Compare the2024 Ford F-150VS 2024 Ram 1500

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

Safety

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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 Ram 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 Ram 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’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Ram 1500.

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. Ram charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

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 Ram 1500 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the F-150 and the Ram 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive 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 Ram 1500:

	F-150	Ram 1500
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	36%
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	218 lbs.
Neck Compression	65 lbs.	71 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/35 lbs.	395/44 lbs.

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 Ram 1500:

	F-150	Ram 1500
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	142 lbs.	196 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	432 lbs.	657 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 24 percent more Ford dealers than there are Ram dealers, which makes it 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 the 5.7 V8 hybrid in the Ram 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 Ram 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 Ram 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, Ram is rated below average.

Engine

The F-150 has more powerful engines than the Ram 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.
Ram 1500 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid	305 HP	271 lbs.-ft.
Ram 1500 5.7 V8 hybrid	395 HP	410 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford F-150 turbo V6 is faster than the Ram 1500 V8 hybrid gas:

	F-150	1500
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	4.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
F-150
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6 Hybrid	25 city/25 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	20 city/26 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
		5.0 V8	17 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6 Hybrid	23 city/23 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy
Ram 1500
	RWD	3.6 V6 Hybrid	20 city/25 hwy
		5.7 V8 Hybrid	18 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.6 V6 Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
		5.7 V8 Hybrid	18 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the F-150’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available PowerBoost). Ram only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Ram 1500 eTORQUE/Diesel.

The F-150’s optional fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ram 1500’s optional fuel tank (36 vs. 33 gallons).

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford F-150, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ram 1500.

Brakes and Stopping

The F-150 stops shorter than the Ram 1500:

	F-150	Ram 1500
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The F-150 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Ram 1500’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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

	F-150	Ram 1500
Regular Cab Standard Bed	122.8 inches	n/a
Extended Cab Standard Bed	145.4 inches	140.5 inches
Crew Cab Short Bed	145.4 inches	144.6 inches
Crew Cab Standard Bed	157.2 inches	153.5 inches

The F-150 5.5-foot XLT SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Ram 1500 short bed Rebel Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 pulls only .68 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The F-150 5.5-foot XLT SuperCrew 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Ram 1500 short bed Rebel Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.8 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the F-150 6.5-foot Regular Cab’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab w/20” Wheels’ (41.2 feet vs. 45.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the F-150 6.5-foot SuperCrew has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ram 1500 standard bed Crew Cab Pickup (8.8 vs. 8.6 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 750 pounds less than the Ram 1500.

The F-150 6.5-foot Regular Cab is 1 foot, 7.8 inches shorter than the Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab, making the F-150 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the F-150 5.5-foot Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 is quieter than the Ram 1500 short bed Limited Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 (72 vs. 74 dB).

Passenger Space

The F-150 SuperCab has 3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ram 1500 Quad Cab.

The F-150 SuperCrew has 3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup.

Cargo Capacity

The F-150 SuperCab has a larger cargo box than the Ram 1500 Quad Cab shortbed (62.3 vs. 61.5 cubic feet).

The F-150 SuperCrew longbed has a larger cargo box than the Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup longbed (62.3 vs. 61.5 cubic feet).

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 Ram 1500.

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the F-150 (except XL/XLT) offers an optional power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Ram 1500 doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Payload and Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Ram 1500 is limited to 12750 pounds. The F-150 SuperCab offers up to a 14,000 lbs. towing capacity.

The F-150 6.5-foot SuperCab 4x4 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 (1880 vs. 1830 lbs.).

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

	F-150	Ram 1500
Regular Cab 150	3325 lbs.	n/a
Extended Cab 150	3010 lbs.	2300 lbs.
Crew Cab 150	2900 lbs.	2030 lbs.
Regular Cab 150 4x4	3050 lbs.	n/a
Extended Cab 150 4x4	2765 lbs.	1940 lbs.
Crew Cab 150 4x4	2650 lbs.	1860 lbs.

Ergonomics

The F-150 Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ram 1500 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Ram 1500 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost 9-1-1 Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the F-150’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Ram 1500’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The F-150 King Ranch/Platinum has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Ram 1500.

Model Availability

The Ford F-150 comes in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Ram 1500 isn’t available as a regular cab.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its September 2023 issue and they ranked the Ford F-150 5.5-foot Tremor SuperCrew 4x4 first. They ranked the Ram 1500 short bed Rebel Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 third.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the F-150 as the 2021 North American Truck of the Year. The Ram 1500 was last chosen in 2019.

The Ford F-Series outsold the Ram Pickup by 40% during 2022.

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