Compare the2023 Ram 1500 ClassicVS 2022 GMC Sierra Limited

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ram 1500 Classic are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Sierra Limited doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Sierra Limited have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the GMC Sierra Limited:

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

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 GMC Sierra Limited:

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 Sierra Limited’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 43 percent more Ram dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 1500 Classic’s warranty.

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 32 points higher than the Sierra Limited.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ram vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ram 5 places higher in reliability than GMC.

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

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 Sierra Limited 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 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra Limited Double/Crew Cab’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 24 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra Limited Regular Cab’s standard fuel tank (32 vs. 28 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 GMC Sierra Limited (3 to 6). This means the Ram 1500 Classic produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sierra Limited every 15,000 miles.

The Ram 1500 Classic stops shorter than the Sierra Limited:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 Classic has larger standard tires than the Sierra Limited (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 Sierra Limited’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 Sierra Limited, 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 Sierra Limited 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 Sierra Limited doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Sierra 1500 Limited Short Bed AT4 Crew Cab pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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

The Ram 1500 Classic is shorter than the Sierra Limited, 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 Sierra Limited 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 Sierra Limited 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 Sierra Limited 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 GMC Sierra Limited.

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and Sierra Limited have bed indentations that accommodate 2x4’s for two-tiered loading, but the Ram 1500 Classic also has indentations to separate the cargo box into three different sections length-wise.

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

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ram 1500 Classic will be $4162 to $7927 less than for the GMC Sierra Limited.

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 Sierra Limited 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 Sierra Limited 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 Sierra Limited has never been chosen.

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

The Ram Pickup outsold the GMC Sierra by almost two to one during 2022.