The full-size pickup truck segment reflects the changes sweeping through the automotive industry. The bestselling Ford F-150 was first to be offered with a hybrid powertrain and as a fully battery electric truck in the F-150 Lightning. The Ram 1500 Revolution EV won’t arrive until 2024, but Ram was the first to introduce a coil spring rear suspension that helped take pickup trucks from the worksite to carpool lanes as a family vehicle.
Both trucks span the spectrum from basic utility vehicles to luxury land yachts tipping into six-figure prices. The 2024 Ford F-150 aims to keep its decades-long lead over other trucks with seven powertrain choices, nearly a dozen trims, as well as a high-performance Raptor R.
Unable to stand pat, the 2025 Ram 1500 offers a new twin-turbo engine and even more luxurious options with a larger 14.5-inch touchscreen and a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster—even a 10.3-inch passenger touchscreen. A new Tungsten model that has a suede-like headliner, leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, and a multifunction tailgate. And a new RHO edition will soon take on the Raptor R with turbo power of its own.
Both trucks have their merits and more than enough capability, but which one does it best?
Ford F-150 vs. Ram 1500 trims and prices
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The F-150 XLT crew cab with four-wheel drive costs about $50,000
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The Ram 1500 Bighorn starts at about $46,000
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Best picks: F-150 XLT, Ram 1500 Laramie
2023 Ford F-150
How much is a Ford F-150?
With four powertrain options, three cab sizes, three bed lengths, and eight trims, the bestselling vehicle in America can be configured in a multitude of ways, starting around $40,000 for a basic work truck with a regular cab to a loaded six-figure Lightning Platinum.
Stepping over the base XL mostly reserved for fleet purchases, the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT costs a little less than $50,000, including destination, and includes features such as alloy wheels, cloth seats, power windows, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, cruise control, and standard crash avoidance tech such as automatic emergency braking and active lane control.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the F-150 Platinum for about $76,000. It comes with a twin-turbo V-6, but offers a choice of a V-6 hybrid powertrain—not to mention indulgences that range from the convenient, such as power running boards and an onboard scale, to the cosseting, like massaging seats and BlueCruise limited hands-free driving system.
A fully loaded, fully electric F-150 Lightning Platinum for just under $100,000. It comes with the extended-range battery pack with a 300-mile range, and most of Ford’s best trailering equipment and tech, ranging from BlueCruise to a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
To top it all off is the F-150 Raptor R and its 700-hp 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 that costs more than $110,000. How’s that for range?
2023 Ram 1500
How much is a Ram 1500?
The Ram 1500 doesn’t span such a wide price range, but it comes close. There’s a very reasonable Ram 1500 Classic, but it’s a throwback dating back to 2009, with analog gauges, a dinky 5.0-inch touchscreen, a regular cab, and an 8-foot bed, and lacking any driver-assist features. It’s old enough to be called a Dodge Ram.
The more modern Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at around $44,000. It can be had with an extended cab with a 6-foot-4 bed or a crew cab with that long bed or a smaller 5-foot-7 bed. It has power locks and windows, keyless entry, an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six-passenger seating in its extended-cab body. It also comes with blind-spot monitors and automatic emergency braking.
The Bighorn with options would be the closest rival to the bestselling F-150—the XLT—but the Laramie’s the one to pick. It has an 8.4-inch touchscreen, 10-speaker audio, a crew-cab body, and a 420-hp turbo-6 engine.
At the top of the range, the Ram 1500 Tungsten approaches $90,000. It has 24-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, leather upholstery, a sunroof, and 23-speaker Klipsch audio, with options for a head-up display, hands-free driving assistance, and a 14.5-inch portrait-style touchscreen.
Advantage: Ford F-150, for more trim choices and fewer options packages.
2023 Ford F-150
Ram 1500 vs. F-150 performance and towing
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The F-150 has V-6 hybrid, twin-turbo V-6, V-8, and electric powertrains
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The Ram is limited to a V-6 and a choice of turbo-6 engines
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The F-150 tows more than the Ram 1500
Skipping over the F-150 Raptor R for the everyday versions of these two, both trucks start with a V-6, but Ram equips its 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with an onboard starter generator or mild hybrid to ease the electrical load as well as add a torque kick off the line.
The V-6 difference
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Base Ram 1500s have a 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or a turbo-6; top models can tow 11,560 pounds
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Base Ford F-150s have a 325-hp turbo V-6, which tows up to 10,100 pounds
Ford’s base engine is a punchy 2.7-liter turbo V-6 that makes 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Ford also offers a higher performance 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 that generates 400 hp and 500 lb-ft. It’s very quick off the line, and with the 10-speed automatic transmission offered throughout the F-150 lineup, it balances great power with good efficiency, and has the highest tow rating in the lineup of 13,500 pounds.
Have a V-8?
