Big pickup trucks are a big deal. After all, the three best-selling models in the United States are full-size pickup trucks. And two of them—the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500—are the subjects of this comparison. Since the import brands can't quite figure out how to build a full-size truck that can break into the top three, the big trucks are crucial to the U.S.-based manufacturers.
Of course, Ram is now a Stellantis brand, and since that global conglomerate absorbed all of the brands that were formerly part of the now-vanished Chrysler Corporation, perhaps it is not accurate to call Ram a U.S. brand these days. But the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500—the third model in the domestic top three—are both proudly American. All three truck models contribute big-time sales and big-time profits to their manufacturers. And it is not exaggerating to say their manufacturers might not be in business without them. This implies that each of the three manufacturers of the top-selling full-size trucks will go to the ends of the Earth to ensure their products remain at the top of the heap.
This is good news for truck buyers because it means the big truck makers are constantly innovating and adding new features. When it comes to all the things that are important to truck buyers—utility, payload, the economy of operation, comfort, style—each will go the extra mile.
In this comparison, both models have lengthy track records. That is good because it lets buyers track the two trucks' quality and longevity. Both perform well in those areas. But the downside is that the trucks might not benefit from all the latest technology. Plus, their resale value might suffer a bit when all-new models hit showrooms.
When you look at domestic full-size pickup trucks, there are more similarities than differences. Both the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 offer several cab styles, multiple bed lengths, and the choice of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD). Both provide substantial payload and towing maximums. Both feature well-regarded infotainment systems and big display screens. And both offer a multitude of engine choices.
From a construction standpoint, one significant difference is the Ford F-150 has an aluminum body versus the Ram 1500's conventional steel. Another key difference is that the Ram has a coil spring rear suspension that endows it with road manners the leaf-spring-equipped F-150 doesn't have.
What the Ford F-150 does have is sales success. It has been the market leader for decades, so it has clearly pleased millions of its buyers. At the same time, the Ram 1500 wins new converts year after year.
In the following sections, you will find a detailed comparison of the 2023 Ford F-150 and the 2023 Ram 1500—two of the top full-size pickup trucks on sale today.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
For the 2023 model year, Ford offers the F-150 in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. In addition, two specialty grades are available: Tremor and Raptor. With three cab types, multiple powertrain choices, and four wheelbase lengths, the 2023 Ford F-150 range offers customers a staggering number of options. Each cab type is available in several trim levels and with multiple engine choices. Both RWD and 4WD are widely available across the lineup.
The F-150 XL Regular Cab is the least expensive 2023 F-150 model with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34,445. Ford equips the base XL with a 3.3-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, vinyl floor covering, and Sync 4 infotainment system. The high-volume XLT Super Crew (crew cab) 4-door has a suggested base price of $48,450. With the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, its price increases to $51,185.
The Lariat is the first in a stair step of luxury trims. A Lariat Super Crew with the base turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 and 4WD has a suggested list price of $61,270. The King Ranch, which features a 5.0-liter V8 engine, has an MSRP of $63,005. The Platinum trim also has the 5.0-liter V8 standard and an MSRP of $64,695. The Limited (suggested base MSRP of $84,910) is the most luxurious trim with a hybrid drivetrain featuring a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6.
The F-150 specialty off-road models are the Tremor and the Raptor. The Tremor ($60,970) authenticates its off-road prowess with 33-inch all-terrain tires and unique monotone shocks. The Raptor has heavy-duty skid plates, Fox Racing shocks, 34-inch all-terrain tires, plus off-road tech like Trail 1-Pedal Drive and Trail Turn Assist. It has a $76,775 base MSRP.
All 2023 Ford F-150s carry a $1,795 destination charge.
Not to be outdone, the 2023 Ram 1500 lineup includes eight trims: Tradesman, Tradesman HFE, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Limited Longhorn, Limited, and TRX. The trucks range from the very basic Tradesman "work truck" to the highly specialized, desert-running TRX.
Ram equips both the Quad Cab (extended cab) and Crew Cab versions of the Ram 1500 to seat up to six—three on a modular front bench and three on a more conventional bench in the rear. The rear-seat accommodations in the Crew Cab are superior to the Quad Cab, which is a big reason Quad Cabs are only available in the three least expensive trims.
