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Car reviewers have gotten behind the wheel of the new 2011 Ford Super Duty trucks — and the reviews are good.

PickupTrucks.com writes, “At this moment, there’s no doubt that Ford has once again raised the bar to new levels of performance and productivity for heavy-duty pickups. The Super Duty continues to be the standard against which its competition will be measured”

Autoblog points out that the new Super Duty trucks aren’t without some stiff competition: “If what you do requires a tool shaped like a truck, then you’re currently experiencing a nirvana-like period in history. In just the last few months, Chrysler and General Motors introduced their new heavy-duty trucks. We drove the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty in October and liked it. We also saw the Chevrolet and GMC HDs at the Chicago Auto Show last month.” Still, they conclude, “If this were the 1990s and fuel were cheaper than bottled water, some people might be tempted to buy a new Super Duty to be their driveway truck. It’s certainly comfortable enough to be driven every day, even if your destination isn’t a quarry, factory or construction site. But fuel isn’t that cheap anymore.”

Autoweek agrees: “This is not a rig for poseurs. It is for serious haulers and towers only,” but “If you live out in the country and really need to haul stuff, this is your wagon. … Ford sells more Super Duty trucks than any competitor’s sales, and after a day trying out all manner of these heavy haulers, we can see why.”

PickupTrucks.com gives the rundown on what’s new for 2011, saying the “most significant changes include two new gasoline and diesel engines and a new six-speed automatic transmission that’s used for both versions. …Both engines have been engineered from scratch. The standard 2-valve 6.2-liter V-8 gas engine develops 385 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 405 pounds-feet of torque (at 4,500 rpm), up from the old 5.4-liter gas V-8′s 300 hp and 365 pounds-feet.” However, the engines don’t stop there: “it’s the 4-valve 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel engine that’s the darling of the powertrain lineup. It pumps 390 hp (at 2,800 rpm) and a staggering 735 pounds-feet (at 1,600 rpm). Roughly 60 percent of Super Duty pickups are ordered with diesel engines.

The 2011 Super Duty comes to market with more power, as well as larger towing capacities. Autoblog reports, “The F-250 can tow up to 14,000 pounds, half a ton more than the current Dodge and GM HD models. The big F-450 can handle up to a 24,400-pound trailer. This is 4,400 pounds more than the closest GM and nearly three tons more than the Dodge HD. The comparisons continue in Ford’s favor regarding payload. This seems all the more remarkable given that the Super Duty’s frame is generally a carryover piece. Engineers felt it was strong enough as it was. “

On the road, Autoweek calls the Super Duty “Surprisingly quiet and comfortable. This is not your father’s 18-wheeler. At speed on smooth pavement, you’ll feel like you’re driving your apartment building down the street. Whack a few bumps and the suspension does a surprisingly good job of controlling the 1,300 pounds to 1,500 pounds of unsprung weight under there.”

Autoblog notes, “The interior received some attention, but nothing close to a full redesign. The Super Duty’s interior looks like it’s heavy duty, and carries over the high-quality materials, finishes and general function that impressed us on the previous generation.”

The 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Pickups will reach dealerships this spring.

If you’re in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.