If you are searching for a new heavy-duty pickup truck and love the look of a Ford, the F-250 XLT could be the perfect model for you. This is a step up from the base trim of the series, offering several upgrades in comfort, design, technology, and safety. Our team at Tim's Truck Capital wants to break down the Ford F-250 XLT trim for you in this post today, so make sure to read until the end. We're the area's top-rated used truck sales crew for a reason: we know our trucks! Let's dive in.
Overview of the Ford F-250 XLT
The Ford F-250 XLT is a trim for Ford's heavy-duty Super Duty pickup truck. This model is also a step above the base XL trim, giving you more overall included features. Many people appreciate the XLT model due to its upgraded wheels and interior. If you want 18-inch Sparkle Silver Painted Cast Aluminum wheels and features like a larger screen, this is the truck for you.
Exterior Design
The outside design of the Ford F-250 XLT is bold, featuring:
- Chrome front and rear bumpers
- A bright chrome front grille
- Manual telescoping/folding trailer tow mirrors
- Halogen fog lamps and quad-beam halogen jewel-effect headlamps
- A tailgate with a power lock
- Center high-mounted stop lamp
The exterior dimensions of the Ford F-250 XLT:
- Wheelbase: 141.4 inches to 179.9 inches
- Length: 231.8 inches to 266.2 inches
- Width: 80 inches to 105.9 inches
- Height: 78.9 inches to 84 inches
- Ground Clearance: 8.7 inches to 10.2 inches
Note: The dimensions of this heavy-duty pickup depend on cab and bed configuration, but it will be a bigger vehicle regardless.
Interior Features
The interior features of the Ford F-250 XLT are also impressive. Remember, this is a bigger truck, so you can expect seating for up to six people across two rows, depending on configuration.
Here are some interior specs to be aware of:
- Premium cloth seat material
- 8-way power driver's seat
- SYNC 4 system (newer generation)
- 40/20/40 split bench seats
- Navigation system
- 8-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen
- A 4.2-inch productivity screen
Front-seat dimensions of the F-250 XLT:
- Headroom: 40.8 inches
- Shoulder room: 66.7 inches
- Hip room: 62.5 inches
- Max legroom: 43.9 inches
Rear-seat dimensions of the F-250 XLT:
- Headroom: 40.3 inches (Super Cab), 40.4 inches (Crew Cab)
- Shoulder room: 65.8 inches (Super Cab), 65.9 inches (Crew Cab)
- Hip room: 64.7 inches (Super Cab and Crew Cab)
- Legroom: 33.5 inches (Super Cab), 43.6 inches (Crew Cab)
The Regular Cab for the F-250 XLT does not feature a second row, so you will have to upgrade to either a Super Cab or Crew Cab for the six-person capacity.
Passenger and Cargo Space
The total passenger volume inside a Ford F-250 XLT is 116 cubic feet in the Super Cab and up to 131.4 cubic feet in a Crew Cab. If you opt for the smallest cab size (Regular Cab), your passenger space decreases to 64.7 cubic feet. Cargo is another point to cover, with this truck getting the following:
- 10.9 cubic feet behind the first row (Regular Cab)
- 30.3 cubic feet behind the first row (Super Cab)
- 53.4 cubic feet behind the first row (Crew Cab)
Note: If you want more space for people and items, the Crew Cab will be your best option. This applies to both newer-generation and older-generation F-250 XLT trucks.
Engine and Performance
The engine and performance features of the Ford F-250 XLT are exciting, even in older models of this heavy-duty pickup truck. The standard engine for the more recent releases of this vehicle is a 6.8-liter 2-valve V8 gas engine, producing 405 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque.
