At the end of the day, trucks are measured by how well they get the job done. Otherwise, anything with plenty of cargo space is enough. No, a truck’s got to haul, pull, and do it all with a little giddyup in its step. In this comparison guide, we’ll see which does these best: the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or the Dodge Ram 1500.
Acceleration: Chevy Silverado 1500
The Silverado 1500 has a healthy range of punchy engine options. It comes with one of three engines: the 285-horsepower 4.3-liter V-6, the 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V-8, or the 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8. The best of these can go from 0 to 60 in just five and half seconds. That’s giddyup in spades.
The Dodge Ram 1500 starts with a standard 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. It can be swapped out for a 240-horsepower 3-liter turbodiesel V-6 or a 395-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. These are good options but in terms of raw horsepower and acceleration in action, the Chevy Silverado 1500 passes the finish line first.
Towing and Hauling: Chevy Silverado 1500
Any pickup truck worth its salt can tow and haul plenty. It’s the hallmark of the class, the reason the class was invented. The Silverado can carry up to 2,250 pounds and tow up to 12,500 pounds when properly configured. Those are hefty numbers.
On the other hand, the Ram 1500 claims 1,880 hauling capacity and 10,640 pounds in towing capacity. Respectable numbers, but simple math prove which pickup wins this category.
Reliability and Warranty: Chevy Silverado 1500
It doesn’t matter how good a truck is if it doesn’t last. People become attached to a brand when it proves time and time again it can take a beating and keep trucking. Then ten or twenty years down the road, they’ll repeat buy and spread the word.
There’s no reliability score from JD Power and Associates on the 2018 models yet, but the 2017 Silverado earned a 3.5 score while the 2017 Dodge Ram only earned an average 3. Chevrolet also provides a better warranty, in case the unthinkable does happen. It’s five years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance plus two years or 24,000 miles of complimentary service. By comparison, Dodge offers just three years or 36,000 miles.
The Silverado does it all and lives on to tell the tales. Pick up this pickup and live regret-free and rugged.
