Pickup Prize Fight: 2024 Ford F-150 vs the Competition

There’s really no understating the dominance of the Ford F-150. Year after year, this full-size pickup continues to overshadow the rest of the market, with Ford moving over 750,000 units in 2023 alone. Numbers that large can start to get a little abstract, so let’s put it another way: every 42 seconds, a customer drives off the lot of their local Ford truck dealer in a new F-Series pickup. Those kinds of stats make the F-150 not just the industry’s best-selling truck but the best-selling vehicle of any kind––an illustrious record that has become par for the course for the beloved pickup.

The F-150 is a true American success story, with sales accounting for 0.2 percent of the country’s GDP in 2020. In fact, the only other branded consumer product that tops the F-150 in terms of sales would be the iPhone, which generated $55 billion in revenue versus the pickup’s $42 billion. While these numbers might make the F-150 the runaway favorite in the segment, it’s not without its rivals. Sales of Chevrolet and Ram’s full-size offerings might trail the F-150, but they’re as close as the pickup gets to having some true competition.

While the F-150’s track record can make any comparison seem like a moot point, it’s never a bad idea to keep tabs on the rest of the pack, so read on as we take a closer look at the 2024 F-150 and see how it compares to the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2024 Ram 1500. For the purposes of this comparison, we’re going to stick to the industry’s top three best-selling models. The Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan sell a fraction of the units of the segment’s big three, and while the GMC Sierra 1500 does come in a close fourth, the fact that it’s essentially a clone of the Silverado makes its inclusion a little redundant.

Performance

The 2024 Ford F-150 is offered with a wide array of engines, giving drivers plenty of choices and making it easy to build a pickup that fits your lifestyle. The 2024 lineup starts off strong with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine sporting a twin turbocharger that gives the F-150 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost replaces the previous base engine––a 3.3-liter, turbo-less V-6––giving the 2024 pickup a sustainable upgrade in terms of both power and efficiency. It’s a welcome change that allows the F-150 to stay ahead of its Ram and Chevy rivals regarding the base engine.

Speaking of Chevy, the Silverado 1500 sports its own 2.7-liter engine, though it only has four cylinders to the F-150’s six. This setup is good enough to produce 430 lb-ft of torque, but the Silverado’s entry-level power plant still trails the F-150 in horsepower. In contrast to the two leaders, the Ram 1500 is showing its age by sticking with a turbo-less 3.6-liter V6 for the 2024 model year. At 305 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, the Ram 1500 comes in dead last in terms of pure power, but the engine does have one modern trick up its sleeve. It is paired with Ram’s 48-volt eTorque mild hybrid system to give the pickup an EPA-estimated 22 MPG combined, allowing it to match Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost.

Then comes the V8s. The perfect pairing for any full-size truck, these powerful engines turn the F-150, Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500 into the towing and hauling beasts they were designed to be, so how do the offerings stack up? We’ll start with the F-150, which packs a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough power to give the 2024 F-150 a maximum towing capacity of 13,000 lbs, which is always an important metric in the full-size segment.

The Ram 1500’s HEMI V8, which also utilizes the brand’s eTorque mild hybrid system, might be larger with a 5.7-liter displacement but only generates 395 horses and 410 lb-ft of torque. The HEMI also brings up the rear when it comes to towing capacity, maxing out at 12,750 lbs. If there’s any real competitor to the F-150’s 5.0-liter V8, it would be the Silverado. Ford’s full-size model easily beats the Chevy when it comes to the Silverado’s 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, but there’s also a larger 6.2-liter V8 offering. With 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, the 6.2-liter V8 provides plenty of power, albeit at the cost of the worst fuel economy in the segment.

However, Ford has a final trick up its sleeve. Of the three trucks, the F-150 is the only pickup to offer high-end turbocharged engines for 2024, with Ford rolling out both a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 with 400 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque and a PowerBoost full-hybrid offering that pairs the 3.5-liter twin-turbo with an electric motor to provide 430 hp and give the pickup an unrivaled 570 lb-ft of torque. These added options give the F-150 a little more versatility, not to mention an estimated fuel economy of up to 25 MPG combined with the hybrid. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost also allows the 2024 F-150 to claim its best-in-class towing and payload ratings.

Customization

In today’s pickup market, customization is king. Drivers are increasingly drawn to high-end trims, optional features, and equipment packages. Today’s pickups––especially the industry’s marquee full-size models––tend to be just as luxurious and well-equipped as any other vehicle on the market, with features like leather upholstery, moonroofs, heated steering wheels, and the like becoming almost the norm.

Ford has long been at the forefront of this evolving pickup market, introducing a wide range of trims that allow drivers to customize their F-150 to fit their unique driving, work, and family needs. The 2024 F-150 is a great example of the trend, with Ford offering trims that range from the value-packed XL all the way up to the luxurious Versaille-on-wheels that is the Platinum Plus. The Tremor gives drivers a well-rounded off-road option, while mid-range trims like the Lariat introduce an impressive list of luxury features––including dual 12-inch displays, advanced trailering technology, and a leather interior––while keeping the price within reach for the average driver.

