The battle between the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is fabled, but in recent years, another player—the Ram 1500—has challenged the F-150’s supremacy in the full-size light-duty truck segment. That challenge becomes even more intense as Ram moves its heavily revised 2025 Ram 1500 into the market.
Ram stuffs the new 2025 1500 with exciting features, highlighted by the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder “Hurricane” engine. The new engine delivers velvety smooth power in standard and high-output versions with virtually no hint of turbo lag. It replaces the legendary Hemi V8, which vanishes from Ram’s options list.
The 2025 Ram 1500 lineup also features a new top-of-the-line Tungsten trim level that takes pickup truck luxury to a new level. In addition to an interior that pushes the envelope of pickup opulence, the Tungsten delivers plus-level tech with its 14.4-inch touchscreen. Beyond that, the Tungsten adds a 10.25-inch front passenger touchscreen, unique to the full-size pickup truck segment, and an over-the-top Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system.
Of course, most truck buyers will not go to these extremes. Instead, they will seek a value-oriented combination of comfort, convenience, and capability well south of the $100K mark. The Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 on those scores stand on very even ground. The F-150 received its own update for the 2024 model year. While not as far-reaching as the changes to the 2025 Ram 1500, it set up the perennial market-leading F-150 to battle with the Ram.
Both trucks astound critics with their innovative approaches to what is one of the industry’s bedrock categories. This detailed comparison of the 2024 Ford F-150 and the 2025 Ram 1500 should help you decide which better meets your needs.
2024 Ford F-150 Platinum
The 2024 Ford F-150 offers potential buyers the choice of eight trim levels: XL, STX, XLT, Tremor, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Raptor. The F-150 also offers shoppers multiple cab types, powertrains, and wheelbases. Base trucks are rear-wheel drive (RWD) with four-wheel drive (4WD) available across the lineup.
The least expensive 2024 F-150 is the XL Regular Cab model, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $36,965. At the top of the lineup, the luxurious Platinum has a starting MSRP of $73,845. On the specialty sport truck front, the F-150 Raptor is base-priced at $78,440. Prices do not include the $1,995 destination charge.
Ford provides 2024 F-150 buyers with roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles but does not offer free scheduled maintenance. All 2024 F-150 pickups have FordPass Connect—the automaker’s connected services package—that provides a one-year trial of its connected navigation.
The 2025 Ram 1500 lineup includes eight trims: Tradesman, Tradesman HFE, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, Limited Longhorn, and Tungsten. The high-performance off-road Ram 1500 RHO will join the lineup later in the model year. Two cab styles, multiple powertrains, several bed lengths, and RWD and 4WD are widely available.
The RWD Tradesman Quad Cab is the least expensive 2025 Ram 1500 with an MSRP of $40,275. The luxurious all-new Tungsten has assumed its throne at the top of the mainstream Ram 1500 lineup with a starting list price of $87,320. The off-road Ram 1500 RHO joins the lineup in the third quarter of 2024, starting at $69,995. Prices do not include the $1,995 destination charge.
Ram covers Ram 1500 owners with roadside assistance coverage for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first, but it does not offer complimentary scheduled maintenance. Ram Connect assistance and navigation services are free for up to 10 years.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The F-150 offers a broader lineup, while the Ram 1500 features the most luxurious mainstream full-size pickup in its Tungsten trim and a richer collection of free connectivity.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten
The Ford F-150 does not rank among the top three models in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership.
The F-150 also does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2024 Ford F-150 has a standard three-year or 36,000-mile warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Ram 1500 ranks third (in a tie) in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment in the 2024 VDS and ranks highest in its segment in the 2023 IQS. Its warranty coverage matches that of the F-150.
Advantage: Ram 1500
Why? The Ram 1500 outperforms the Ford F-150 in initial quality and vehicle dependability.
2024 Ford F-150 Platinum
The 2024 Ford F-150 leans heavily on turbocharging, as evidenced by its base turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 that produces 325 horsepower. The turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 offers 400 hp, and the hybrid powertrain with its 3.5-liter V6 generates 430 hp. The single V8 in the mainstream lineup delivers 400 hp. The Ford Raptor features a 450-hp version of the 3.5-liter, and the Raptor R offers 720 hp from a supercharged 5.2-liter V8.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the hybrid-equipped F-150 is the lineup's fuel-economy leader, with a 23-mpg combined rating. The 2.7-liter turbo V6 engine gets a 21-mpg combined rating. The V8 delivers 19 mpg combined, and the Ford Raptor, with its high-output turbo V6, is rated at 16 mpg combined.
The 2024 Ford F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 8,400 pounds with the base engine. The towing capacity can reach 13,500 pounds, depending on the powertrain and configuration.
The 2025 Ram 1500 offers three engine choices: a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 with mild-hybrid assist and two versions of the new turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder the company dubs “Hurricane.” The base V6 delivers 305 hp and 269 pound-feet of torque. The less powerful of the two inline sixes generates 420 hp and 469 pound-feet of torque, and the high-output variant delivers 540 hp and 521 pound-feet of torque.
The top EPA rating for the RWD 2025 Ram 1500 with the base V6 is 23 mpg combined. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder has an EPA-estimated rating of 21 mpg combined, and the high-output inline-six earns a 17-mpg combined rating.
With the 3.6-liter V6, the 2025 Ram 1500 will tow up to 7,760 pounds. With the new turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane six, the 2025 Ram 1500 will tow as much as 11,570 pounds.
Advantage: Ford F-150
Why? While the Ram’s V6 is tried and true, and the new turbocharged inline-six is intriguing, Ford offers a broader variety of powertrains.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the F-150 and Ram 1500 stack up? Let's take a look.
