Chevy or Ford: Which Brand Is Best?

For decades, there’s been a fun rivalry between owners of Ford and Chevrolet vehicles. These two iconic American car brands sell some of the most popular vehicles out there and it looks like the trend will continue. Both Chevrolet and Ford continue to make bestselling cars with modern styling, innovative technology, and improved safety features that drivers will appreciate.

Let’s take a look at some comparisons of the most popular trucks, SUVs, and sports cars made by both brands so when the time comes for you to buy a new or used car, you’ll know which brand best suits your needs and lifestyle.

Pickup Trucks

The two most popular full-size trucks on the market are the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the Ford F-150. They’ve both been around for years and come in several trim levels with plenty of cab and bed configurations. They’re designed as both working and recreational trucks with lots of standard and available options to build the perfect dream vehicle.

Performance-wise, the Silverado 1500 comes out ahead of the F-150. With its lineup of V-8 engines, even on the lower trims, the Silverado 1500 is ideal for hauling supplies to the job site or ranch, and when properly equipped, has an impressive towing capacity. For example, if you pick a mid-level trim with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that delivers 460 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, you can easily tow up to 13,400 pounds. The steel bed of the Silverado 1500 is far more durable than the aluminum bed of the F-150 and can handle much more wear and tear.

Ford also delivers powerful engines for the F-150, mostly found on the higher trim levels. To get the max towing capacity of 13,200 pounds, you’ll want the 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine that produces 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This setup gives you plenty of power to haul the boat to the lake or a trailer full of supplies to the construction site.

SUVs

After pickup trucks, SUVs are the most popular car sold on the market today. In the Chevrolet ring, the Equinox is the favorite for consumers. The compact SUV is ideal for families, college students, and those looking for a car that can take them from the mountains to the city in style. According to J.D. Power, owners of the Equinox love the exterior styling, roomy interior, high-tech infotainment system, and numerous safety features.

The Ford Explorer is Ford’s bestselling SUV. This midsize SUV has modern styling and a rear-wheel-drive platform that provides extra traction when driving over uneven terrain. There’s plenty of space for passengers and cargo, and the Explorer handles well. One drawback to the Explorer is that most of the trims need add-on packages and options, so the price of the SUV can climb pretty quickly. On the other hand, most of the trims of the Equinox already have features that drivers are looking for.

As far as full size SUVs, many compare the Chevy Tahoe and the Ford Expedition as best in class.

Sports Cars

Both Ford and Chevrolet are eventually phasing out most of their sedans and smaller cars. Their main focus is on trucks, SUVs, and sports cars as these are the most popular cars consumers buy. In the sports car market, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang are by far the bestselling cars in this class. Whether you choose a Camaro or a Mustang, both cars have several trim levels with various features and options to choose from. They also both have impressive exterior styling, solid powertrains, and classy interiors with modern technology.

When you want your Chevrolet Camaro to go from an adrenaline-filled 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, choose the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine that delivers a massive 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque found in the Camaro Z71. Get behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The engine powering this muscle car is a 5.2-liter V-8 engine that produces an impressive 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. Both of these muscle cars are powerful, but the Camaro has a better price point, technology, and handles solidly on the road.

Reliability Ratings

When you invest in a vehicle, you want to know that it’s reliable and won’t give you problems. In the auto industry, reliability is measured using two standards: short-term and long-term reliability and dependability. J.D. Power is a data analytics company that conducts surveys on buyer behavior and customer satisfaction and does research on car quality and dependability.

The short-term studies follow the customer and vehicle for 90 days, whereas the vehicle dependability study follows the car for three years. In various studies, J.D. Power found that Chevrolets had fewer problems than Ford for both the short- and long-term periods. Of course, there are variables for each make and model, but overall, the data indicates fewer overall issues with Chevrolet vehicles.

Safety Ratings

You want to know that the vehicle you’re driving has undergone rigorous safety and crash testing by certified and legitimate organizations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a division of the United States Transportation Division that tests vehicles for overall and specific points-of-contact crash results.

The organization gave the 2020 F-150 an overall rating of five stars, while the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 received an overall rating of four stars. The SUV Chevrolet Equinox received a five-star rating and its Ford counterpart, the Explorer, also received an overall rating of five stars. Both brands’ popular sports cars, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang, both received an overall rating of five stars.

These are impressive numbers, and when you factor in the numerous safety and driver-assist features found on these vehicles, both Ford and Chevrolet are safe cars to drive. One thing to keep in mind is that the Silverado 1500 has a super-strong steel safety cage rather than the F-150s aluminum cage. In the event of an accident, the Chevrolet is far safer.

Both of these brands have desirable features, whether you’re driving a full-size pickup truck, crossover SUV, or sports coupe. To learn more about the various features of our Chevrolets, stop by Cochran Chevrolet today.