How do Chevy and Ram stack up when it comes to trim offerings? The differences become apparent as soon as you start to drill down into the details. The Ram 1500 matches the F-150 when it comes to the number of trim offerings, but the disparity comes down to how well-appointed these models are. The 2024 Ram 1500’s trim ladder starts off with the entry-level Tradesman, which, at $38,555, is a good $2,000 more expensive than the F-150 XL. With Ram’s less powerful engine and fewer features, it is difficult to justify the price bump. The 2024 Ram 1500 also struggles to match the F-150 in terms of luxury, with the truck’s top-tier Limited trim looking rather dated. The Ram 1500 might know how to put in some hard work, but its luxury credentials are a little suspect, especially when compared to the F-150.

The Chevy Silverado has an even tougher time keeping pace with Ford’s full-size model. While its entry-level Work Truck trim does cost a little less than the F-150 XL, its four-cylinder engine just can’t compete with the F-150’s EcoBoost V6, which delivers greater performance and reliability. The Silverado 1500 does fare a little better on the upper end of its trim ladder with the range-topping High Country, which adds open-pore wood trim, leather upholstery, power retractable steps, a massive touchscreen display, and Chevy’s Super Cruise driver assistance technology. Still, like the Ram 1500, it has trouble reaching the same luxurious heights as the F-150 Platinum or Platinum Plus.

Off-Road Trims

Full-size pickups might be some of the hardest-working models on the market, but they also know how to kick back and have a little fun. After a long week on the job, commuting, or ferrying the family around, there’s nothing like throwing a truck into four-wheel drive and tackling your local off-road trails. While their larger size might make them impractical for some of the more confined trails, there’s just no beating their raw power and torque or the type of heavy-duty equipment that comes packed into each model.

Off-road trims have been on the rise as of late, with every major automaker introducing at least one option aimed at dominating the road less traveled. While this includes a number of bonafide super trucks like the Ford F-150 Raptor, Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2, and Ram 1500 TRX, those should almost be treated as their own models. Instead, we’re going to focus on the trucks’ standard off-road trims, which, in addition to being a lot more affordable than the Raptor, TRX, and ZR2, are also a little more adept when it comes to doubling as daily drivers.

Joining the lineup in 2021, the F-150 Tremor is Ford’s ready-made off-roader. The Tremor uses the same high-strength steel frame and military-grade aluminum alloy body as every other F-150 but makes some serious upgrades to the suspension with retuned springs, new front hub knuckles and upper control arms, and Tremor-exclusive front monotube shocks and twin rear tube shocks. Ford has also outfitted the Tremor with 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires paired with 18-inch wheels to offer additional ground clearance, a wider stance, and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. A Torsen limited-slip front differential and torque-on-demand transfer case turn the Tremor into a true four-wheel drive contender, allowing drivers to tackle even the most challenging terrain with confidence.

The Silverado 1500 offers two off-road trims for 2024: the Custom Trail Boss and the LT Trail Boss. Both packages are decently equipped with standard off-road fare like a two-inch factory suspension lift, Autotrac two-speed transfer case, skid plates, automatic locking rear differential, Rancho monotube shocks, and hill descent control, so how do they differ? The most noticeable change can be found under the hood, where the pricier LT Trail Boss swaps out the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine for a brawnier 6.2-liter V8. This upgrade accounts for most of the price discrepancy between the two. However, the LT Trail Boss also comes with a few additional tech features, like a 13.4-inch color touchscreen display and a 12.3-inch customizable Driver Information Center.

Finally, there’s the Ram 1500 Rebel. The truck’s sole off-road trim is a balanced offering but lacks some of the true off-road grit provided by Ford and Chevy. For example, the Ram 1500 Rebel comes standard with a one-inch suspension lift, which, despite the addition of performance-tuned shocks, might make some drivers a little wary when it comes to true off-roading. The Rebel looks every bit the off-roader with a sport-performance hood, black fender flares, tow hooks, and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires, but its lack of height is a little concerning, to say the least. Ram has rounded out the Rebel with skid plates, an electronic locking rear axle, and hill descent control. It’s a relatively affordable package but becomes less compelling when you factor in the aftermarket suspension lift that most serious off-roaders will want to add.

The Perfect Recipe for Pickup Success

Full-size trucks might represent one of the auto industry’s most competitive segments, but when you really start to drill down into the numbers, there’s really no competition at all. Whether it’s thanks to pure power or a consistently stellar lineup of can’t-miss trims and options, the Ford F-150 has become the first and last name in the world of full-size pickups. The Chevy Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500––and offerings from GMC, Toyota, and Nissan––might have made some inroads over the last couple of decades, but aside from satisfying a desire to be different, they largely struggle to offer a clear advantage over Ford’s best-selling model. With a diverse lineup of engines, rugged off-road trims, and near-endless customization options, the F-150 has defined the perfect recipe for pickup success. With new 2024 models hitting our lot, now is the perfect time to get in on the fun and test drive the storied Ford F-150 for yourself.