2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs Dodge Ram 1500 – Light-Duty Pickup Truck Comparison

With so many different trucks on today’s automotive market, choosing the one that’s right for you can be difficult. Two of the most popular trucks available are the Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Ram 1500.

If you are interested in a light-duty pickup truck, knowing how these compare will help you make an informed decision. Let’s delve deeper and see what makes these trucks stand out from the crowd in the world of full-size trucks.

Exterior Design and Trim Levels

With its aggressive stance, large front grille, crisp lines, and sleek curves, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s exterior appearance appeals to truck-lovers everywhere. No matter the configuration, the Silverado 1500 is easy on the eyes. Chevy held nothing back with the 2021 Silverado 1500 and offers 10 different trim levels: Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT All-Star, LT All-Star Z71 Plus, RST All-Star Z71, RST All-Star Z71 Plus, LT Trail Boss, LTZ Z71 Plus, LTZ Z71 Premium, and High Country.

Aside from the primary trim levels, The Silverado 1500 also comes in a few special editions. The LT Trail Boss Midnight, Custom Trail Boss Midnight, Custom Rally, and RST Rally trim levels offer an added layer of customization. These special editions are designed to be admired and draw people’s attention when they cruise past. If you choose one of these special options, you are sure to have your neighbors’ heads turning when you drive down the street.

Ram 1500 trucks have two exterior designs, one modern and one classic. Though both of these Rams are pretty much the same regarding tech, powertrain, and performance, they couldn’t look more different. The 2021 Ram 1500’s exterior, with its defined lines and slight curves, was redesigned to reflect Ram’s pursuit of a modern truck. Its overall appearance has a sporty feel with an aggressive stance, a sleek front grille, and detailed accents. The modern Ram design is offered in the Tradesman, Bighorn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited Longhorn Edition, Limited, and Ram 1500 TRX trim levels.

The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic is available in the Tradesman, Express, and Warlock trim levels. This classic design may nod to Ram’s past, but there’s nothing nostalgic about the technology and performance of these trucks.

Power and Performance

Under the hood of the , you will find five available engines. First is a 2.7-liter turbo-four with 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque. The second is a 4.3-liter V-6 with 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. The third is a 5.3-liter V-8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque that comes with dynamic fuel management or active fuel management. The fourth is a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The fifth is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

With a towing capacity of 13,300 pounds when properly equipped, the Silverado 1500 is ideal for work or play. You can pull equipment, boats, ATVs, and much more, depending on where your life takes you. Off-road exploration is best left to a capable 4×4 truck, and any of the Silverado 1500’s Trail Boss trims or other trims equipped with a Z71 package are more than capable of taking you off the beaten path.

The 2021 Ram 1500 has more engines to choose from than ever before. The first is a 3.6-liter V-6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The second is a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-liter comes with or without eTorque, a mild hybrid technology system geared for adding an extra 130 pound-feet of torque. The third is a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 with 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The fourth is a 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel with 280 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

When equipped with the 5.7-liter and eTorque system, the Ram 1500 tows up to 12,750 pounds, making it great for hauling your toys or your work trailer. Ram’s new 1500 TRX may just be one of the most powerful and capable trucks ever to be produced. The TRX’s 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque can take you anywhere you want to go in a hurry with a zero to 60 mph time of only 4.5 seconds. The TRX is designed to eat any off-road terrain for breakfast so that you can explore the great outdoors with no limitations.

Image via Flickr by wuestenigel

Safety Features

Chevy loads the 2021 Silverado 1500 with available safety features such as forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, front pedestrian braking, lane change alert with side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, a following distance indicator, lane keep assist with land departure warning, a rear camera mirror, front and rear park assist, and a safety alert seat. These features work hard to keep you and your family safe and secure every time you hit the road. The 2021 Silverado 1500 is a solid truck with impressive features and specifications.

Ram trucks encompass you in available safety features including forward collision warning including active braking, lane departure warning including lane keep assist, pedestrian emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path and trailer detection, electronic stability control, roll mitigation, hill start assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, perpendicular park assist, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and 14.9-inch standard brakes. Ram takes your safety to the next level with these available safety features. The 2021 Ram 1500 is true to form and continues the Ram legacy of outstanding trucks.

Now that you know a little more information about each of these trucks and what they have to offer, the only thing left to do is to visit your local Chevrolet or Ram dealer for more information and to take a few test drives. When you’re faced with such a difficult decision, the hands-on approach is the best way to decide which truck best fits the bill. There are many more available features to discover as you dig deeper into the specs and options of the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2021 Ram 1500.