2017 GMC Sierra 1500
$28,405 | U.S. News Score: 8.7/10
Just behind the 2017 Ford F-150 in our rankings of full size trucks is the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The Sierra’s base price is higher than the F-150’s, but it has a nicer cabin than the Ford and its predicted reliability rating is significantly higher.
Pickups are unique in the automotive world, as they are expected to span the market from basic work trucks to luxury cars that can haul cargo. The GMC is biased toward the luxury end of the spectrum, with their Denali trim levels featuring an entire herd’s worth of leather lining the opulent interiors.
The Sierra has class-leading towing capacity (equaled by its Chevrolet Silverado twin). Properly equipped, it can tow up to 12,500 pounds. The F-150 tops out at 12,200 pounds.
2017 Ram 1500
$26,495 | U.S. News Score: 8.7/10
The 2017 Ram 1500 hasn’t been redesigned in years, but it still is one of the strongest contenders in the full-size pickup market. It has the smoothest ride of any truck in the segment, especially when equipped with the available rear air suspension.
It is the only light-duty full-size pickup currently available with a diesel engine, giving it an edge in fuel economy over its rivals. The EPA rates the two-wheel-drive Ram 1500 EcoDiesel at 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Toyota and Ford are expected to add diesels to their lineups in the near future.
The Ram 1500 holds a spot near the top of our rankings of full-size pickups. It was a finalist for our 2017 Best Full Size Truck for the Money award.
The sophisticated rear suspension that gives the Ram 1500 its supple ride is also responsible for limiting its payload capacity. It is only rated to tow 11,000 pounds, which is 1,200 less than the 2017 F-150. The Ram’s safety scores trail segment rivals by a wide margin, which is a result of the truck’s age.
2017 Nissan Titan
$29,580 | U.S. News Score: 8.4/10
The 2017 Nissan Titan is completely redesigned, ditching its blocky former look for a sleek, modern motif. It features a smooth ride, a powerful V8 engine, and a spacious cab, but it trails the 2017 F-150 in its safety scores and fuel economy.
Available on the Titan, however, is an excellent bed-mounted cargo management system. Rails on the floor and sides of the bed can accept a number of fittings to tightly secure cargo. Nissan also offers pickup bed dividers and bed extenders that tie into the system.
The 2017 Titan is rated mid-pack in our rankings of full size pickups.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
$28,085 | U.S. News Score: 8.3/10
If the 2017 Ford F-150 has an archrival, it is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. In many quarters, an argument over politics would be less divisive than the Ford versus Chevy pickup debate. In our rankings of full size pickups, the Chevy Silverado holds a spot near the bottom of the pack. There’s little difference between the top and bottom scores in our truck rankings, so the Silverado is still an excellent choice, despite its low position on the list.
The Silverado has a nicer interior than the Ford. Its maximum towing capacity is also slightly higher, at a class-leading 12,500 pounds (tied with the GMC Sierra). When equipped with the available MyLink infotainment system, the Silverado supports a 4G LTE data connection, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Silverado pickups include steps built into the rear bumper that make it easy to access the bed. The Ford offers a step integrated into the tailgate, but you have to lower the tailgate and fold it out to use it.
2017 Toyota Tundra
$31,120 | U.S. News Score: 7.3/10
The base price of the 2017 Toyota Tundra is the highest in the class, and its fuel economy estimates are the lowest. Still, some buyers will favor the Tundra over the 2017 Ford F-150 due to its excellent predicted reliability score (which is tied with the GMC Sierra’s).
There’s a reason for the Tundra’s higher price tag. Unlike most rivals, there’s no V6 engine option, and the Tundra’s price is competitive with the V8 offerings from Ford, Chevy, and Ram. The Tundra sports excellent off-road capability, especially in its TRD-Pro guise. The price for that agility, however, is felt with a ride that is not as refined as the F-150’s or other rivals’.
In our rankings of full size trucks, the Tundra holds the lowest spot. It’s still a good truck, but it is outshined by newer, more refined models that are far more efficient.
2017 Honda Ridgeline
$29,475 | U.S. News Score: 9.1/10
Full-size pickup trucks have gotten larger and larger in the last decade, and not everybody needs a vehicle the size of the Ford F-150. Even Ford recognizes the need for smaller trucks and is bringing the compact Ranger back to the American market.
A top choice among compact pickups is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline. While it doesn’t offer the multitude of configurations available for the F-150, or a massive towing capacity, it has a carlike ride and a comfortable cab with seating for five. In our rankings of compact pickups, it currently holds the top spot.