The RWD Tradesman Quad Cab is the most basic Ram 1500, with an MSRP of $37,410. The rear-drive Big Horn Crew Cab has an MSRP of $45,325. The addition of part-time 4WD brings the suggested price to $49,125. The popular mid-level Laramie trim starts with a rear-drive Crew Cab model at $52,575, and the off-road-oriented Rebel 4x4 Crew Cab has a base MSRP of $57,190. The Longhorn trim bases at $59,335. And the Limited Crew Cab 4x2 has a starting MSRP of $63,750. Choosing an optional engine and/or an equipment package or two can run the total bill up by thousands of dollars.
On the specialty front, the Ram 1500 TRX is the most powerful full-size pickup truck in series production. With a starting MSRP of $84,355, the TRX features a 702-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine, plus a wide variety of sophisticated go-fast items. Ram sells it exclusively as a Crew Cab short box 4x4.
All 2023 Ram 1500s are subject to a $1,795 destination fee.
Advantage: Ram 1500
2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition
The Ford F-150 ranks third in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment of the JD Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. Additionally, the F-150 ranks third among Large Light Duty Pickups in the JD Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which examines new-vehicle quality during the first 90 days of ownership.
The 2023 Ford F-150 has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
The Ram 1500 does not rank among the top three models in its segment in either the 2022 VDS or the 2022 IQS.
The 2023 Ram 1500 has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
Advantage: Ford F-150
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
The 2023 Ford F-150's base 3.3-liter V6 engine offers 290 hp and 265 pound-feet of torque. Ford matches it with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Next up the engine ladder is the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 325 hp and 400 pound-feet of torque. V8 diehards will find what they like in the 400-hp 5.0-liter V8 with 410 pound-feet of peak torque. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 delivers 250 hp and 440 pound-feet of torque.
Those seeking extra power will find it in the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and the 3.5-liter V6 hybrid. The former offers 400 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque, the latter 430 hp and 570 pound-feet of torque. The Ford Raptor features a 350-hp variant of the 3.5-liter turbo V6, while the automaker fits the Raptor R with a 700-hp, supercharged 5.2-liter V8.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says a rear-drive F-150 with a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine will deliver an estimated 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. Equipped with the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, the rear-drive version of the F-150 has EPA-estimated fuel-efficiency ratings of 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. The addition of 4WD knocks the fuel efficiency down by one mpg with both engines.
The EPA rates the fuel economy of the base 3.3-liter V6 at 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. The Ford Raptor with the 3.5-liter high-output turbo V6 gets 15 mpg city/18 mpg highway/16 mpg combined. The Raptor R with the supercharged V8 is the thirstiest, with EPA mileage ratings of 10 mpg city/15 mpg highway/12 mpg combined.
With the base engine, the 2023 Ford F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, but that towing capacity grows substantially to as high as 14,000 pounds. Several F-150 engines provide towing of at least 12,000 pounds or more.
The mainstream 2023 Ram 1500 gives buyers three engine choices: gasoline V6, gasoline V8, and turbodiesel. Then there is the supercharged V8 in the specialty TRX. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with eTorque mild-hybrid assist. It delivers 305 hp and 271 pound-feet of peak torque. Ram backs it with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The optional V8 is a vaunted Hemi with the added wrinkle of a mild-hybrid system. The naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V8 delivers 395 hp and 410 pound-feet of peak torque. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 is another interesting powertrain choice. Output ratings are 260 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque. It, like the V8, works with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance TRX has a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 that parent automaker Stellantis uses in other enthusiast vehicles. It churns out a heady 702 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque. It, too, uses an 8-speed automatic.
The EPA fuel-economy ratings for the V6-powered 2023 Ram 1500 is praiseworthy, and the ratings for the V8-powered Ram 1500 are not far behind. That said, the fuel-economy leader among Ram engines is the turbodiesel. The RWD version of the Ram 1500 with the mild-hybrid V6 has EPA-estimated ratings of 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. With 4WD, the numbers decline to 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.
The RWD mild-hybrid V8 earns EPA-estimated ratings of 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined. With the Ram 1500's part-time 4WD system, the numbers fall slightly to 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. The EPA rates the high-torque turbodiesel 4x4 at 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway/24 mpg combined and estimates the TRX at 10 mpg city/14 mpg highway/12 mpg combined.
The Ram 1500 can tow up to 12,750 pounds, depending on the engine and drivetrain.
