There’s no shortage of impressive trucks on the market these days. Most of the spotlight goes to top-tier luxury rigs like Ford’s 2025 Platinum Tremor Super Duty, but not every great truck wears a premium badge. Sometimes the hidden gems live at the opposite end of the lineup. So, when we got the chance to put some miles on a 2025 Ford F-250 Regular Cab XL, we were eager to see what the “basic” Super Duty could really do.

A Regular Cab That Feels Anything But Basic

On paper, the XL is the entry point for Ford’s Super Duty family, starting at $48,090. But our tester didn’t stay budget-friendly for long. With the Standard Output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel under the hood (a $10,495 option), plus a Warn recovery winch from Ford Performance ($4,225) and the XL Off-Road package ($995), the sticker climbed to $74,675. Toss in add-ons like the Vehicle Integration System 2.0, upfitter switches, dual alternators, driver-assist tech, 360-degree cameras, and a stack of towing upgrades, and suddenly this “basic” work truck is anything but stripped down.

Standard Output, Big Capability

Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke has been evolving since its debut in 2011, steadily climbing from 390 hp/735 lb-ft to today’s staggering 500 hp/1,200 lb-ft High Output version. But our truck packed the Standard Output, rated at 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft. On paper, it’s down 25 horses and 150 lb-ft—but behind the wheel, you’d never guess.

After time in both engines, we can confidently say the Standard Output is more than enough. Acceleration is strong, highway merging is effortless, and turbo lag is nearly nonexistent. Paired with Ford’s smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic, the powertrain feels refined, capable, and eager without being overwhelming. And let’s not forget—the $2,500 savings compared to the High Output leaves a lot of fuel money in your pocket.

Built To Tow, Built To Work

Visually, the F-250 XL looks like what it is: a hard-working rig, complete with an 8-foot bed and steel wheels. Properly equipped, it’s rated to pull 20,000 pounds conventionally, 21,600 with a 5th-wheel, and 22,500 with a gooseneck. Ours carried nearly every trailer-tow option Ford offers, from the High Capacity Trailer Tow Package to onboard scales and Smart Hitch.

To put it to the test, we loaded up a 20-foot trailer with an Ineos Grenadier, tipping the scales around 11,000 pounds. The F-250 shrugged it off, pulling grades with ease and blending into traffic as if it weren’t hitched at all. Surprisingly, the added tongue weight smoothed the suspension, delivering one of the best rides we’ve felt in a ¾-ton in a long time. Ford’s towing tech worked in the background without getting in the way—exactly how it should.

2025 Ford F-250: Off-Road Utility

You wouldn’t expect much dirt-road cred from a base XL, but this one came trail-prepped. The XL Off-Road package bolted on 33-inch Goodyear Duratracs, an electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, extended breathers, and a reshaped air dam for better approach angles. Add the Ford Performance Warn winch with 70 feet of synthetic line, and you’ve got serious off-pavement utility.

Is it a trail toy? No. Ride quality off-road is firm at best, harsh at worst, and this truck is far too big to be a rock crawler. But that’s not its mission. It’s about job-site toughness: clearing a muddy access road, pulling a stuck piece of equipment, or hauling material across rough ground. For that, the locking diff and Duratracs deliver traction, and the winch is a confidence booster when work gets messy. Want more off-road manners? The FX4 package adds hill descent and tuned shocks, though the hardcore Tremor setup requires stepping up to a Crew Cab XLT.

2025 Ford F-250 XL: Back-to-Basics Interior Comfort

Inside, the XL keeps things simple with Medium Dark Slate vinyl and a 40/20/40 split bench. It’s durable, wipe-clean, and unexpectedly comfortable—like a well-worn couch that only gets better over time. On long drives, we found the bench more relaxing than the fancy massaging seats in the Platinum. Shocker, we know.

Tech is pared down but functional: an 8-inch infotainment screen (with wireless Apple CarPlay), analog gauges with a 4.2-inch driver display, and yes, an actual metal key in the ignition. It’s refreshingly straightforward, and honestly, it fits the truck’s work-first vibe.

Final Thoughts

No, the 2025 Ford F-250 XL isn’t for everyone. It’s not the plush Platinum, and it won’t crawl Moab with ease. But for those who value capability, durability, and a little off-road grit, it’s an easy truck to love. The steel wheels and all-terrains nail the look, the Standard Output diesel delivers plenty of grunt, and the interior is shockingly livable.

It might not be the “cheap farm truck” of decades past, but in today’s world, this is as close as it gets. And for many off-roaders who need a truck that can truly do it all, that makes the 2025 Ford F-250 XL one of the smartest buys in the Super Duty lineup.