Compare the2024 Ford F-150VS 2024 GMC Sierra 1500

The Ford F-150 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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.

The F-150 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Sierra 1500’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the F-150 has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. GMC charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Sierra 1500.

The F-150’s 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford F-150 SuperCrew is safer than the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab:

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 163 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sierra 1500 does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

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.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than GMC.

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

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

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).

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

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

For greater off-road capability the F-150 6.5-foot SuperCrew has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Crew Cab (8.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the F-150 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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:

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.

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.

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.

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Sierra 1500 is limited to 13300 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:

The F-150’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sierra 1500’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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/STX) also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The F-150 has standard power remote mirrors. The Sierra 1500 only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The F-150’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. GMC charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sierra 1500.

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.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford F-150 will be $72 to $192 less than for the GMC Sierra 1500.

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.