise, a naturally-aspirated V8 just sounds fantastic. Even though it’s really quiet in the new Super Duty, you can still hear the engine note enough to make you smile.
Obviously if you need big towing, go diesel. But if you don’t, the 6.2L V8 in the 2017 Super Duty is a viable and enjoyable option.
What do you think? Let us know over in the forums!