The 2024 Ford F-150 makes Ford Co-Pilot 360 standard; it features most of the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) listed immediately above. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings aren't part of Ford Co-Pilot 360 but are standard on all 2024 F-150s. An enhanced group of ADAS optional on the XLT and standard on higher trims includes adaptive cruise control and trailer reverse guidance.
The Ford BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system is available on most 2024 F-150 trims. The Level 2+ system offers hands-free driving on over 130,000 miles of North American highways. The system monitors the driver’s attentiveness and allows the F-150 to drive itself on limited-access roads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2024 F-150 the highest-possible five-star overall rating, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not name it a Top Safety Pick for the 2024 calendar year.
The 2025 Ram 1500 doesn’t offer the standard ADAS features many of its rivals do. However, several of the above-listed systems are available as options, including blind-spot warning, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Additional available ADAS include a surround-view camera, driver monitoring system, and traffic-sign recognition. A rearview camera mirror and telescoping trailer tow mirrors aid towing.
The Ram 1500 offers the availability of both Active Driving Assist and Hands-Free Driving Assist. The former is a Level 2 semi-autonomous system that requires the driver to have hands on the steering wheel. It uses adaptive cruise control and lane centering to automate driving in certain situations. Hands-Free Driving Assist takes that further, offering hands-off-the-wheel driving on approved roadways.
As of this writing, neither the NHTSA nor IIHS has rated the crashworthiness of the 2025 Ram 1500.
Advantage: Ford F-150
Why? The F-150 has a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a more sophisticated self-driving system available.
2024 Ford F-150 Platinum
Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system is standard across the 2024 Ford F-150 lineup. It features a 12-inch capacitive touchscreen with swipe capabilities, AM/FM radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L. Ford has improved the infotainment system's voice-command function to recognize natural-voice requests better, and its connected navigation is standard, with a one-year trial. Ford makes two B&O sound systems by Bang & Olufsen, which are available optionally.
FordPass Connect offers a variety of connectivity functions, including stolen-vehicle locator services and 5G over-the-air software updates. The F-150’s connectivity enables a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 10 devices.
The F-150's digital driver information display allows the driver to scroll to driver-assistance features and trailering-related menus and adjust the optional head-up display. Pro Trailer Backup Assist steers the truck and trailer in reverse using a console-mounted knob instead of the steering wheel.
The 2025 Ram 1500’s lower trims have an 8.4-inch touchscreen running Ram’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system. It offers Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio, which is available with a three-month trial. Higher trims get Uconnect 5 Nav with a 12-inch touchscreen, and a 14.4-inch touchscreen is available. Not surprisingly, Uconnect 5 Nav adds navigation, plus HD Radio and SiriusXM 360L. A Harman Kardon 19-speaker system is the most widely available premium sound option.
All 2025 Ram 1500s can run Ram Connect, the brand’s connected services provider. The Safety and Security package includes vehicle theft alerts and SOS calling and has a 10-year trial. The Assistance and Navigation package includes TomTom navigation with real-time traffic and remote vehicle operations and a three-month trial. All 2025 Ram 1500s are Wi-Fi hotspot-capable.
The 2025 Ram 1500 is the only full-size pickup model currently offering a passenger display touchscreen. Measuring 10.25 inches, it is only visible to the front-seat passenger, enabling them to use the vehicle’s navigation, view the truck’s exterior cameras, and watch entertainment.
Advantage: Ram 1500
Why? A bigger available touchscreen and a passenger touchscreen swing the arrow to the Ram 1500.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten
The 2024 F-150 lineup offers three cab styles, three pickup bed lengths, and interiors and equipment levels ranging from basic commercial to luxurious personal transport. From the bottom of the line to the top, the interiors are functional and attractive. On the commercial truck side, cloth seats are standard, while vinyl seats are optional. Personal- and dual-use trucks feature leather seats.
An eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat is optional for the XLT trim. Ford makes 10-way power-adjustable driver and multi-adjustable power front passenger seats optional on the Tremor and standard on Lariat and above. Heated front seats are standard on most trims. As an exclusive feature in the class, Ford offers a folding shift lever that allows front-seat occupants to use the center console area as a work surface.
The 2024 F-150 offers a remote tailgate release as an option on the XLT and standard on higher trims. A power-operated tailgate and a Pro Access tailgate are also available. The latter has a swinging door within the tailgate to offer easy access into the truck bed.
The 2025 Ram 1500 offers two four-door cab configurations plus multiple wheelbase and bed lengths. Ram aims the Tradesman trims at business users, yet even the base model offers a Sport Appearance package. As you climb the trim/price ladder, the truck’s interiors get more elaborate and luxurious. Six-passenger seating is typically standard, but many trims offer five-passenger seating with two front buckets. The Ram 1500 offers vinyl, cloth, or leather seats, depending on trim.
Eight-way power-adjustable front bucket seats are standard on the Laramie and higher trims, and the Tungsten offers 20-way power-adjustable front seats. Heated front seats are standard on all but the Tradesman trims, and heated second-row seats are standard on Laramie and above.
Most 2025 Ram 1500 trims offer a multi-function tailgate. It operates as a typical fold-down tailgate but is divided into two side-hinged sections that swing out like a door to provide access to the bed.
Advantage: Ram 1500
Why? The Ram 1500 interiors are typically more attractive and luxurious than the F-150’s.
If you’d like to learn more about these full-size pickups, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Ford F-150, Ford F-150 Hybrid, Ford F-150 Tremor, Ford F-150 Raptor, Ram 1500, Ram 1500 Rebel, and the Ram 1500 Tungsten. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on May 16, 2024, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, and other outlets.
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