Price
Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
This one goes to Ford by a substantial margin, with a base F-150 starting at several thousand dollars less than a comparable Ram 1500. The base price for a Ford F-150 XL is just $28,745, compared to $32,145 for a Ram 1500 Tradesman.
Top trims of either pickup can easily top $70,000, each boasting a slew of features and amenities typically found in a luxury car. The starting price for a Ram 1500 in Limited trim is substantially less than an F-150 Limited, at $53,615 for the Ram, compared to $67,485 for the Ford. Note that this pricing difference has a lot to do with what’s standard and what is not on each truck, and how many trim upgrades and options are needed for a fully decked-out model.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
Both trucks get good scores for predicted reliability, but the Ford F-150 gets the nod with an excellent score of 4.5 out of five. The Ram receives a rating of four out of five, indicating very good predicted reliability.
This means both models are reliable choices, and both are backed with a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Ram extends the powertrain warranty to five-years or 100,000-miles for models with a diesel engine.
Safety
Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 both perform well in crash tests and in our full-size truck safety scores, but the F-150 edges out the Ram with more standard safety features.
F-150 SuperCrew models earned an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Regular Cab and SuperCab F-150 models both received four-star overall ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave Regular Cab and SuperCab models scores of Good across the entirety of their crashworthiness tests.
Standard F-150 safety features include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and curve control. Optional safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, driver drowsiness monitoring, and active park assist.
Ram 1500 Crew Cab models earned a five out of five star overall rating from the NHTSA, while Quad Cab models received a four-star overall rating. The IIHS named the Crew Cab model a Top Safety Pick+, the organization’s highest honor.
The Ram 1500 is available with an impressive list of safety features, but you have to pay extra to get them. Options include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and active park assist.
Seat Comfort
Winner: Tie
You’ll find very basic accommodations in base versions of either truck. The Ford F-150 XL is only available with manually-adjusted cloth seats. With the Ram 1500, you get a choice of cloth or vinyl.
Most buyers don’t go with base models for personal use, instead opting for mid-level trims and above. With these trims, both trucks are available with big and supportive leather seats and multiple power adjustments. Higher trims include luxury car-like comfort and features, with multiple power adjustments and heated and ventilated seats front and rear.
With both trucks packed with comparable levels of seat comfort and features, this category is a tie.
Cargo Space
Winner: Tie
If you’re primarily concerned with bed length, the Ford F-150 is the truck for you. The F-150 offers three different sizes, including an 8-foot bed that's not available with the Ram.
On the other hand, the Ram 1500 evens the score with storage options not available from Ford, including lockable storage compartments on either side of the bed, and two locking bins beneath the rear seat floor. An available split multifunction tailgate can either be lowered like a traditional tailgate, or each side can be opened to the side like a door.
Since these pickups each outshine each other in different ways when it comes to carrying cargo, we're calling this a tie.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
There’s more to an upscale interior than leather seats and amenities, and inside the cab is where the Ram 1500 sets itself apart from the completion.
Soft-touch materials and leather surfaces abound, and real wood is featured in upper trims. The cabin is quiet and comfortable, and tastefully decorated with contrasting colors and clever storage compartments.
Upper trims of the F-150 include leather seats and plenty of luxury, but the overall look and feel isn’t up to the standard set by the Ram 1500 throughout the lineup.
Interior Features
Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
Here, the Ram 1500 gets the nod over the Ford F-150. The Ram comes standard with the intuitive UConnect infotainment system and a 5-inch touch screen, even in base models, along with Bluetooth and push-button start. Upgrades include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, larger 8.4-inch and 12-inch touch screens, navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
Basic Ford models are just that, coming with only an AM/FM radio and basic climate controls. Like the Ram, an extensive option list takes it from there, and includes dual-zone automatic climate control, Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a USB port, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
With more standard features and a standard infotainment system, Ram leads the way in this category.
Powertrain
Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
With either the Ford or Ram, you get a wide range of powertrain options. These include six- and eight-cylinder gasoline engines and diesel power plants with plenty of grunt for towing.
The F-150 gets the nod here, with its combination of more engine choices and impressive turbocharged options. These include a muscular 3.5-liter V6 that’s good for 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, which is available for Raptor and Limited trim models.
The base engine in the F-150 is a 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 putting out 265 pound-feet of torque. Other optional engines from Ford include a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, a 5.0-liter V8 with 395 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The Ford diesel is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque.
Base Ram models get a 305 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 269 pound-feet of torque, while options include a 5.7-liter V8 with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. One of the optional V8s is available with a mild-hybrid system that increases torque and fuel economy. A new-for-2020 3.0-liter V6 diesel is available as well, with 260 horsepower and a whopping 480 pound-feet of torque.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
Both the Ford and the Ram get more than respectable fuel economy for their size, but the Ram 1500 squeezes just a bit more out of each gallon of fuel from a range of engines. As you’d expect, four-wheel-drive versions of these models typically result in diminished fuel economy figures. The estimates below apply to the most fuel-efficient versions of each engine configuration.