Advantage: Ford F-150
2023 Ram 1500 Limited Elite
The 2023 Ford F-150 makes relatively few advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) standard across its extensive lineup. Instead, Ford reserves some of the more sophisticated ADAS for higher, more expensive trims and sometimes offers them in option packages.
Ford groups many of its ADAS in a bundle called Ford Co-Pilot 360. In its most basic form, which is standard on even the base XL work truck, the package includes automatic on/off headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and a rearview camera system with trailer hitch assist. The XLT trim and above adds blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning.
An enhanced version of Ford Co-Pilot 360, optionally available on XLT trim and above, includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency steering, intersection turn assistance, and built-in navigation.
Compared to many current passenger cars and SUVs, the 2023 Ram 1500 is light on standard ADAS. And even the optional safety and driver-assistance offerings are less robust than some other models. Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking is standard on Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trims and optional on the TRX. Lane-departure warning is standard on the Rebel and included in the optional Advanced Safety Group on some of the other higher trims. Blind-spot warning with trailer coverage and rear cross-traffic warning is optional. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a surround-view camera system, and parking assist are part of a package available on the high-luxe Limited trim.
Advantage: Ford F-150
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
Truck buyers will find that both the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 offer excellent infotainment systems and a wide variety of associated tech. Big trucks seem to require big screens, and both the F-150 and Ram 1500 have them.
The 2023 Ford F-150 offers its well-regarded Sync 4 infotainment system across the extensive F-150 lineup. The base XL offers an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with swipe capabilities, AM/FM radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto wireless phone integration, and access to the AppLink applications catalog.
FordPass Connect enables a wireless hotspot for up to 10 devices. Starting with the Lariat series, the touchscreen grows to 12 inches. It includes an "Information on Demand" panel and connected navigation. The voice-command system understands natural-voice requests, eliminating the need to memorize particular phrases.
An 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is standard in the King Ranch and Platinum trims. The Limited's B&O "Unleashed" sound system shoehorns in 18 speakers.
The 2023 Ram 1500 Tradesman and HFE trims come with Uconnect with a 5-inch touchscreen, AM/FM radio, and Bluetooth streaming. Three other Uconnect systems are available as standalone options or part of packages beginning with the Big Horn/Lone Star trim level. An 8.4-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio is standard on the Laramie trim and available on the Big Horn and Rebel.
Another 8.4-inch touchscreen system that includes navigation and connectivity is standard on Longhorn and Limited trims. A full-featured Uconnect system with a 12-inch touchscreen is standard on the TRX and available on all but the Tradesman and HFE trims. On the audio front, a 6-speaker sound system is standard on less-expensive trims. A 10-speaker audio system is standard on Laramie and above, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system is available on Rebel trims and higher.
Advantage: Ford F-150
2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition
The 2023 Ford F-150 comes in three different cab configurations, including the harder-to-find regular cab, with multiple wheelbases and bed lengths. The regular-cab models are best-suited to two occupants, although three adults can squeeze in. The 2023 Ram 1500 doesn't offer a regular cab.
The Ram 1500 Quad Cab and the Ford F-150 SuperCab offer up to 6-passenger seating with a relatively roomy second row. But if you plan to use the rear seats often, you might opt for the F-150 SuperCrew or the Ram 1500 Crew Cab. Both offer significantly more legroom than their smaller cab siblings.
While it may be a matter of taste, the Ram 1500's interior design and materials seem better than those of the F-150. Ram got an early jump in this area, and Ford has been closing the gap with its King Ranch and Limited trims. In its more expensive trucks, the Ram 1500 has an interior that will put many luxury-brand SUVs to shame. The Ram 1500's instrument array is attractive, and the controls are easy to use. Ram keys the seating materials and trim pieces to the trim levels and sets the standard in the full-size pickup class.
In the F-150, the level of sophistication and luxury depends entirely on the trim level. The commercial-use F-150 XL has crank-operated windows and vinyl flooring rather than carpet. But as you climb the ladder and the price increases, things grow much more cushier. And the F-150's big touchscreen dominates the cabin—and the conversation. In the King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trims, customers get interior style, materials, and convenience that is in keeping with their substantial prices.
Advantage: Ram 1500
If you'd like to learn more about these full-size pickups, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on December 6, 2022, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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