Ford F250 Limited Vs. Platinum – Which Is Right For You?

You finally decided to buy the Ford F250; however, a brick wall just hit you. For the Ford F250, Ford offers high-end trims such as Limited and Premium, but which one is better? Or a better question would be, which is the right one for you? We've researched for you, and we'll be sure to help you get things settled for your brand new Ford F250.

It highly depends on your needs; if you're looking for a vehicle with great towing capacity and extra safety features, then we would highly recommend going straight for the Limited trim of the Ford F250. If you're thinking of going for a cheaper trim at the expense of a few features, then the Platinum trim is your best option.

Now, that answer is pretty vague; we will be expounding on the differences further along in the post. Keep reading to have a more detailed picture of how both trims differ.

Ford F-250 display at a dealership. The Ford F250 is available in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum models, Ford F250 Limited Vs. Platinum - Which Is Right For You?

The 2022 Ford F250 Platinum Trim

Specifications

To keep this article relative, we'll be tackling both the latest model of the Ford F250. These specifications came directly from the 2022 Ford F250 Platinum Trim website itself.

Engines

For the engine, you have two options for the Platinum Trim; 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel and 7.3L DEVCT NA PFI V8.

  • 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel- Horsepower 430 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 34 Gallons Fuel Capacity.
  • 7.3L DEVCT NA PFI V8- Horsepower 475 hp @ 2,600 rpm, 48 Gallons of Fuel Capacity.
  • Max Conventional Towing Capacity and Max Gooseneck Towing (6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel)- 21,800 lbs for both.
  • Max Conventional Towing Capacity and Max Gooseneck Towing (7.3L DEVCT NA PFI V8)- 14,700 lbs for both.
  • 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
  • 4-Wheel Drive System

Other Notable Features

  • Trailer Sway Control
  • Trailer Hitch Receiver; the option between 2.5" or 3"
  • Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning with Brake Support
  • Remote keyless entry and perimeter anti-theft alarm
  • SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System

The 2022 Ford F250 Limited Trim

Specifications

Keeping the trend of being relevant, we'll be using the latest model for the limited trim to keep the comparison fair. Again, these specifications came from the 2022 Ford F250 Limited Trim website.

Engine

For the engine, you're only limited to the 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel Engine for the limited trim.

  • 6.7L Turbo V8 Diesel- 475 horsepower @ 2,600 rpm with 1,050 lb-ft torque @ 1,600 rpm
  • 34 Gallons of Fuel Tank Capacity
  • Max Conventional Towing Capacity and Max Gooseneck Towing (6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel)- 21,800 lbs
  • 10-Speed Automatic Transmission
  • 4-wheel Drive System

Other Notable Features

  • Adaptive Steering
  • Trailer Sway Control
  • Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System with Pro Trailer Backup Assist
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Smoked brushed-aluminum and genuine Alpi Recon and Blue Oak wood interior accents
  • Moonroof- Power on Super Duty Crew Cab Models

The Platinum or The Limited Trim?

You might be asking yourself, what gives? Almost all of the features are the same? Well, you are correct there; the features are the same, albeit the limited trim only has a few advantages over the platinum one. The only significant difference is that the Platinum trim offers a gas engine variant.

According to AAA Gas Prices, the average petroleum gas price as of February 2022 is around $3.44, and the average diesel fuel price is approximately $3.95. Keep this in mind as the Ford F250 Limited Trim is purely a diesel-based engine while the Platinum has the option for a petroleum-based gas as its engine.

The MSRP of the Ford F250 Platinum Trim is around $67,910 and $86,630 for the Limited Trim. However, you would have to pay an additional $10,000 to upgrade the stock engine of the Platinum to be on par with the Limited trim's engine.

Let's break it down into two scenarios to help you decide:

  • We would highly recommend getting the Platinum trim if you aren't towing heavy loads to save some money on the vehicle's initial price and the gas.
  • If you'll be towing a heavier load than usual, then go straight for the Ford F250 Limited trim. It's more economically viable than upgrading the engine of the Platinum; you're almost at the price point of the Limited trim. You might as well enjoy the exceptional luxury features of the Limited Trim.

