As of late, it feels like most of the discussions regarding one truck’s offering versus another’s dances around (the ever one-upping relationship between) Chevy’s Silverado 1500 and Ford’s F-150. Granted, it’s hard to challenge Ford’s decisive global advantage with any sense of credibility, but Chevy is the closest thing close to a valid competitor. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of worthwhile trucks offerings, be it from GMC, RAM, Toyota or relative upstarts from Nissan (and I guess, Honda) as well. But one could argue that those tend to feel less like competitors, and more like a means of casually reapportioning market share. That said, does that gap narrow at all when we journey into HD territory? Can an oft-overlooked offering compete more aggressively at that level? With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2018 Ford F-250 SD to see how they measure up.
Arguably, we could end this conversation immediately, by viewing this…
Now, setting aside “Ford propaganda,” it would be difficult to argue with the comparative stats. The F-250 offers a number of best-in-class ratings, ranging from payload and towing capacity to horsepower and torque ratings. That said, such standings mean little to a truck enthusiast if they possess anti-Ford bias meaning that class-leading numbers might only be important if they support an enthusiast’s desire for bragging rights. Preferences in terms of aesthetics, notable creation of cabin experience, and inclusion of technology and amenities are just a few of the features that can propel an underpowered offering ahead of another in the eyes of some buyers. Factor in automaker loyalty, and it becomes easy to see how the comparative battleground can find itself leveled a bit.