Your other three optional engines:
- 7.3-liter V8 Gas Engine: 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque
- 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel Engine: 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque
- 6.7-liter High Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel Engine: 500 horsepower and 1,200 pound-feet of torque
Towing Capacity
The towing capacity for the Ford F-250 XLT is just as powerful as the engine of your truck. The maximum capacity for each engine type looks like this:
- 6.8L V8 (Gas): 17,300 pounds
- 7.3L V8 (Gas): 18,200 pounds
- 6.7L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel: 22,000 pounds
- 6.7L High Output Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel: 22,000 pounds
Again, the engine configuration plays a big role in how much weight your truck can tow. Typically, diesel engines give you the best possible towing, as can 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Towing. If you have any questions about this, please contact our sales team at Tim's Truck Capital.
Payload Capacity
The next thing to go over for the Ford F-250 XLT is its payload capacities. Much like the towing capacity, these payload figures do vary by trim and how your truck is configured.
- 6.8L V8: Maximum payload of 4,240 pounds
- 7.3L V8: Maximum payload of 4,246 pounds
- 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V8: Maximum payload of 4,048 pounds
- 6.7L High Output Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V8: Maximum payload of 3,903 pounds
Fuel Performance
Although the EPA does not officially rank heavy-duty trucks for efficiency, there are general estimates based on the size and configuration of this specific F-250. For gas engines, the estimates are 10-18 MPG combined, while diesel engines offer better mileage at 12-20 MPG. One thing to note, though, is that when towing, your MPG will be far lower. Many heavy-duty pickups achieve only around 10 miles per gallon when towing a trailer, and efficiency can drop below that.
More weight = less fuel economy
Safety Features
Your safety is always a priority for Ford, and the F-250 XLT trim is no different. For the standard safety features in recent releases for the past few years, you can expect things like:
- Airbags - Front Seat Front with Passenger-Side Deactivation Switch (Regular Cab and Supercab Only)
- Child Tethers (Regular Cab, Front Passenger, and All Rear Seating Positions)
- Safety Canopy® System with Side-Curtain Airbags
- Belt-Minder®, Chime And Flashing Warning Light On Instrument Cluster If Belts Not Buckled
- SOS Post Crash Alert System
Your truck's security systems will also feature a Remote Keyless Entry option and a SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System, which is another thing to note.
Infotainment and Technology
Depending on the model year of your Ford F-250 XLT, you may see slightly different screen sizes and standard options; however, overall, this truck outperforms the competition. To name some of the standard infotainment features inside this heavy-duty trim, you get an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, to name a few. Even better, this truck will offer Ford's SYNC 3 or 4 infotainment system in its 2017-current releases. SYNC 4 by Ford was introduced in Super Duty models in 2021.
Something we also want to shout out is the 4.2-inch LCD Productivity Screen, which is where you can find your truck's fuel economy, towing data, and off-road information. It's a good place to look when moving heavier loads, as well as when you're off-roading in your truck.
Pricing and Value
The price and value of the Ford F-250 XLT will depend greatly on the configuration, upgrades, and condition of the truck you go with. However, on average, this heavy-duty pickup retails used for $20,000 to over $60,000, so expect to fall into a mid-level cost to get into the F-250 XLT. It is also worth mentioning that the average XLT model costs around $40,000 pre-owned and retains its value better than competitors in its class.
Is the Ford F-250 XLT Worth Buying?
Yes! Buying a pre-owned Ford F-250 XLT is a great way to find a luxury-feeling and looking pickup at an affordable price. As we have covered, this pickup has multiple engine configurations, cab styles, and upgrades to its exterior, so pricing depends on several factors.
You might want to stay more basic for your purchase with a gas engine, or you might prefer diesel and better technology. We are here to help you find the perfect truck for your life, and there's no better used truck solution here in town. Regardless, the Ford F-250 XLT is a nice step up from the base model in the series and offers incredible value for your money.
Get the Ford F-250 XLT at Tim's Truck Capital
Here at Tim's Truck Capital, we serve the wonderful communities of Concord and Manchester, and we have plenty of used F-250s to look at. Whether you are hooked on the XLT trim, have questions about another trim level, or want to test drive a heavy-duty vehicle, our team is happy to bring you in to shop. We're open from Monday to Saturday of each week, so if you're ready to shop for a Ford F-250 XLT or a similar vehicle, choose us. Drive safe, and we'll see you soon!