Until recently, General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has firmly held the lead over rival Ram 1500 in the full-size truck market. Sales trends for the first two quarters of 2019 seem to indicate a shift in that battle.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has been a popular truck with a loyal following for decades. There is no doubt that it is a capable workhorse that also dresses up nicely for a night on the town. With no less than eight trim levels to choose from and a variety of engine choices at each level, there is little doubt that a Silverado can be configured to meet practically any need.

The 2019 Silverado 1500 offers up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 12,200 pounds with the right options. Silverado also offers the most cab configurations. In addition to the expected extended cab and 4-door offerings, a single cab option is still available for 2019.

Silverado 1500 fuel economy according to Chevrolet is up to 15 miles per gallon city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway.

Prices start as low as $28,300 for the base model, single cab and go up from there.

Ram 1500

In recent years Ram 1500 trucks have been gaining popularity and a loyal following all their own. In the past, Ram trucks have been caught in a cycle of unstable ownership and various partner deals. This seems to be behind them now that Ram is its own brand and that stability is agreeing with them. 

For 2019, Ram 1500 is available in six trim levels and three engine choices. With the right combination, the Ram 1500 is capable of delivering up to 395 hp, 410 lb-ft of torque and towing capacity up to 12,750 pounds. Cab configurations for the Ram 1500 include an extended cab and 4-door options but the single cab version is not available for 2019.

Fuel economy for the Ram 1500 is reported to be up to 17 MPG city and 22 MPG highway.

With no single cab version available, the base price for a Ram 1500 starts at $33,440.

The battle for position 

The battle for second place in the full-size truck market has been heating up lately between the Ram 1500 and the Silverado 1500. In 2018, 585,581 Silverados sold compared to 536,980 Rams giving Silverado a 46,601 unit advantage. 

Something has changed for 2019. Given the Silverado’s available options and a wider array of choices, it seems unlikely that the Ram 1500 could overtake Silverado’s firm grasp on second place. However, the numbers for the first two quarters of 2019 indicate that the switch may be more than just a fluke with Ram selling 29,018 more units than Silverado in the second quarter alone. Ram had an outstanding June showing a 56% increase by delivering 68,098 trucks. 

While the Silverado offers more choices, it appears that Ram’s offerings, while fewer, are better suited to the truck-buying public’s tastes. Ram has the clear edge in towing capacity and fuel economy even though Silverado promises more horsepower and a lower entry price point.

According to Car and Driver, Ram’s new interior packages, 12-inch display screen, and independent suspension with optional air ride are all superior to Silverado’s offerings. However, they do offer some hope for Silverado fans stating that production line issues on the newly redesigned Silverado may be having an effect on sales numbers for the moment.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the year shakes out between these two popular and capable truck brands as we transition into the upcoming 2020 models. As the competition heats up truck buyers will be the true winners as options and quality improve.