Compare the2023 Chevrolet Silverado HD VS 2023 Ram HD

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Silverado HD are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Ram HD doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Silverado HD. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Ram HD.

Both the Silverado HD and the Ram HD have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Silverado HD’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Ram HD’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 20 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Ram dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Silverado HD’s warranty.

The Silverado HD has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Ram HD doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Silverado HD’s reliability 21 points higher than the Ram HD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Silverado HD first among large heavy duty pickups in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Ram HD isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ram is ranked 18th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ram is rated below average.

The Silverado HD’s 6.6 V8 produces 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (464 vs. 429) than the Ram HD’s 6.4 V8.

The Silverado HD’s 6.6 turbo V8 diesel produces 75 more horsepower (445 vs. 370) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (910 vs. 850) than the Ram HD’s optional 6.7 turbo diesel. The Silverado HD’s 6.6 turbo V8 diesel produces 25 more horsepower (445 vs. 420) than the Ram HD 3500’s optional 6.7 turbo diesel.

As tested in Car and Driver the Silverado HD with 6.6 turbo V8 diesel is faster than the Ram HD with 6.7 turbo diesel (automatic transmissions tested):

	Silverado HD	HD
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	87 MPH

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Silverado HD uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Ram HD requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Silverado HD Gas Engine has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Ram HD doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Silverado HD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ram HD.

The Silverado HD stops much shorter than the Ram HD:

	Silverado HD	Ram HD
60 to 0 MPH	135 feet	145 feet	Motor Trend

The Chevrolet Silverado HD’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Ram HD’s solid front axle, which allows the Silverado HD’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Silverado HD’s wheelbase is longer than on the Ram HD:

	Silverado HD	Ram HD
Extended Cab Standard Bed	149.4 inches	n/a
Extended Cab Long Bed	162.5 inches	n/a
Crew Cab Standard Bed	158.9 inches	149 inches
Crew Cab Long Bed	172 inches	169 inches

The Silverado 2500HD Long Bed High Country Crew Cab 4x4 handles at .74 G’s, while the Ram HD 2500 Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Silverado HD Regular Cab has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the Ram HD Regular Cab.

The Silverado HD Crew Cab has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 3.2 inches more rear legroom than the Ram HD Crew Cab.

The Silverado HD Regular Cab has a much larger cargo box than the Ram HD Regular Cab shortbed (83.5 vs. 74.7 cubic feet).

The Silverado HD Crew Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Ram HD Crew Cab shortbed (69.5 vs. 57.5 cubic feet). The Silverado HD Crew Cab longbed has a much larger cargo box than the Ram HD Crew Cab longbed (83.5 vs. 74.7 cubic feet).

The Silverado HD’s cargo box is larger than the Ram HD’s in almost every dimension:

	Silverado HD Regular Cab	Silverado HD Crew Cab	Ram HD Mega Cab
Length (short/long)	98.3”	82.3”/98.3”	76.3”
Max Width	71.4”	71.4”	66.4”
Min Width	50.6”	51.9”	51”
Height	21”	21”	20.1”

The Chevrolet Silverado HD has a standard CornerStep, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. A rear cargo step costs extra on the Ram HD.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Silverado HD (except Work Truck/Custom) offers an optional power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Ram HD doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The Silverado HD’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ram HD’s (16410 vs. 14470 pounds).

The Silverado HD has a higher standard payload capacity than the Ram HD:

	Silverado HD	Ram HD
Extended Cab 3500HD	4373 lbs.	n/a
Crew Cab 3500HD	4316 lbs.	4280 lbs.
Regular Cab 2500HD 4x4	3794 lbs.	3580 lbs.
Extended Cab 2500HD 4x4	3576 lbs.	n/a
Extended Cab 3500HD 4x4	4391 lbs.	n/a
Crew Cab 2500HD 4x4	3589 lbs.	2840 lbs.
Crew Cab 3500HD 4x4	4365 lbs.	4250 lbs.

The Silverado HD has higher optional payload capacities than the Ram HD:

	Silverado HD	Ram HD
Extended Cab 2500HD	3792 lbs.	n/a
Extended Cab 3500HD	6985 lbs.	n/a
Crew Cab 2500HD	3800 lbs.	3660 lbs.
Regular Cab 2500HD 4x4	3965 lbs.	3690 lbs.
Extended Cab 2500HD 4x4	3792 lbs.	n/a
Extended Cab 3500HD 4x4	6703 lbs.	n/a
Crew Cab 2500HD 4x4	3862 lbs.	3170 lbs.

The Silverado HD LTZ/High Country offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Ram HD doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Silverado HD’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Ram HD’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Silverado HD’s basic optional front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ram HD’s basic optional power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its front windows open automatically.

On a hot day the Silverado HD’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote (optional feature). The driver of the Ram HD can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Silverado HD will be $4290 to $7493 less than for the Ram HD.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its February 2021 issue and they ranked the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Long Bed High Country Crew Cab 4x4 first. They ranked the Ram HD 2500 Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 third.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Silverado as the 2014 North American Truck of the Year. The Ram HD has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Silverado outsold the Ram Pickup by 22999 units during 2020.