By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We secured a 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab mainly to test the prodigious 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel engine. It came in a luxurious Limited top-trim package that left us at the outset concentrating more on the elegant interior than Ford's diesel setup with its 3,760-pound payload capability and 21,000-pound conventional towing capacity.

With a base price of more than $80,000 and a bottom line of $84,105 that included a handful of options such as towing and off-road packages and a $1,595 destination charge, the Limited rivaled many of the high-end luxury vehicles we've driven over the years.

In reality you don't have to spend that kind of money for an F-250 diesel crew cab. If you opt for the base XL with a 6-foot-8 bed you're looking at a MSRP including destination charge of $47,460. And if you don't need the towing or payload capacity that a diesel engine provides, you can save $9,120.

Ford discovered that luxury can be sold as a higher trim level in its standard truck, no need to put a Lincoln emblem on the side as it did for several years during the last decade. And not only Ford, but Ram, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are also sold in high-end trims loaded with amenities.

So what does the Limited bring to demand an 80 grand price tag? According to Ford, it features authentic materials like genuine leather, a coarse ash wood in black, and modern brushed aluminum trim. Crafted details include decorative stitching on the leather-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped door armrests, leather seating and center console lid, and an embroidered Super Duty logo added to the floor mats. A soft headliner in Miko suede is intended to give the cabin an expensive feel.

As for extra features, you get a 360-degree camera system, a panoramic moonroof, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. And the Super Duty can tow up to 35,000 pounds if it's outfitted like our test truck with the optional fifth-wheel hitch prep package.

Then there's the prodigious third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke that includes a new 36,000-psi fuel injection system with all-new injectors that, Ford says, precisely meter and spray up to eight times per stroke to control noise levels and optimize combustion.

The innovative inboard exhaust diesel V8 features a redesigned electronic-actuated variable-geometry turbocharger that provides improved pumping efficiency and throttle response. Structural enhancements increase the strength of the cylinder head, block, connecting rods and bearings to handle higher cylinder pressure and increased output. New steel pistons provide higher firing pressure capability and less friction — meaning improved performance and more horsepower and torque.

Get behind the wheel and you’ll discover that this diesel is the real deal. For everyday driving it adds up to incredible performance considering the truck's 7,264-pound curb weight in crew cab format with a 6-foot-8 bed. It will reach Interstate speed in a flash and if there's a need it can polish off a hammer-down 0-to-60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Summed up — the Super Duty is easy to drive, although as expected from any vehicle that has a wheelbase of 160-inches and stretches out 250 inches its parking lot maneuverability is at best challenging. (The long bed version is 266 inches — or 22.2 feet — in length.)

With very supportive seats including the driver's seat that can power into any driving position, a quiet cabin, good road manners, ample power for passing and merging, and virtually all the creature comforts that Ford has, the big F-250 Super Duty diesel is an outstanding choice for long-distance interstate cruising. In our 200 miles of test driving we observed 15 mpg on diesel fuel in combined city and highway driving. Despite the meager fuel economy you can still drive great distances with either 34 or 48-gallon fuel tanks depending on wheelbase.

The F-250 Super Duty comes in six trim levels — XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. It can be configured as a regular cab, an extended cab (SuperCab in Ford parlance), or a crew cab with either a 6-foot-8 or 8-foot-2 bed length. There are two engine choices, the 6.7-liter diesel that makes 450 horsepower and 935 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.2-liter gasoline V-8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all trim levels can be equipped with four-wheel drive; and features offered on the higher trim levels can be added as optional equipment to the lower trims.

Essentials
Base price: $34,745; as driven, $84,105
Engine: 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel V-8
Horsepower: 450 @ 2,800 rpm
Torque: 935 foot-pounds @ 1,800 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive: four wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 160 inches
Length: 250 inches
Curb weight: 7,264 pounds
Turning circle: NA
Towing capacity: 21,000 pounds
Payload capacity: 3,760 pounds
Fuel capacity: 34 gallons (diesel)
EPA rating: NA (15 mpg observed)
0-60: 6.9 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Ram 2500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

The Good
• Immense power, torque with diesel
• Prodigious towing capacity
• Spacious cabin

The Bad
• Lacks maneuverability in parking lots

The Ugly
• Price soars with options