The 2021 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Ram 1500 are two full-sized pickup trucks that a new truck shopper would likely have on their shortlist. Yet the Ram 1500 has so much to offer, it isn’t really a contest. The Ram 1500’s comfort alone puts it miles ahead of the Silverado, according to Consumer Reports. 

The 2021 Ram 1500 and 2021 Chevy Silverado are both relatively comfortable, but the Ram comes out on top

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 an okay score of 3/5 for its ride. It’s quiet: it scores a 4/5 for its noise. Front seat comfort is a 3/5 while rear seat comfort gets a perfect 5/5. After testing the front seats, Consumer Reports says they are “fairly basic, very firm and flat with only a minimal amount of support.”

On the other hand, Consumer Reports says that the 2021 Ram 1500 is “the most comfortable-riding full-sized pickup truck,” which is saying a lot, considering the number of trucks Consumer Reports tests. The 2021 Ram 1500 gets a fair score of 4/5 for its ride. It’s quiet: it scores a 5/5 for its noise. Front seat comfort is a 4/5 and rear seat comfort gets a perfect 5/5. 

The 2021 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Ram 1500’s road-test scores are pretty similar

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and also the 2021 Ram 1500 a 4/5 for acceleration. The Silverado can reach 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds, and the Ram gets there in 7.1.

Both the Silverado and Ram 1500 get a 4/5 for transmission, as well as a 3/5 for routine and emergency handling. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s max avoidance speed is 50 mph, and the Ram’s is slightly worse, at 48 mph.

Braking is better in the Silverado 1500, at a 4, compared to the Ram 1500’s 3. The Silverado 1500 takes 136 feet to brake from 60 mph on dry pavement and 148 feet on wet pavement. It takes the Ram 1500 137 feet to brake from 60 mph on dry pavement and 150 feet on wet pavement.

Neither truck comes with many safety features

Consumer Reports says all new cars should come with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Other important features include pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. You’ll also want anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights. Rearview cameras come standard in all new cars.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 doesn’t come standard with many of these features. It only has rearview camera, anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, and daytime running lights. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city speeds are optional. So are pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Want blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning? They’re also optional. Automatic emergency braking at highway speeds isn’t optional for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The 2021 Ram 1500 also only comes standard with a minimal amount of the Consumer Reports recommended advanced safety features. Only a rear view camera, anti lock brakes, traction control, stability control, and daytime running lights are standard. 

If you want additional safety equipment, you’ll have to pay. Forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist are all optional. Blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic warning are also optional. 

If you want a pickup truck that’s comfortable, it’s clear that the 2021 Ram 1500 is the way to go. With both trucks having such similar ratings, it makes sense to choose the Ram 1500 for the sake of comfort.