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Ford’s 5.0-liter V-8 makes 400 hp and 410 lb-ft, tows up to 13,000 pounds
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Ram swaps in a 420- or 540-hp turbo-6 instead; 5.7-liter V-8 makes 395 hp and 410 lb-ft, tows up to 12,570 pounds
With the no-compromise advances made in turbo-6 truck powertrains, the V-8 at Ford almost feels like a legacy offering. It’s a marvelous-sounding engine, with a muscle-car-like exhaust note—but Ford’s own twin-turbo V-6 is more powerful. The Ram’s new engine this year sounds silky smooth under full acceleration, provides more horsepower and torque than its outgoing Hemi engines, and works just as well with its 8-speed automatic.
2023 Ram 1500
2023 Ram 1500
Hybrid and electric options
Ford and Ram use different approaches to improve efficiency without sacrificing capability.
The F-150 Hybrid takes the turbo V-6 and binds it to a 47-hp electric motor powered by a 1.5-kwh lithium ion battery. Output bumps up to 430 hp and 570 lb-ft, but the extra weight lowers the towing capacity to 13,000 pounds. It can drive on electric power alone at light and low speeds of up to about 10 mph, but the power transfer can be coarse compared to the turbo V-6. A key advantage is an onboard generator that can run power to four 120-volt and one 240-volt outlets for up to 32 hours. The Hybrid is only available on Lariat grades and above, for $3,300 more than the 2.7-liter V-6.
Ram’s coming with both a plug-in Ramcharger hybrid truck and a full electric Ram 1500 Rev later this year. Of course, the latter takes on Ford’s F-150 Lightning directly—and promises more range and much faster charging. Stay tuned.
Handling
With such an array of powertrains and options, it’s hard to make a blanket statement about which truck handles best. Both the Ram and Ford have a double wishbone suspension that keeps the front of the truck steady on the road. The difference comes in the back.
The F-150 uses two different types of leaf-spring suspension systems with a solid rear axle and plenty of bounce over road surfaces, even with a laden bed. It can bound over bumps and wobble over pavement seams. An available adaptive suspension on the Max Tow package provides more stability when towing.
Overall, the Ram delivers a softer, comfier ride due to its standard coil springs on the rear suspension. Opt for the available four-corner air suspension and it smooths out the ride even more, but it still won’t be mistaken for a luxury SUV.
Advantage: Ford F-150, for the multitude of options.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford F-150 vs. Ram 1500 fuel economy
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Ram has hybrid, electric trucks in the pipeline
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Ford F-150 Hybrid gets 25 mpg combined, or 23 mpg combined with 4WD
To combat ever-increasing fuel economy regulations, Ram uses a mild-hybrid generator to ease the electrical load on its base gas engine. Ram until last year offered a turbodiesel engine, but it’s been deleted in advance of its hybrid and electric trucks on the horizon.
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Ram V-6 gets up to 20/26/23 mpg, or 21 mpg combined with 4WD costs
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Ram 1500 with the turbo-6 doesn’t have EPA ratings yet
Ram promises fuel-economy gains with its new turbocharged inline-6 engines, but no EPA ratings have been confirmed yet. The Ford F-150 Hybrid has a 25-mpg rating across the board but only 23 mpg with four-wheel drive.
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F-150’s 2.7-liter V-6 gets 20/26/22 mpg
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Twin-turbo V-6 gets 18/24/21 mpg, and drops to 18/23/20 mpg with 4WD
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Ford’s V-8 has a rating of 17/24/19 mpg, or 18 mpg combined with 4WD
Advantage: The F-150 carries the day with hybrid versions, for now.
2023 Ford F-150
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
2023 Ram 1500
2022 Ram 1500
F-150 vs. Ram 1500 cabs, cargo space, and bed sizes
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Ram 1500 has a 5-foot-7 bed or a bigger 6-foot-4 box
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Ford F-150 has 5-foot-6, 6-foot-6, or an 8-foot option, but not with a crew cab
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The Ram only has a regular cab in Ram Classic models
What kind of cabs are in the Ram 1500?
The Ram Classic is the only Ram truck with a regular cab. The Ram 1500 Tradesman starts with an extended cab that sits three in the front and three in the back, and it pairs with a 6-foot-4 box. Interior cargo volume measures out to 53.3 cubic feet, and there’s 35.6 inches of legroom in back, but in front or back, the middle passenger best be a little passenger. The extended cab has a short-bottomed bench seat in the back that flips up in sections to reveal extra storage, but the vertical backrests are less than comfortable for longer trips. It can also be fitted with a crew cab with the same bed size or a 5-foot-7 short box.
Ram 1500 crew cab
The Ram 1500 crew cab also seats six but with much better legroom in back due its 68.5 cubic feet of space. The Ram makes great use of interior space with upper and lower glove boxes, a reconfigurable center console deep enough to store a laptop, and in-floor storage boxes in the rear.
What kind of cabs are in the Ford F-150?
The F-150 can be configured with regular, extended, or crew cabs. Each of those offers at least two if not three bed lengths, with the regular and extended cabs getting either a 6-foot-6 or 8-foot bed; the crew cab offers 5-foot-6 or 6-foot-5 beds. The base regular cab has a split bench seat with cloth upholstery, while XLTs add a locking center console in the fold-down middle portion. It seats up to three and there’s no back seat.
