The Best Full-Size Truck for the Money in 2023 Isn’t the Ford F-150
It’s hard to overstate just how popular full-size trucks are in the United States. Even for folks who don’t do truck stuff, a pickup is often the vehicle of choice. And for some time, the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck here in the States. But is it actually the best half-ton pickup for the money? It sounds like the 2023 Ram 1500 has something to say about that.
Is the Ford F-150 better than Ram 1500?
Both the 2023 Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 bring a lot to the table. When it comes to F-150 vs. Ram 1500, the 2023 Ram truck comes with some key advantages. For a lot of shoppers, comfort and convenience are key.
The Ford F-150 might be cheaper, but the Ram 1500 delivers on some serious luxury features. And because of its rear coil springs, the driving dynamics can feel better on the Ram than the Ford.
Where the 2023 Ram 1500 really shines is its level of high-end trim options. These trims do certainly raise the price, but they do rival that of true luxury cars. Things like that helped land the Ram 1500 on the Car and Driver 10 Best Trucks and SUVs list as the only full-size truck.
Car and Driver ranks the 2023 Ram 1500 over the 2023 Ford F-150
In terms of Car and Driver rankings, the F-150 gets a 9 out of 10, and the Ram 1500 gets a 10 out of 10. That isn’t to say that Ford’s truck is a bad one, though. The Blue Oval has spent plenty of time and resources to build a compelling half-ton pickup. And that has clearly paid off because the F-Series truck is often one of the best-selling vehicles in America.
Although the Ram 1500 beat the Ford truck in this ranking, it is worth noting how diverse the Blue Oval’s pickup is. It ranges from a simple work truck to a legitimate off-road monster in the form of the F-150 Raptor R.
Additionally, the 2023 F-150 can out tow the Ram 1500. The official maximum tow rating for the F-150 is 14,000 pounds. That is 1,250 lbs more than you will see with Ram’s full-size truck. It is worth noting that most folks don’t tow that often, so the comfort of the 2023 Ram 1500 might be worth sacrificing that towing capacity.
Why is the F-150 so popular?
Simply put, the F-Series is popular because it’s a good truck. There’s a long list of engine options depending on your specific needs, and Ford even offers an electric variant known as the F-150 Lightning.
Sure, Car and Driver might have ranked the Ram 1500 over the F-150 for 2023, but on paper, both half-ton pickups are pretty evenly matched. When it comes down to where to put your money, it’s probably best to go with which pickup you feel most comfortable in. Whether that be a Ram truck or a Ford truck.
