Compare the2023 Ram 1500 ClassicVS 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Silverado 1500 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, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and front and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Silverado 1500’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 Ram 1500 Classic’s reliability 24 points higher than the Silverado 1500.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ram vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ram 4 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

On the EPA test cycle the Ram 1500 Classic gets better mileage than the Silverado 1500:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ram 1500 Classic uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Silverado 1500 with the 6.2 V8 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Diesel Short/Standard Bed’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ram 1500 Classic’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Double/Crew Cab’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 24 gallons). The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Regular Cab Long Bed’s standard fuel tank (32 vs. 28.3 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ram 1500 Classic higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (3 to 6). This means the Ram 1500 Classic produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Silverado 1500 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Ram 1500 Classic’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Silverado 1500:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 Classic has larger standard tires than the Silverado 1500 (265/70R17 vs. 255/70R17).

The Ram 1500 Classic has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ram 1500 Classic flat and controlled during cornering. The Silverado 1500’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 Classic uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Silverado 1500, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Ram 1500 Classic has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500 Classic’s turning circle is tighter than the Silverado 1500’s:

The Ram 1500 Classic is shorter than the Silverado 1500, making the Ram 1500 Classic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The front grille of the Ram 1500 Classic uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab has 2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Silverado 1500 Double Cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab has 2 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The Ram 1500 Classic has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer stake post holes.

The Ram 1500 Classic offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer an under hood light.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ram 1500 Classic, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 3 of the last 4 years. The Silverado 1500 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Silverado 1500 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The Silverado 1500 has never been chosen.

The 1500 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 4 of the last 14 years. The Silverado 1500 has never been an “All Star.”