One look at the 2024 Ford F-150 vs 2024 Ram 1500 gives us a better view and appreciation of this century-old competition between two iconic manufacturers, but it also shows us something far more impressive. Since its split with Dodge in 2010, Ram has established itself as a brand revered for bringing luxury and cutting-edge technologies to the segment. However, that honor is one Ford isn’t willing to relinquish, with the 2024 F-150 proving to be the more capable, versatile, and better equipped of the full-size workhorses. It’s a surprising turn for loyal Ram owners, but it’s undeniable. Ford still has a firm grasp on its title as America’s leading and longtime favorite truck brand. Here’s how the 2024 F-150 tells the story and leaves the 2024 Ram 1500 miles behind in the dust.
More Engines, More Standard Power
One look at the F-150’s powertrain lineup in 2024 and the winner is obvious. Ford offers a broader spectrum of power with engines boasting names like “Coyote” and “Predator.” Most notably, Ford does more with its standard powerplant than Ram manages from its award-winning 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine. It’s a detail that can’t go unnoticed.
The 2024 Ram 1500 rolls off the factory floor with the standard 3.6L Pentastar and an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers 305 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This benchmark seems impressive until you realize Ford ekes more power from its standard 2.7L EcoBoost Turbocharged V6 engine, which makes 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. There’s no comparison, especially with the EcoBoost mated to a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Add in the base price of $36,570 for the 2024 F-150 compared to the Ram 1500’s $38,570 price tag in 2024, and there’s no question that you’re getting more horsepower and capability for your hard-earned money from the legendary F-150.
By now, Ram enthusiasts are anxious to point out that Ram has two HEMI engines in its lineup, and they aren’t wrong. The Ram 1500’s HEMI power plants are impressive, with the 5.7L Eagle producing 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2L HEMI Hellcat churns out 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. However, the HEMI name only carries weight among Ram fans. Ford matches its competitor wheel for wheel with a more expansive lineup of engines stretching from a 5.0L Coyote V8 and a 3.5L High-Output EcoBoost V6 to its 700-horsepower 5.2L Predator, which is a high-output supercharged V8. There’s even a turbocharged HEV option, with the 3.5L PowerBoost V6 delivering 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of on-demand torque for exceptional handling and responsiveness.
More Brute Strength and a Better Work Ethic
Ram often markets its trucks as the most capable in the segment, boasting high payload and towing capacities. However, the proof is in the numbers, which reveal the 2024 F-150 is stronger and far more capable than its rival. Much to the dismay of Ram, the F-150 outpowers the Ram 1500 in 2024, offering a maximum payload of 2,445 lbs to the Ram 1500’s 2,300-pound payload, which plummets to 1,350 lbs with the Hellcat engine. In the Ram lineup, you can’t have brute strength and horsepower.
Ford offers an alternative by pushing the 2024 F-150 to its limits to fulfill its job as a dedicated work partner. The F-150 offers a maximum towing capacity of 13,500 lbs, exceeding the Ram 1500’s maximum capacity of 12,750 lbs. Again, the Hellcat drops this capacity to 8,220 lbs, forcing you to choose between your need for speed and a practical workhorse that can handle its end of the job.
The difference in work ethics is also apparent at the back of each truck. How so? Ram may have an advantage with its RamBox storage system that transforms the space above the wheel wells into usable storage. However, the quarters are cramped in the bed, meaning you can’t haul as much cargo. The 2024 Ram 1500 only offers a 5’6″ or a 6’4″ bed, the latter of which offers 61.5 cu.ft. of space. The 2024 F-150 is an entirely different story, with a 5’5″ bed, 6’5″ bed, and 8′ bed offering as much as 77.4 cu.ft. The F-150 is built to work hard and play hard without compromise, and the details show as much.
More Tangible Value in the Available Tech Features
While the Ram 1500 may be highly praised for its luxury, it’s hard to beat the F-150 and its long tenure as the best-selling truck in America. Drivers know what it means to get behind the wheel of a Ford and appreciate the tangible value the automaker offers in every detail, convenience, and feature. That value extends beyond the F-150’s brute strength and incredible work ethic to the smaller details and features that transform every experience in the driver’s seat. Where Ford excels at delivering, Ram falls short.
It’s 2024, and technology is at the heart of every truck in the industry, but Ram doesn’t seem to realize as much. The 2024 Ram 1500’s center display measures a mere five inches, which is an inch smaller than the iPhone 15. Mid-tier trims do somewhat better with an 8.4-inch display, but Ram forces drivers to spend a small fortune on a top-tier Ram 1500 trim with a 12-inch display. While that’s perfectly acceptable to some, Ford doesn’t make the demand and outfits every 2024 F-150 with a 12-inch center touchscreen display that transforms the cabin into a modern cockpit and command center. So, what’s the big deal?
Technology is comparable across the F-150 and Ram 1500, with Ford’s SYNC system more intuitive and easier to use. Even so, the infotainment systems offer smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth capability, and navigational tools. However, the important detail is how the automakers deliver this technology. Ram asks its customers to pay a premium, but Ford stays true to its roots and makes its technology accessible to everyone at a fraction of the cost. It shows that even with the company’s incredible success over the last century, Ford remains dedicated to its customers.
A Legacy That’s Impossible to Match
Chrysler is undoubtedly one of America’s Big Three automotive brands, rightly earning its place as it opened its doors in 1925 and subsequently impacted the automotive landscape with its lineup. However, Ford was already ahead of the game, with Henry Ford putting the world on wheels in 1903. Two decades is a significant head start, earning Ford the honor of not only impacting the automotive industry in America but also shaping the global landscape.
The 2024 F-150 continues that legacy and expands on Henry Ford’s vision to revolutionize how we travel from point A to point B. Never satisfied with the status quo, Henry Ford paid close attention to his customers and how they used their automobiles, looking for ways to improve his designs. Paying attention to those details gave him a distinct advantage and differentiated the Ford Motor Company from rivals like Chrysler and numerous others.
Today, the F-150 is evidence that Ford hasn’t forgotten the importance of the individuals in the driver’s seat, with the automaker delivering a truck that isn’t just incredibly capable with a strong work ethic but one that’s also well-equipped and value-packed. The Ford legacy is simply icing on the cake, sealing the F-150’s fate as the winner in an ongoing race against rivals like the Ram 1500.
