Compare the2023 GMC Sierra HDVS 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra HD’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Ram HD’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The Sierra 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 Sierra HD’s reliability 21 points higher than the Ram HD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sierra HD third 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 GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ram is rated below 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 GMC vehicles are more reliable than Ram With 74 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Ram.

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

The Sierra 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 Sierra 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.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Sierra 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 Sierra 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 GMC Sierra HD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ram HD.

The Sierra HD stops much shorter than the Ram HD:

The GMC Sierra HD’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Ram HD’s solid front axle, which allows the Sierra 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 Sierra HD’s wheelbase is longer than on the Ram HD:

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

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

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

The GMC Sierra 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.

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

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

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

The Sierra HD AT4/Denali 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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.

The Sierra HD’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Ram HD’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Sierra HD will be $3897 to $5943 less than for the Ram HD.