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Randall Reed Family Owned & Operated Since 1992
Completely redesigned for the 2021 model year, the Ford F-150 has an available hybrid powertrain option to go along with its updated interior and exterior. Add this to an endless array of technology features, and you'll soon realize why Edmunds named the 2021 F-150 the best large truck on the market. If you're looking into purchasing the F-150, you might wonder how it compares to the Ram 1500, which is another popular full-size pickup truck. Use this guide to help you determine which truck works best for your needs.
Image used with permission via ford.com
Stepping into either the F-150 or Ram 1500, you'll notice both are extremely comfortable and spacious. Upon closer inspection, you'll find the F-150 has more impressive technology features and a smoother finish. Not to be outdone, the Ram 1500 includes more storage options and more lumbar support.
When it comes to technology, both trucks have optional 12-inch touch-screen displays, although the Ram's is vertical while the Ford's is horizontal. Ford offers an advantage with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although the Ram 1500 offers the wired version. Other interior features you'll find on the F-150 include ventilated, heated, and massaging front seats, which you can fold down almost completely. It also has an optional folding panel that is perfect for your laptop or lunch. Use the folding and lockable storage area under the rear seats for more storage.
While the Ram 1500 doesn't offer a lot of technology, it makes up for it with an abundance of front-seat storage. Its center console is one of the best in its class, thanks to a deep well and ideal locations for phones. Despite its lack of massaging and folding functions, its seats have additional lumbar support, which provides additional comfort. Also, the Ram 1500's back seats have more legroom and reclining seats, but its storage under the seats isn't as great as the F-150.
The F-150 offers more powertrain options and a more powerful hybrid compared to the Ram 1500. You have your choice of several V-6 engines and one V-8 engine with the F-150, and they include a variety of natural, diesel, turbodiesel, and hybrid engines. All F-150 engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the Ram 1500 comes with an eight-speed automatic one. The Ram 1500 only offers two V-6 engines, which include a turbodiesel and hybrid gas, and two V-8 engines, with one including the mild hybrid system that Ram calls eTorque.
Upon closer examination, the F-150's new hybrid called PowerBoost gives a combined output of 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. This number cannot be matched by any other truck in its class except for the off-road Ram TRX. Not only is this engine powerful, but the EPA estimates that this engine and rear-wheel drive will get a combined 25 mpg, while the four-wheel-drive models will get a combined 24 mpg.
On the other hand, the Ram 1500's V-8 hybrid engine gets 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Its mileage isn't as high either, with both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive getting a combined 19 mpg. However, this hybrid engine is a less expensive upgrade compared to the F-150, with it only costs $200 more than the regular V-8, while the F-150's hybrid costs thousands more than its regular engines.
When it comes to towing capability, it's hard to compete with the F-150, especially after its numbers increased from last year's model. The Ford now has the class-leading maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, although the Ram 1500 isn't far behind. The F-150 achieves these numbers with the nonhybrid 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 engine with the tow package. When you compare the equivalent tow packages and V-8 engines, the Ram 1500's numbers are only about 1,000 pounds less than the F-150.
Both the F-150 and Ram 1500 have several cargo bed options, but when looking at the shorter bed options, they're almost equal. The Ram 1500 does offer about one cubic foot more in storage space for this bed size. However, when looking at the other bed sizes, the Ram 1500 doesn't come with a long bed option.
You can't go wrong with either truck if you're looking for options in the cargo bed. One of the most impressive features is the Pro Power Onboard system found on the F-150, which adds a generator to the area. With the nonhybrid engine, this generator has an output of 2.0 kW, while the PowerBoost engine gives you 7.2 kW of power. You also gain access to four 120-volt and one 240-volt outlet.
While the Ram 1500 doesn't offer a lot of power options in its cargo beds, it strives to make up for it with storage options. Its available RamBox has side storage that you can lock, although they take away from some of the bed's length. It also has an available multifunctional tailgate that folds down so you can get in and out of the bed easier.
Both trucks come with numerous standard and available safety features, so you and your passengers can stay safe on the road. The F-150 offers more advanced driver-assist safety features, some of which include pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Available safety upgrades include lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning, all of which are found in Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features.
The Ram 1500 doesn't skimp on safety either, as it comes with more than a dozen available features. Some of them include blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view parking camera system, automatic high-beam headlights, and rear cross-traffic alert. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named this pickup truck as one of its 2021 Top Safety Picks.
Sometimes the best way to determine if a vehicle works for you is to get behind the wheel and take it out for a drive. If you're interested in scheduling a test drive, reach out to the professionals at Planet Ford Dallas. Not only can they get that scheduled for you, but they can answer any specific questions you might have about either vehicle.
