What makes a truck a truck? Is it the truck bed? Is it the prominent grille? Is it the size? Maybe that's what makes a truck recognizable. But we believe that the beating, living heart of a truck is the engine and the measure of a truck is the work it can do. With that in mind, in this article we're going to compare the 2019 Ford F-250 to the Chevy Silverado 2500. Both have right look, but which one has the soul of a truck?
Horsepower and Torque: 2019 Ford F-250
The beating heart of a truck is its engine. There are a few ways to measure the might of an engine, but here we'll focus on horsepower and torque. The 2019 Ford F-250 comes with one of two engine options: a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine that produces 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque or an available turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel V8 puts out an impressive 450 horsepower and a class-leading, jaw-dropping 935 pound-feet of torque. There's no stopping this juggernaut.
Meanwhile, the 2019 Chevy Silverado 2500 puts on a brave face and comes in a close second. Its best engine is the turbocharged 6.6-liter diesel V8. This engine puts up impressive numbers, but they fall just shy of a tie: 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. That's no small feat, but not quite as good as the F-250.
Towing: 2019 Ford F-250
The numbers game continues as we move into the towing capacity segment. How much can you hitch up to an F-250? With the regular ball hitch, 15,000 pounds is the maximum. But get the optional High Capacity Trailer Tow package to pump those numbers up to an astounding 25,700 pounds. The F-250 is smart and can be programmed to remember certain trailers to call up brake gain and blind-spot settings. Power-extending side mirrors help you see around whatever it is you're towing.
Though its horsepower and torque are just a step behind the F-250's, the Chevy Silverado doesn't fare quite so well in the towing department. Its maximum trailer weight is 14,500 pounds, though it can tow up to 18,100 pounds with a fifth-wheel gooseneck. We'd expect to see higher, but horsepower and torque doesn't always translate to unbeatable towing potential.
Payload: 2019 Ford F-250
That settles how much can be pulled behind these heavy duty trucks, but how much can you pile on top of them? The Ford Super Duty can haul up to 4,332 pounds, which should take care of just about anything you can fit in its 6.8-foot or 8.2-foot bed. Meanwhile, the Chevy Silverado logs just 3,204 pounds for its payload capacity, which isn't enough to impress.
The Chevy SIlverado 2500 is a decent truck, but the Ford F-250 has the heart and soul of one with superior towing and payload capacity and the horsepower and torque that'll make you a believer.