2020 Ford F-150 vs 2020 Ram 1500 – Albany, NY

• 2020 Ford F-150

  

  Starting at

  $28,495

  2020 Ram 1500

  

  Starting at

  $31,895

  290 - 450 HP	Horsepower	260 - 395 HP
  265 - 510 LB-FT	Torque	269 - 480 LB-FT
  13,200 LBS	Max Towing Capacity	12,750 LBS

  Full-size light-duty pickups are some of the best trucks on the road, offering more power and better overall performance than the midsize market, without the extreme towing capabilities many drivers don’t need. For decades, the Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck in this segment, and the Ford F-Series has had the top-selling vehicles in America overall since the Reagan administration. Still, it never hurts to consider your options and compare different vehicles, so let’s start with the 2020 Ford F-150 vs 2020 Ram 1500.

  First off, both vehicles are in the same segment: full-size trucks designed for light duty and a wide range of drivers. If you want a truck that can get the job done but don’t need the high-powered towing capabilities of HD models, either vehicle works great. That said, no matter how you compare the two trucks, the 2020 Ford F-150 always comes out ahead.

  The reasons Ford wins this battle are many: The F-150 offers greater maximum horsepower, greater maximum torque, and ultimately has higher potential for maximum towing and payload capacity. With all that power, you might think the Ford F-150 has to sacrifice technology or safety options – and you would be wrong. The interior of the F-150 features impressive standard and available features that surround you with comfort and state-of-the-art technology while keeping you safe on the road. Visit us at DePaula Ford to see for yourself why the 2020 Ford F-150 is number one in its class.

• Performance

  

  2020 Ford F-150 Engines

  The 2020 Ford F-150 has six different engines available, including a diesel option and two variations of a single engine. The 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine can provide up to 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque for a pretty good starting engine. If that’s not enough power, you can upgrade to a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine, which offers up to 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque for even better performance.

  Also available is the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine, which offers up to 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This is a great choice if you need solid performance and the highest payload possible. The F-150 also has an available 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel, which can deliver up to 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque with terrific fuel economy.

  High Output Engine on the F-150

  Finally, there are two different available versions of a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. The standard version provides up to 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, for terrific overall performance. For even more power, the available High-Output version offers up to 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque for truly outstanding performance.

  Now, let’s take a look at what Ram has to offer.

  Engine Options on the Ram 1500

  The 2020 Ram 1500 starts off with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that provides up to 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. While this is comparable to the starting engine in the F-150, Ram is left in the dust by the first available upgrade on the Ford pickup. From there, the Ram 1500 offers a HEMI engine, with two different versions available.

  The standard version is a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine that offers up to 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The second available version of the HEMI engine has the same basic power but includes “eTorque”; a hybrid system with a battery-powered motor that boosts effective torque for greater towing capacity. Also available is a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine, which offers up to 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. While this is slightly higher than the F-150’s diesel offering, the Ram 1500 falls short of the maximum horsepower and torque available with Ford’s High-Output engine.

• Towing and Payload Capacity

  

  Towing and Payload

  When buying any new truck, you should always check out its maximum towing and payload capacities to make sure it can handle the work you need it to do. As a reminder, towing capacity refers to how much weight a vehicle can pull behind itself in a trailer or camper, while payload is how much weight you can load onto the vehicle itself, such as sheets of lumber in the bed. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect from these two trucks.

  Towing and Payload Capacity of the F-150

  The 2020 Ford F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of up to 13,200 lbs, when properly configured and equipped. Obviously, different configurations and engine options can impact this value, so be sure to check the towing capacity of any specific truck you’re interested in. The F-150 has a maximum payload of up to 3,270 lbs when properly configured, which means you can pile well over a ton into the back.

  Towing and Payload Capacity of the Ram 1500

  In comparison, the 2020 Ram 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 12,750 lbs. While that’s certainly less than the Ford F-150 can handle, it’s fairly close -- although a difference of nearly 500 lbs is nothing to sneeze at. But when it comes to payload, there’s simply no comparison. The maximum payload of the Ram 1500, even when properly configured, is 2,300 lbs; nearly 1,000 lbs less than the F-150. So, if the payload is a priority for you, choosing the F-150 over the Ram 1500 is a no-brainer.

• Safety

  

  Safety Features

  Any pickup truck you choose should keep you safe on the road, which means standard and available active safety features are critical. Because full-size trucks are often used for towing, you should look for features that make towing easier and safer.

  Safety Features on the F-150

  The 2020 Ford F-150 has an impressive suite of safety features, including multiple airbags and hill descent control. Also available is a blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, auto high-beam headlamps that sense oncoming traffic, and a lane-keeping system. Additional safety features include pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and a 360-degree camera that offers a bird’s eye view of your surroundings. Finally, the 2020 F-150 includes available Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which allows you to adjust the direction of your trailer with the turn of a knob for ease and precision while backing up.

  Safety Features on the Ram 1500

  The safety features on the 2020 Ram 1500 are good but fall short of what the Ford F150 has to offer. Blind spot monitoring is offered on the 2020 Ram, as well as trailer detection to help keep you safe on the road. Lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control are also available, as is a 360-degree camera to help see around your vehicle. The biggest drawback of the Ram 1500 is the lack of Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which means backing up a trailer with the Ram 1500 is significantly more difficult. For those who plan to do a lot of towing, it’s clear the F-150 has a real advantage.

Visit us at DePaula Ford!