Compare the2023 Ford F-150VS 2023 GMC Sierra 1500

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The F-150 has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the F-150 and Sierra 1500 offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the F-150 with Cross Traffic Alert also has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Sierra 1500’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The F-150’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the F-150 and the Sierra 1500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford F-150 is safer than the GMC Sierra 1500:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford F-150 is safer than the GMC Sierra 1500:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	31	74
Hip Force	142 lbs.	189 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	432 lbs.	591 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the F-150 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 174 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sierra 1500 does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The F-150’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Sierra 1500’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 79 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the F-150’s warranty.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the F-150 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Sierra 1500.

The F-150 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 Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 3 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The F-150 has more powerful engines than the Sierra 1500:

	Horsepower	Torque
F-150 2.7 turbo V6	325 HP	400 lbs.-ft.
F-150 5.0 DOHC V8	400 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
F-150 3.5 turbo V6	400 HP	500 lbs.-ft.
F-150 3.5 turbo V6 hybrid	430 HP	570 lbs.-ft.
Sierra 1500 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder	310 HP	430 lbs.-ft.
Sierra 1500 5.3 V8	355 HP	383 lbs.-ft.
Sierra 1500 6.2 V8	420 HP	460 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the F-150 gets better mileage than the Sierra 1500:

			MPG
F-150
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6 Hybrid	25 city/25 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	20 city/26 hwy
		3.3 DOHC V6	19 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
		5.0 V8	17 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6 Hybrid	23 city/23 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
		3.3 DOHC V6	19 city/22 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy
		5.0 V8	17 city/22 hwy
		Tremor 3.5 turbo V6	16 city/20 hwy
		Tremor 5.0 V8	15 city/20 hwy
Sierra 1500
	RWD	2.7 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		5.3 OHV V8	16 city/21 hwy
	AWD	AT4 3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/23 hwy
		2.7 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/20 hwy
		5.3 OHV V8	16 city/20 hwy
		AT Tires 2.7 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/18 hwy
		Denali 5.3 OHV V8	15 city/19 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	15 city/19 hwy
		AT4 6.2 OHV V8	14 city/17 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the F-150 PowerBoost’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The F-150 Regular/SuperCab’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500 2WD Diesel’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The F-150 SuperCrew’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 24 gallons). The F-150’s optional fuel tank has 8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500 Regular Cab 4x4’s standard fuel tank (36 vs. 28 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the F-150’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sierra 1500:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

Tires and Wheels

The F-150 Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sierra 1500’s optional 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the F-150’s wheelbase is longer than on the Sierra 1500:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
Extended Cab Long Bed	164.1 inches	n/a
Crew Cab Standard Bed	157.2 inches	157 inches

For greater off-road capability the F-150 8-foot SuperCab has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Crew Cab (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the F-150 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Ford F-150 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the GMC Sierra 1500.

The F-150 is shorter than the Sierra 1500, making the F-150 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
Regular Cab Standard Bed	209.1 inches	211 inches
Regular Cab Long Bed	227.7 inches	229.7 inches
Extended Cab Standard Bed	231.7 inches	231.9 inches
Crew Cab Short Bed	231.7 inches	231.9 inches

For excellent aerodynamics, the F-150 has standard flush composite headlights. The Sierra 1500 has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The F-150 Regular Cab has 1.6 inches more front hip room and .7 inches more front shoulder room than the Sierra 1500 Regular Cab.

The F-150 SuperCab has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra 1500 Double Cab.

The F-150 SuperCrew has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab.

Cargo Capacity

The Ford F-150 has a standard Tailgate Lift Assist, 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 1500.

The F-150 has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer stake post holes.

Payload and Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Sierra 1500 is limited to 13200 pounds. The F-150 SuperCab offers up to a 14,000 lbs. towing capacity.

The F-150 has much higher optional payload capacities than the Sierra 1500:

	F-150	Sierra 1500
Regular Cab 150	3325 lbs.	2240 lbs.
Extended Cab 150	3010 lbs.	2150 lbs.
Crew Cab 150	2900 lbs.	2000 lbs.
Regular Cab 150 4x4	3050 lbs.	2110 lbs.
Extended Cab 150 4x4	2765 lbs.	2040 lbs.
Crew Cab 150 4x4	2650 lbs.	1980 lbs.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the F-150’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The F-150’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sierra 1500’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the F-150 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The F-150 (except XL) also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

On extremely cold winter days, the F-150’s optional (except XL/XLT) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The F-150 (except XL/XLT)’s optional Park Assist can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the F-150 second among large light duty pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Sierra 1500 was rated third.

Motor Trend selected the F-150 as their 2018 Truck of the Year. The Sierra 1500 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the F-150 as the 2021 North American Truck of the Year. The Sierra 1500 has never been chosen.

The Ford F-Series outsold the GMC Sierra by almost three to one during 2022.