Ace of Base: 2020 Ford F-250 XL

Occasionally, the Ace of Base award will be trotted out not because a particular vehicle is the most desirable in its range, but because of the remarkable amount of kit or capability it offers for its entry level price. The truck you see before you definitely falls into the latter category.

Consider this: a base model F-250 serves up a 385 horsepower V8, 78.5 cubic feet of space in its 8-foot cargo box, and the ability to tow up to 13,300 pounds — all for less than the price of a loaded Camry.

That’s a serious amount of mechanical aptitude for CamCord money. The 6.2-liter V8 is lashed to a six-speed automatic (no ten-cogger at this price) and makes the aforementioned 385 ponies plus a hearty 430 lb-ft of torque. It wasn’t that long ago those numbers were the domain of noisy and smelly diesels. Entry-level XL Super Duty trucks are two-wheel drive, of course.

It also wasn’t that long ago that base trucks were work tools to be flung into a construction pit during the week and hosed out for a date on weekends. If it was blessed with a headliner, it was made out of cardboard. While the F-250 XL does lack things like power windows and cruise control, the level of refinement and tech would make trucks of yesteryear blush with embarrassment.

Air conditioning is standard (thank you, economies of scale and consumer demand), along with a trailer hitch receiver and a tailgate-mounted rear-view camera so you can see astern while hooking up to a camper or boat. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes while providing buttons with which to control the stereo.

Like the trucks of old, you can — to a point — hose this thing out because it comes standard with carpet delete and a black vinyl floor. Note that the gray bench seat is also vinyl, unless you choose to pay $100 for cloth covering. Both extreme heat or extreme cold causes a vinyl bench to become as comfortable as falling down a flight of stairs.

We know a lot of people complain that the era of cheap trucks has gone the way of the dinosaurs and drive-ins. However, it’s hard to argue the sum of $33,705 for this Super Duty given the feats of strength it can accomplish. An F-150 with similar power numbers (375/470 from the big EcoBoost) is just $720 less expensive and much less capable in terms of towing.

When examined through that lens, handing the 2020 Super Duty XL an Ace of Base trophy is easy.

[Images: Ford]