2023 Ford F-150 vs Ram 1500 Comparison

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  • 2023 Ford F-150

    A white 2023 Ford F-150 Platinum is angled left.

    Starting at

    $33,835[a]

    2023 Ram 1500

    A white 2023 Ram 1500 Laramie is angled right.

    Starting at

    Est. $36,820

    290-580Horsepower (hp)260-395
    265-775Torque (lb-ft)273-480
    14,000Max Towing (lbs)12,750

    Two of the most popular half-ton, light-duty pickup trucks on the market are the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500. These two full-size pickup trucks have been battling for supremacy on the market thanks to the ever-increasing competitive nature of the market segment. Each year, these popular brands bring new features and updates to the table. So, where does that leave the competition between the 2023 Ford F-150 vs 2023 Ram 1500? In a very intense showdown for supremacy.

    The 2023 Ram 1500 has plenty of new content when it comes to updated trim features and options. Part of the 2023 model year line-up includes the new Ram 1500 Limited Elite Edition, and the (RAM)RED Edition makes a return. New exterior changes have been made to some of the trims, while the Uconnect 5 system now includes an Emergency Vehicle Alert System. The Ram 1500 offers seven different trims, which include the Tradesman, the Tradesman HFE, the Big Horn, the Laramie, the Rebel, the Limited Longhorn, and the Limited.

    The 2023 Ford F-150 has received a number of new updates in the form of new packages and features. The new Rattler off-road package is an exciting option available for the XL trim, slotting in between the basic FX4 package and the more capable Tremor trim. Speaking of the Tremor trim, the 5.0L V8 engine is now the standard powertrain, although the 3.5L EcoBoost remains available as an option. When it comes to trim availability, there are seven trims for the 2023 F-150: the XL, the XLT, the Lariat, the King Ranch, the Tremor, the Platinum, and the Limited.

  • Performance

    A black 2023 Ford F-150 is shown parked on grass near a fishing pond.

    The Engines of the Ram 1500

    The 2023 F-150 and 2023 Ram 1500 are both powered by multiple powertrain options. The standard trims for the Ram 1500 have three different powertrains available for them, starting with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque, which generates 305 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. For more power, there's a 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque that produces 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. Finally, there's the 3.0L Ecodiesel V6, which provides 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. All of the Ram 1500's power plants are attached to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

    The Engines of the Ford F-150

    The 2023 F-150 has five different powertrains, starting with a 3.3L V6 that puts out 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. There's also the turbocharged 2.7L EcoBoost V6 that produces 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 5.0L Coyote V8 provides 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 generates 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Finally, there's the hybrid powertrain––a 3.5L turbocharged PowerBoost V6 Hybrid, which has an output of 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. All of the F-150's power plants are married to a ten-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift technology that allows drivers to manually shift using steering wheel paddle shifters.

    Clearly, there's a gap in the performance capabilities of the base trims of the F-150 and Ram 1500. In the debate between the 2023 Ford F-150 vs 2023 Ram 1500, you can see that the upper-end powertrain options of the F-150 offer more horsepower and torque. The Coyote V8 provides more power for the F-150 than the HEMI does for the Ram 1500, and the hybrid PowerBoost not only delivers more horsepower but also manages nearly 20% more torque than the Ram 1500's EcoDiesel. When it comes to overall power and performance for the standard trims, the F-150 simply dominates.

  • Capability

    A man is shown getting gear from the bed of a blue 2023 Ford F-150 STX at a camping site.

    Towing vs Towing

    Half-ton pickup trucks are some of the most popular on the road for recreational use, as well as enthusiast towing and trailering. Many people even use light-duty pickups for commercial work, given how reliable and durable they are for handling heavy payloads and large trailers. All that being said, drivers expect newer full-size trucks to handle well over 10,000 lbs worth of towing, and in that regard, neither the 2023 F-150 nor the 2023 Ram 1500 disappoint. However, the F-150 clearly exceeds the Ram in its total capacity when it comes to both towing and payload.

    The 2023 F-150 has a max towing capacity of 14,000 lbs. Depending on the powertrain and configuration will determine how much you can tow. However, the F-150 clearly leads the segment in max towing capacity thanks to its impeccable design and high-quality engineering. The F-150 also has a payload capacity of up to 3,325 lbs, making it quite the utility vehicle when it comes to both hauling and trailering.

    The Ram 1500 is no slouch but not quite on par with its F-150 rival. The Ram 1500 has a substantially lower max tow rating of 12,750 lbs. The Ram 1500 also has a max payload capacity of only 2,300 lbs. This gives it acceptable figures to work with when it comes to handling towing and hauling. However, it just doesn't quite measure up to the F-150's max towing and payload ratings. Of course, few trucks do measure up to the F-150. Basically, if you want the truck with the best tow rating, the F-150 comes out on top.

    Bed Storage

    The same applies to the F-150's bed capacity. The F-150 has three different bed sizes compared to only two different bed sizes available for the Ram 1500. With the Ram 1500, you only have the option between a short and standard bed, the former offering 53.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume, while the latter offers up to 61.5 cu.ft. of space. The F-150, meanwhile, has a short, standard, and long bed. The short bed nets you 52.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume, while the standard bed offers you 62.3 cu.ft. of cargo volume, and the long bed affords you up to 77.4 cu.ft. of cargo volume, an option that's sadly not even available for the Ram 1500.

  • Technology

    The grey and black interior of a 2023 Ford F-150 Limited is shown during a 2023 Ford F-150 vs 2023 Ram 1500 comparison.

    Packed With Safety Features

    Another area where the F-150 takes a clear lead in terms of features is technology. There are some similarities shared between the 2023 Ford F-150 and the 2023 Ram 1500 when it comes to tech, such as available blind spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, front pedestrian detection with emergency braking, parking assist, and digital safety warnings. However, the F-150 takes a pretty huge leap ahead with the inclusion of Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0, which offers far more advanced driver-assist tech. This includes intelligent adaptive cruise control with lane centering and speed sign recognition, as well as integrated evasive steering assistance and intersection navigation assistance, features not available for the Ram 1500.

    The Infotainment Systems

    Both trucks offer a robust infotainment suite, with HD touchscreens that measure up to 12 inches diagonally. The SYNC 4 system for the F-150 and the Uconnect system for the Ram 1500 both come with Bluetooth wireless connectivity, pass-through voice support, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. However, where they separate in the infotainment arena is the inclusion of over-the-air updates for Ford's new SYNC 4 system. This means that your truck will automatically receive updates, fixing bugs and rolling out new features over time. If Ram releases a new update for the Ram 1500, you will have to go to the dealer to have it installed.

    Other Advanced Tech

    The F-150 further separates itself from the Ram 1500 with the inclusion of the FordPass app, allowing drivers to sync data from their trucks to their smartphones. You can get important vehicle details from the app, along with the ability to remote start, remote lock or unlock the doors, track the vehicle's location, and manage the Pro Power Onboard functionality. You also have access to roadside assistance and emergency services through FordPass. Select trims also have the ability to make use of the semi-autonomous driving mode known as BlueCruise, which allows the F-150 to navigate over 130,000 miles worth of roads across North America with hands-free driving. These tech advancements give the F-150 a very clear and decisive advantage over the Ram 1500.

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