2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2024 Ram 1500

• 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500

  

  Starting at

  $36,800^[a]

  2024 Ram 1500

  

  Starting at

  $38,570

  13,300	Max. Towing (lbs)	12,750
  68-98	Bed Length (in)	66-76
  23/29	Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG)	20/25

  Many top truck manufacturers incorporate the numbers 1500, 2500, and 3500 (and occasionally 4500 and higher) into the names of their pickup trucks. These are a carryover from long ago when 1500 was shorthand for a half-ton capacity, 2500 stood for a three-quarter-ton capacity, and 3500 stood for a one-ton capacity. Simply put, a truck with "1500" in its name is a light-duty truck, and one with "2500" and up is a heavy-duty model—and when you get into the 3500 and up territory, you’re getting into commercial-grade trucks. While heavy-duty trucks are powerful and highly capable, we see most of our customers interested in the 1500 light-duty options. That’s because they’re just so versatile, affording drivers great strength and utility—like large beds and towing might—while still offering easy handling and good fuel efficiency.

  When it comes to shopping for a light-duty truck, many people weigh heavily on the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2024 Ram 1500. Both Chevrolet and Ram have made names for themselves among hard workers everywhere. It’s common to see a handful of Chevy and Ram trucks parked on the dusty lots of construction sites or stacked side-by-side along the fence at a farm. These are names you can trust; they have been producing and innovating pickups for decades. And since truck drivers demand so much more from their vehicles than do commuters in sedans or subcompact SUVs, it’s imperative that we help them determine which model best aligns with what they’re looking for—so here’s a close comparison of the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2024 Ram 1500...

• Capability

  

  Let’s start with the question on every truck driver’s mind: what exactly is this model capable of? If your days are filled with loading up beds and hitching trailers, you need to know exactly how much your pickup can handle. This is particularly true for those whose business relies on the ability to tow and haul a lot on a regular basis.

  Looking first at the maximum towing capacity, the Silverado can tow up to 13,300 lbs while the Ram 1500 can tow up to 12,750 lbs. So, drivers will get a little over 500 lbs more towing capabilities with the Silverado 1500. When you have those last few crates of materials to load up, the extra 500 lbs might make a major difference. And with a starting MSRP that’s slightly lower than that of the Ram 1500, the Silverado 1500 actually offers more towing abilities at a lower cost.

  Both of these vehicles have tailgates that are better than your standard swing-down one. However, the Silverado 1500 has most pickup trucks beat with its Multi-Flex tailgate. While the Ram’s available multi-functional tailgate boasts a 60/40 split swing-away door that can also swing open 88 degrees or down 180 degrees, the Silverado’s Multi-Flex tailgate offers six total positions.

  The Multi-Flex tailgate can be set to a full-width step, a work surface, a second-tier load stop, and a first-tier load stop. It can also swing down completely to allow easy access to the bed and can operate as a regular tailgate. Plus, you can get the available power up/down tailgate for easy hands-free operation of this feature that can prolong its lifespan.

  We also want to point out the off-road trims of both of these trucks, as each has a commendable outfit tailored to the trail. The Silverado 1500 has its ZR2, with its off-road cut front bumper, available 6.2L V8 engine, and ten-speed automatic transmission with electronic transmission range selector. You’ll also find large underbody aluminum plates on this trim and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.

  The Ram’s off-road trim is the TRX. It also gets a 6.2L V8 engine but with an eight-speed rather than ten-speed transmission. It enjoys 35-inch all-terrain tires and 11.8 inches of ground clearance. Off-road enthusiasts should be thoroughly impressed with the off-road versions of both these trucks; choosing between them largely depends on whether you prioritize fortitude or speed.

• Interior

  

  Let’s take a look inside these two pickups. We know how important it is for busy professionals to have a truck that’s not only comfortable but also has features that help them stay on top of tasks, get them from one job to another, and even keep them entertained on the road.

  The first thing drivers will notice right away when getting behind the wheel of these models is that the Silverado 1500 has a much larger available infotainment screen: it’s 13.4 inches compared to the 12.0-inch one of the Ram 1500. If you typically visit new job sites—regularly traveling to places you’ve never been before—you’ll like seeing your turn-by-turn directions large and clear on the Silverado 1500’s massive touchscreen.

  Each vehicle has wireless smartphone compatibility. This means you can use your favorite smartphone apps in your vehicle and interact with them on the touchscreen. Unless you want to charge your phone, you can also leave the cords at home thanks to the wireless nature of these systems, which can keep your dash area clean and tidy.

  We like to mention to drivers that only the Silverado 1500 has an available Google Built-In assistant suite. Google is the most used search engine, meaning most drivers are familiar with its associated products like Google Maps and Google Play. Learning a new system can be a nuisance, so getting into your vehicle and using the products you are using at home without skipping a beat can be convenient.

  Not to shirk on comfort and style, both models offer a dedicated luxury trim. The Chevy Silverado 1500 has its High Country, which gets real wood accents and paneling, as well as real leather seating surfaces and front bucket seats with power adjustability and lumbar support. This trim also has heated and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel. The Ram 1500’s luxury trim—the Longhorn Limited—is very similar to the High Country; it, too, has leather seating surfaces, front bucket seats, power-adjustable seats, wood accents, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

• Technology

  

  Both the Silverado 1500 and the Ram 1500 boast excellent driver assistance features. However, it’s worth noting that some of the features that come standard across all Silverado trims are merely available on the Ram 1500.

  The Silverado 1500 has a standard forward collision alert with emergency braking and front pedestrian braking to prevent—or minimize the severity of—collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. It also gets standard lane keep assist with lane departure warning and a following distance indicator to help you keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Finally, the Silverado 1500 has standard IntelliBeam high beams that automatically activate in low-light settings.

  The Ram 1500 has a rather limited list of standard features. Most importantly, drivers should know that forward collision warning with active braking does not come standard, but it is available. Lane Keep Assist—whose peer is standard on the Silverado 1500—is also strictly an available upgrade on the Ram 1500.

  Both vehicles have excellent surround-vision camera systems. In fact, the Silverado 1500 offers up to 14 camera views. Each model also offers similar additional available features, including rear pedestrian alert, parking assist, and trailer side blind zone alerts. We also love the trailering app for the Silverado 1500, which gives drivers a tire pressure monitoring system for the trailer, as well as a helpful pre-departure checklist; this helps ensure your trailer is ready to go and safely travel.

  One major distinction between the two models, however, is that the Silverado 1500 has available Chevy’s Super Cruise advanced driving assistance technology, which allows for hands-free driving on hundreds of thousands of compatible roads in the US and Canada. It’s one of the best systems of its kind on the market. The Ram 1500 has adaptive cruise control but no hands-free system for now. Drivers who spend extended time on major roadways might appreciate the chance to take their hands off the wheel for a while with Super Cruise.

Find Your Silverado at McCluskey Chevrolet