What Are The Trim Levels of the Ford F250?

Ford offers a couple of trim levels for each of their line of pickup trucks. Trim levels are essentially the collection of features for every vehicle model. Instead of going through the trouble of picking each feature for the pickup truck, you only have to choose the preset trim, which includes the features you prefer.

For the Ford F-250, there are currently six trim levels:

  • The XL Trim is the barebones trim for the Ford F250. It features a standard 4.2" LCD screen with SYNC technology, a smart-charging USB port, and the standard FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
  • The XLT Trim is the upgraded version of the XL trim. It features SYNC 3 technology with an 8" LCD Touchscreen with two smart-charging USB ports, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency Braking, blind spot information system (BLIS), trailer brake control, and remote keyless entry system.
  • The Lariat Trim is the middle-tier trim of the Ford F250. It includes an upgraded SYNC 4 technology with voice recognition and 12" LCD center touchscreen, dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, and a power-sliding rear window with defroster.
  • The King Ranch Trim has all of the features of the lower trims but with more safety features built-in such as Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System with Pro Backup Assist, Intelligent Access with push-button start, and Java Interior with Genuine Khaya Wood accents.
  • The Platinum Trim is the second to the highest tier, again with all of the features of the lower tiers plus a connected built-in navigation system, adaptive cruise control, and genuine Onyx Argento Open Pore wood interior accent.
  • The Limited Trim is the best and most luxurious trim, with the highest horsepower available among other trims. Its features include all lower trims' and a genuine Alpi Recon and Blue Oak wood interior accent.

Are Ford F250 Vehicles Considered as One Ton Pickup Trucks?

No, the Ford F250 is only a 3/4-ton pickup truck. According to the Ford Super Duty Brochure, the maximum towing weight of the Limited Trim Ford F250 is 21,800 lbs. If you're looking to carry a 1-ton load using the Ford F250, you may opt to consider getting a Ford F350 instead as those are a 1-ton pickup truck.

Is There A Difference Between the Regular and Super Duty Ford F250?

This question often confuses people since once they start searching for a Ford F250, they will only see the Super Duty line of F250s. Believe it or not, there are a few differences between the regular and the Super Duty Ford F250. This difference mainly comes with the engine and its towing capacity.

Also, another difference is the Super Duty Ford F250s are for rugged and, as the name suggests, heavy-duty use. Ford also stopped producing the regular F250s and mainly focused on the Super Duty F250s, which are better and safer than the regular ones.

Is The Ford F250 A Reliable Pickup Truck?

 Ford F-250 display at a dealership.

According to this survey, it seems that the Ford F250 is not as reliable as it looks, even though it has the "Super Duty" brand all over it. The Ford F250 received a poor 2.0 rating out of 5.0, with other pickup trucks averaging around 3.0. The average repair cost per year amounts to $1,241, meaning it's pretty costly to maintain.

The owners also voted that they experience around 0.4 times of vehicle shop repairs throughout an average year, but the severity of the repair leaves a lot to be desired. The severity rate for the repair is about 22% which is around 4% higher than full-sized trucks and 10% higher for all vehicle types.

Keep these factors in mind when you buy this vehicle. Be careful with the Ford F250 Super Duty, especially when towing with heavier loads. Although, keep in mind that this survey may only indicate the isolated cases wherein owners do not adequately take care of their vehicles during trips.

In Conclusion

2020 Ford F-250 pickup truck at a dealership

The Ford F250 Limited and Platinum trim are both excellent vehicles as they offer a lot of safety features for a pickup truck. Whether you'll be going for the luxurious limited trim or even the platinum trim, you can't go wrong as these are perfect vehicles for towing. For more comparison between different cars, check these out:

Lexus NX 300 vs. RX 350; What's the Difference?

Toyota Tacoma SR5 vs. TRD; What Are The Differences?

Volvo V60 Premier vs. Platinum: What's The Difference?

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