With the base V6, the Ram 1500 gets 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Models with the conventional V8 are rated at 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, while those with the mild-hybrid eTorque-assisted V8 earn 17/23 mpg city/highway. The slight bump in fuel economy from eTorque may not seem like much, but it’s enough to save drivers an average of $300 a year compared to the regular V8. Equipped with the diesel, the Ram is EPA-estimated at up to 22 mpg in the city and an impressive 32 mpg on the highway.
F-150 drivers can expect 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway from the base V6 paired with rear-wheel drive, rising to 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for models with the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6. Models with the larger EcoBoost engine or the V8 are rated at 17/23 mpg city/highway. Variants with the 450-horsepower EcoBoost engine come in at 17/22 mpg city/highway. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel is rated at 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway when paired with rear-wheel drive.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
With last year’s redesign, the Ram 1500 raised the bar for the ride quality expected from a full-size pickup truck. Quiet and composed, the ride is incredibly smooth for such a large and capable vehicle, whether cruising on the highway or tackling two lane roads. An optional air suspension makes the ride even more comfortable.
The Ford F-150 doesn’t ride badly – it just isn’t as smooth and controlled as the Ram. Stable and comfortable even over rough surfaces, the F-150 is still poised and easy to handle on the highway or winding roads.
Towing
Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
When properly equipped, the 2020 Ford F-150 is capable of towing up to 13,200 pounds. Only the Chevrolet Silverado has more capability in the full-size pickup class, with a towing capacity of 13,400 pounds. The F-150 is available with an assortment of trailer-friendly features, including Trailer Backup Assist, Dynamic Hitch Assist, and Trailer Sway Control.
Depending on configuration, a 2020 Ram 1500 is rated to tow as much as 12,750 pounds. Automatic Trailer Detection enhances blind-spot monitoring to include a trailer, and the ParkView Rear Back Up Camera can assist with trailer hookup.
The Winner Is …
2020 Ford F-150
With huge sales and big profits for automakers, the full-size pickup truck category is a fiercely competitive and popular segment. The good news for buyers is that this competition keeps manufacturers on their toes, as they continually try to one-up each other with each new redesign.
The Ram 1500 made great strides with a complete redesign last year, but the Ford F-150 edges it out thanks to a combination of virtues and value. The F-150 bests the Ram with greater towing capacity, a better safety score, a wider range of powertrains, a higher predicted reliability rating, and a lower base price.
While the Ford F-150 wins this contest overall, it’s important to remember that the Ram has the edge in some key categories. The Ram is a very good choice, particularly for buyers looking for remarkably smooth ride quality for a pickup truck and a luxurious and well-made interior with easy-to-use infotainment features.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you’d like to take a deeper dive into the details of the Ford F-150 or Ram 1500, check out our complete full-size pickup truck ranking. You’ll also find complete details on other trucks in the category.
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Our new car rankings are based on two types of information: published reviews from respected automotive critics and data from third-party sources. U.S. News’ coverage and data is continuously being updated as new models are introduced and updated data becomes available.
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2020 Ram 1500 vs. 2020 Ford F-150: Head to Head
- Price Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
- Reliability Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
- Safety Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
- Seat Comfort Winner: Tie
- Cargo Space Winner: Tie
- Interior Quality Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
- Interior Features Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
- Powertrain Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
- Fuel Economy Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
- Ride & Handling Winner: 2020 Ram 1500
- Towing Winner: 2020 Ford F-150
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Which Full-Size American Truck Is Right for You?
Pickup trucks remain a perennial favorite with American auto shoppers. Modern pickups offer up versatility, capability, passenger room, and a wide availability of the same convenience and luxury features found in cars and SUVs.
Not just for contractors or commercial use anymore, the virtues listed above have made pickups a common sight in American driveways as family haulers and grocery getters. In fact, both the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 rank among the top-selling vehicles in the United States.
The Ram 1500 was completely redesigned for 2019, and the results are more than impressive. Ram has emerged as the winner of our 2020 Best Truck Brand award – an accolade previously held by Ford. The Ram wins out thanks to a winning blend of capability and comfort, making it the best all-around choice by a substantial margin.
That’s not to say the F-150 is any kind of slouch. The popular full size pickup excels with excellent towing capability, a strong safety score, and numerous other virtues.
Our rankings are constantly changing as model updates come to market, and as new data becomes available. Make sure to check our full size pickup truck rankings for the latest available review information.
Read on to see which of these two pickups is the best choice for you, based on specific criteria such as price, reliability, capability, and more.