F-150 vs Ram 1500 - Head to Head Comparison
American trucks have come a long way, and the competition is now tough. If you're torn between the Ford F-150 and the Dodge Ram, here is a side-by-side comparison that will help you secure a solid decision.
1. F-150 Engine Options
Both the F-150 and the Ram come with a variety of engine options. The Ford F-150 gives the buyer the freedom of four engine options:
- The base 3.5-liter V-6 - 282-horsepower / 253 pound-feet of torque
- The efficient 2.7-liter Ecoboost twin-turbo V-6 - 325-horsepower / 375 pound-feet of torque
- The ol' reliable 5.0-liter V-8 - 385-horsepower / 387 pound-feet of torque
- The powerful 3.5-liter Ecoboost twin-turbo V-6 engine - 375-horsepower / 470 pound-feet of torque
2. Ram 1500 Engine Options
The Dodge Ram comes with three powerful engine options of its own, including a diesel you can get into today:
- The base 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine - 305-horsepower / 269 pound-feet of torque
- The turbo diesel 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine - 240-horsepower / 420 pound-feet of torque
- The legendary 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine - 395-horsepower / 410 pound-feet of torque
3. F-150 Towing and Hauling
When it comes to trucks, towing and hauling are some of the most important reason people buy them. The Ford F-150 offers smart towing features, like the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, dynamic hitch assist, smart trailer tow connector, and a trailer brake controller which allows the truck's brakes to synchronize with the trailer's.
With the base 3.5-liter V-6 engine, your F-150 will offer a 7,600 pound towing capacity, moving up to the EcoBoost 2.7-liter V-6 engine allows you to pull 8,500 pounds. Most buyer with serious towing need will opt for one of the top two options, like the 5.0-liter V-8 with an 11,100 pound tow rating, or the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 which offers a massive 12,200 pound towing capacity.
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4. Ram 1500 Towing and Hauling
The Dodge Ram also offers some impressive towing and hauling options, like an integrated trailer hitch that is part of the frame. You also can get Hill Start Assist, and trailer sway control, which detects trailer swaying and uses the brakes on specific wheels to stop it.
The base 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine option has a maximum towing capacity of 7,320 pounds, while the efficient 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine is powerful enough to tow up to 9,200 pounds. The top choice for towing is the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, which can tow a maximum of 10,660 pounds.
Winner: Ford! The F-150 has a higher maximum tow rating, plus the base model can tow more than the V6 Ram too.
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5. F-150 Fuel Consumption
If you choose a standard F-150 with the base 3.5-liter engine, anticipate an 18 mpg fuel consumption in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine is rated better, at 19/26 mpg, despite the added power. Even the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 gets 18/25 mpg, when equipped with the new 10 speed automatic transmission. Finally, the 5.0-liter V-8 engine has an EPA rating of 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the open highway. These ratings are getting better for 2018, thanks to revisions to the motors and Ford's 10-speed transmission, which comes standard in nearly every F-150 for 2018.
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6. Ram 1500 Fuel Consumption
Fuel consumption varies based on the engine option in the Ram as well. The base 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 delivers 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine is the efficiency champ, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Go with the Ram's largest motor, the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, you can anticipate 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
Winner: Tie! Until the details on the F-150 diesel come out, the fuel economy champ is the Ram EcoDiesel. But if you want gas and not diesel, the Ford is the best choice.
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7. F-150 Notable Features
The 2017 Ford F-150 comes with a generous amount of technology. For starters, the new 10-speed transmission makes for an efficient and quick drivetrain, not to mention a tremendously responsive throttle thanks to the motor always being in the meaty part of the power. The all-aluminum body sheds 700 pounds from America's best-selling truck, making the ride more comfortable, while increasing payload. The F-150 also offers with an 8-inch LCD touch screen, which offers real driving data and useful information, plus Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system that is easy to use.
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8. Ram 1500 Notable Features
The Ram boasts advanced features too, including a five-link coil spring rear suspension offering better handling and a softer ride when empty. The Ram offers an 8.4-inch display touchscreen with Uconnect, which can display 3-D terrain navigation maps. On top of that, the driver gets a seven-inch information screen in the instrument cluster, which conveniently offers fuel consumption, tire pressure, and other useful data to help drivers make the best of their Ram 1500. Perhaps the most innovative feature is the RamBox system in the bed sides of the truck, for tools and gear, which is lit, secure, organized, and can lock and unlock with a push of a button.
Winner: Tie! If your truck is empty most of the time, the Ram's ride and handling may win you over. Also, if you need a toolbox more than you need room in the bed for cargo, the RamBox is hard to beat. The F-150 has a better infotainment system though, and the 10-speed transmission if the best on the market.
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9. Pricing
With both the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 being capable, efficient, and advanced; choosing the right one comes down to personal preference. Financially, the Ford F-150 can be had for as little as $27,275, which is about $1,000 more than the Ram 1500 starting price of $26,495. Top of the line Ford F-150 can be priced as high as $69,645, but Ram offers nothing quite as nice as the top Ford truck trim levels, or as capable as the Raptor.
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For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com