Extended cabs get a choice of bucket seats and a front console, along with rear-hinged rear doors and a straight-backed rear bench seat that’s not spacious or comfortable for more than a cross-town trip. The rear is decidedly smaller than the Ram 1500, and has only 33.5 inches of legroom.
Ford F-150 crew cab
The F-150 crew cab has spread-out space in all directions, but not as much as the Ram 1500. Legroom sits at 43.6 inches in back, and Ford mirrors the Ram 1500 with top trims that get leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, and reclining front seats for in-truck napping. Ford does in-truck storage a bit better, however. The center console can be fitted with a fold-down shift lever and fold-out work table. Pockets, bins, and cubbies under the seats act like cargo pants.
Cab sizes also affect the size of the fuel tank, with regular and extended cab F-150s and Ram 1500s having a 23-gallon tank, while crew cab models have a 26-gallon tank. A 36-gallon tank can be had on extended F-150 models.
Which truck has the better bed?
Tough call. Spray-in or drop-in bedliners are just the start: cargo tie-downs, bed lighting, a power-sliding rear window, and a power tailgate can be had on both trucks. Ford has a bed-mounted generator, power outlets, built-in rulers, bottle openers, and a bed step with a retractable handle that’s more cumbersome than GM’s integrated bumper steps. Ram offers a multipurpose tailgate that drops open, swings on a side hinge, or splits in the middle.
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Ram’s 5-foot-7 box has 53.9 cubic feet of volume
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Ford’s 5-foot-6 box has 52.8 cubic feet
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Ram’s 6-foot-4 box has 61.5 cubic feet
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Ford’s 6-foot-6 box has 62.3 cubic feet
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Ford’s 8-foot box has 77.4 cubic feet
Advantage: Ram 1500 is roomier on the inside.
2023 Ford F-150
2023 Ford F-150
2023 Ram 1500
2023 Ram 1500
F-150 vs. Ram 1500 styling
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Basic work trucks are just that
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Ram Laramie Longhorns and Limited grades are executive level
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Ford’s myriad exterior looks offer the most choice
The Ram 1500 left its tractor-trailer front end in the past for a more streamlined but also more anonymous look to appeal to more than just the traditional truck buyer. A bulging hood overlooks an array of grille options, glimmering with chrome or menacing in black, with five different looks for its seven trim lines, most of which have giant Ram lettering spread across the front.
Inside, the Ram plays the role of the boss, with Laramie Longhorns and Limited showcasing leather upholstery and open pore wood trim seemingly taken right from the ranch.
The F-150 has a more functional, utilitarian interior, though higher trims aspire to Ram’s seat on the Board. Ford’s dash is a bit bolder, and can be equipped with 8.0-inch or 12.0-inch touchscreens. Ram’s base 8.4-inch touchscreen is better integrated than its vertically oriented 12.0-inch touchscreen that dips down to the center console; this year a 14.5-inch screen shows up in top-flight models.
On the outside, the F-150 comes in 15 different wheel and color choices, as well as 11 different grille choices. It’s classic F-150 after that, however, with C-clamp running lights bookending the front, a window step on the front doors, and jarhead ends everywhere else.
Advantage: Ford for the exterior, Ram for the interior.
Ford F-150 vs. Ram 1500 safety
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Crew cabs get five stars from the NHTSA
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The F-150 comes with standard driver-assist tech
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The Ram 1500 has not yet been rated; it now has automatic emergency braking
2023 Ford F-150
How safe is the Ford F-150?
The F-150 earns a five-star rating from the NHTSA in any of its three cab sizes. Similar results come from the IIHS: Both extended and crew cab models earn a TSP with Lariat and above grades with a 502A package that upgrades the headlights to LED projector lamps.
Ford also equips the F-150 with standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking and active lane control across the board. Available features that come standard on higher trims include blind-spot monitors, parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control. Another option is Ford’s BlueCruise system that allows for limited hands-off driving on the highway.
2023 Ram 1500
How safe is the Ram 1500?
Ram’s 1500 hasn’t yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS, but it should carry over the previous five-star and Top Safety Pick awards it earned in the previous model year. Automatic emergency braking now comes standard, along with blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and active lane control. Ram also offers hands-free driver assistance, though it has only about a quarter of the miles covered by mapping as does Ford’s BlueCruise.
Advantage: Ford F-150.
2023 Ford F-150
Which is better: Ford F-150 or Ram 1500?
Sales numbers suggest it’s the Ford F-150, but its TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10 falls slightly behind that of its rival. The Ram 1500 has a 6.8 rating, but that difference comes as we wait for more safety data and possibly, from recalculated fuel economy ratings.
The main difference comes down to choice, in powertrains, cab sizes, colors, customization, bed sizes, and Ford has that advantage. The Ram 1500 has better road manners and a bit more refinement on top trims, but the F-150 has more efficient gas options and more powerful powertrain choices.