Pickup trucks are some of the most popular vehicles sold in the United States. With no shortage of options, choosing the right truck can be a challenge. Today we'll compare two of the market's favorite trucks. It's the Dodge Ram 1500 versus the Chevy Silverado 1500, who will come out on top?
These two trucks sit squarely in the same segment. They are full-size trucks that have robust capabilities, similar configurations, and automatic transmissions, and their pricing is also quite competitive. You can personalize your truck with various trim levels and optional features.
So, whether you need a fleet vehicle for work, a work truck for your contracting jobs, or just want a family vehicle that can go off-road, you'll be satisfied. Let's start with some similarities.
Both the Ram and Silverado come in a variety of trim levels. Most of these trims include two-wheel drive, specifically rear-wheel drive, as standard. However, four-wheel drive is an optional upgrade on all models with the exception of the Ram Tradesman HFE.
Some Silverado trim levels only include 4x4, such as the performance-oriented RST model. In general, the Ram 1500 is more flexible with its drivetrains.
Now let's redirect our attention to the cab configurations. Both the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado have three options.
The regular cab seats three on a bench front-row seat. The quad cab adds a small back row, which is useful for families with children or when you need to fit some extra people in the back for a short drive.
The most extended cab option, known as the crew cab, gives you four full doors and a full-size back row. This is the most comfortable seating setup. You can choose your interior material as well.
Now, this article will get into some of the key differences between these two trucks. As most other features are similar, the Dodge Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado separate themselves through their engines, towing capacity, and price.
Both the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado have multiple engines to choose from. The engine you choose will impact your fuel economy and the overall road driving experience. An automatic transmission has become a standard feature on all of these trucks.
The Ram 1500 has a pair of engines. The standard option is the 3.6L V6 Pentastar. This engine comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ram 1500 absolutely wins when it comes to fuel economy. It's correctly rated for 17MPG in the city and 25 on the highway in 4x2, or 16/23 in 4x4.
You can upgrade to the massive 5.7L HEMI V8. To date, it's the biggest engine offered by Dodge in a standard pickup, providing plenty of power and only slightly reducing fuel economy. The numbers drop by about 2 MPG compared to the V6. It uses a 10-speed automatic transmission to deliver excellent fuel ratings regardless of the situation.
The Chevrolet Silverado has four power plants you can choose from, making it slightly overwhelming to correctly choose a motor for your truck.
There's the lightweight 2.7L turbo, which we wouldn't recommend considering its underpowered design for a pickup. There are also two V8s, a 5.3L, and a 6.2L. While the 6.2L beats Dodge's HEMI in raw horsepower, its highway MPG is much lower.
The final option is unique to the Chevrolet Silverado. There is a diesel engine, which provides the most torque and lower fuel consumption. Bear in mind, though, that diesel fuel can be quite expensive: if you don't actually need a diesel engine, which will be the case much of the time, don't bother.
If you need to tow a trailer to your job site, or you've got a boat in the garage for those long weekends, then towing matters. Torque is the key ingredient for pulling large loads. Let's see how the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado compare in the towing department.
The base Ram 1500 can tow up to 10,620 pounds. Meanwhile, the base Chevrolet Silverado can only handle 9,500 pounds. This gives the Ram 1500 an edge in most configurations. When we get into the bigger engines, the scene gets a little more complicated.
The Chevrolet Silverado can tow a bit more than the Dodge Ram 1500 if equipped with its 6.2L V8 or the diesel inline 6. It has a maximum rating of 13,300 pounds, compared to the Dodge HEMI's 12,750 pounds. However, at these numbers, that difference is minimal.
Considering the higher cost of those Chevrolet motors, the Dodge Ram 1500 still provides a better value for towing.
Let's talk about price. Correctly determining how much money you'll need to spend is important when considering a major purchase.
We always recommend checking out your local dealer's website for accurate numbers before visiting, as the price may fluctuate in today's wild car market. In general, the Ram 1500 beats the Chevrolet Silverado on cost.
You can find the Ram 1500 with a HEMI for under $50,000 US, and availability is no problem at all. You simply can't get a Silverado on the road with a similar engine for that price. Given everything we've considered, the Ram shines bright. Visit Landmark Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram or call 816-836-0100 to schedule a test drive.