The Ridgeline is small enough to handle well in parking lots and urban streets, which can’t be said of many larger pickups. It is also small enough to fit in most residential garages, which can be a challenge for some F-150 versions. It earns the best safety scores in our compact truck rankings.
2017 GMC Canyon
$20,885 | U.S. News Score: 8.8/10
The 2017 GMC Canyon is larger than some of its rivals in the compact truck class, and its overall length is actually longer than some versions of the 2017 Ford F-150. For some, it’s the Goldilocks of pickup trucks – big enough to be useful, but not so big that it’s cumbersome.
GMC Canyon pickups can be equipped with a turbodiesel engine that earns EPA mileage estimates of up to 30 mpg on the highway. It can tow up to 7,700 pounds, which is far less than the F-150, but enough to pull a small travel trailer or a powerboat.
The Canyon is available in a luxurious Denali trim with a Bose audio system, navigation, top-notch ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. In our rankings of compact pickups, the Canyon is one of the top performers.
2018 Chevrolet Colorado
$20,000 | U.S. News Score: 8.6/10
The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado rides on the same platform as the GMC Canyon and is a viable alternative if you’re looking for a versatile pickup that’s smaller and a lot less expensive than the 2017 Ford F-150. Base price for the Colorado is more than $7,000 less than the F-150.
In our rankings of compact pickups, the Colorado holds a spot in the middle of the pack.
For 2018, Chevy is offering a model of the Colorado that is set up for extreme off-road duty. While the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 doesn’t have the capability of the Ford F-150 Raptor, it has an impressive array of durable off-road performance equipment for its $40,055 price tag. The Raptor starts at $48,860.
2017 Ford Expedition
$47,125 | U.S. News Score: 8.4/10
Not everyone who buys a pickup is buying it for its bed. If you’re looking for a spacious, comfortable vehicle with the ability to tow massive loads, you should consider the 2017 Ford Expedition as an alternative to the F-150. Properly equipped, the Expedition can tow up to 9,200 pounds.
The 2017 Expedition holds a top spot in our rankings of large SUVs. It is the winner of our 2017 Best Large SUV for the Money award and was a finalist for our 2017 Best Large SUV for Families honor.
It can seat up to eight and is available in regular and long-wheelbase models with impressive cargo capacity. Compared to its peers, the Expedition has a higher predicted reliability score, so its long-term cost of ownership should be predictable.
A fully redesigned 2018 Ford Expedition is expected in dealerships this fall.
2017 Ford Super Duty
$32,535 | U.S. News Score: Not Ranked
Sometimes a light-duty pickup just isn’t up to the task of hauling the loads you need to carry. In that case, you'll want to consider stepping up from the 2017 Ford F-150 to the 2017 Ford Super Duty lineup of heavy-duty pickups. Despite steep price tags, the trucks are enormously powerful.
When properly equipped, the Ford Super-Duty can tow up to 32,500 pounds with a gooseneck hitch or 21,000 pounds with a conventional rear-mounted trailer hitch. It features mirror-mounted cameras to help you back up long trailers with confidence and a tire pressure monitoring system that monitors the tires on both the truck and trailer.
Like the F-150, the Super Duty features an aluminum body and a high-strength steel chassis. Base prices for Super Duty models range from $32,535 to $77,325.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
Before you decide on one truck or another, explore our rankings of full size pickups and compact pickups to learn where each model excels or disappoints. You can compare models head-to-head with our comparison tool and use our affordability calculator to see how much truck you can buy.
Manufacturers frequently offer excellent incentives on trucks to keep them moving off the lots. Take a look at our new car financing deals page and lease incentives page to see the best offers available this month.
Our Best Price Program can save you thousands off the sticker price. We work with local dealers who save customers an average of $3,279 when they buy through the program.
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Other Trucks to Look at When You’re Considering an F-150
There's no doubt about it: The 2017 Ford F-150 is a good truck. The F-150 is the top-selling vehicle in the United States year after year, and it is the winner of our 2017 Best Full Size Truck for the Money award. There is also a refreshed model of the F-150 arriving soon. The 2018 Ford F-150 has a new look, plus updated safety and infotainment technology.
In our rankings of full size trucks, the 2017 F-150 is at the top of the list. F-150 prices start at a reasonable $27,110.
It’s not the only truck available, however, and it has several strong rivals that deserve a look before you spend your money. The truck market is relentlessly competitive, and the top models in our rankings differ by tenths of a point.
The competition doesn’t just come from the full-size truck segment. There are options in the compact truck segment that can meet the needs of many F-150 buyers. If you have outgrown the capabilities of the F-150, there are heavy-duty trucks that you should consider.
On the following slides, you can learn about some alternatives to the Ford F-150.