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| 420 HP | Horsepower | 395 HP |
| 460 LB-FT | Torque | 410 LB-FT |
| 13,400 LBS | Towing Capacity | 12,750 LBS |
Full-size, light-duty trucks are one of the biggest markets in the auto industry and with good reason. These pickups give you a full-size experience with terrific power and performance without the need to go overboard into heavy-duty levels of power. While a heavy-duty is great for people that need it, standard full-size trucks are a great option for a wide range of truck owners. With that in mind, we thought it would be helpful to look at the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2020 Ram 1500 to see how they compare.
While the Ram 1500 has a lot to offer, it ultimately falls short of what the Silverado can deliver in some pretty key ways. There are more engines available on the 2020 Chevy Silverado, so that gives you more freedom when you are looking for the perfect truck to meet your needs. Not only are there more options, but the most powerful engine for the Silverado gives you greater horsepower and torque than the most powerful Ram 1500 gas engine. This translates into higher towing capacity when properly equipped, and that can mean getting a lot more work done.
The interior of the 2020 Ram 1500 is gorgeous, there is no doubt about that, but the Silverado has a lot of great features and options of its own. These are both very safe trucks, which we are happy to see, but the Chevy Silverado offers you a bit more and ultimately comes out on top. To be fair, these are both very good pickups; this kind of competition certainly pushes the auto industry further and ensures we get more amazing trucks for years to come. Visit us at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford today to see the 2020 Chevy Silverado for yourself and discover what you have been missing.
It probably goes without saying, but the engine in your truck is incredibly important. So many other aspects of your vehicle’s overall performance and strength really stem from the engine, so it is one of the first things you should spend some time looking into before picking a truck. The 2020 Chevy Silverado has six impressive engine options available, while the 2020 Ram 1500 has four.
The starting engine in the Silverado is a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 that offers up to 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. From there, you can upgrade to a 2.7L Turbo engine that provides the Silverado with up to 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque. There is also a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine available that offers up to 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Two different versions of this engine are offered by Chevy: one with active fuel management and the other with dynamic fuel management.
Then there is an available Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel I-6 engine available, which offers up to 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Finally, you can choose a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that delivers up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both the Turbo-Diesel and the most powerful engine for the Silverado come with 10-speed automatic transmissions for a smooth and responsive driving experience.
By comparison, the 2020 Ram 1500 starts off with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that offers up to 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. There is an available 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine for the Ram 1500 that provides up to 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. This is definitely an impressive diesel engine for the Ram 1500 with a lot of power, but it does not offer the greatest towing capacity overall.
Finally, there are two versions available of a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, both of which offer up to 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. One of them is a standard engine, while the other comes with eTorque, which is a mild hybrid system with a motor on the engine that boosts torque and overall towing capacity. As you can see, there are solid engines available on both trucks, but the Silverado’s 6.2L V8 engine gives you the greatest combination of horsepower and torque.
Although these are both light-duty, full-size pickups, that does not mean you should miss out on excellent towing and payload capacities by not choosing a heavy-duty option. A great full-size truck should deliver solid towing and payload so that you can still get a lot of work done and haul a trailer or camper behind you on the weekend. Both of these trucks offer excellent performance in terms of towing and payload, though the Silverado pushes a bit ahead.
The 2020 Chevy Silverado has a maximum towing capacity of up to 13,400 lbs when properly equipped. By comparison, the 2020 Ram 1500 has a maximum towing of up to 12,750 lbs when configured with the available HEMI engine with eTorque. That means you get about 95% of the towing capacity of the Silverado with the Ram 1500, which is good, but if you need that extra bit more, then the Silverado is definitely the way to go.
When it comes to payload, the numbers between these two pickups are even closer. The 2020 Chevy Silverado has a maximum payload capacity of up to 2,250 lbs when properly configured and equipped. The 2020 Ram 1500, on the other hand, has a maximum payload of up to 2,300 lbs when configured for the best payload capacity possible. That means the Silverado can get about 98% of the payload capacity of the Ram 1500 when configured for their highest values, which is pretty close to identical.
In terms of safety features, we are pleased to report that both of these trucks have excellent options and features to protect you and your loved ones. While safety might not be the first thing you consider when looking at a truck, it is certainly important and can make a big difference in a critical situation. With that in mind, we should take a look at some of the safety features you can get on these two pickups.
The 2020 Chevy Silverado includes StabiliTrak with electronic stability and traction control, along with six airbags and daytime running lamps. Available safety features on the Silverado include front and rear park assist to help you with maneuvering in tight spaces and an HD rear vision camera. Hitch guidance is available with the towing package, which makes it easier to connect a trailer or camper, and Hitch View lets you keep an eye on your trailer while towing. Additional safety features include available rear cross traffic alert, a lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and a teen driver system that comes standard.
By comparison, the 2020 Ram 1500 includes numerous airbags to help keep you safe, along with electronic stability control and anti-roll technology. A lane departure warning is available as is adaptive cruise control with stop and go, along with an available forward collision warning with advanced brake assist. Available park assist provides you with active guidance while parking to make parallel and perpendicular parking easier. The available 360-degree Surround View Camera is great for getting a sense of what is around your vehicle, but the Ram 1500 lacks the teen driver system of the 2020 Chevy Silverado.
Ultimately, these are both great trucks in terms of safety and have very similar features available. The trim level and packages you choose will impact which safety features you get on your pickup, so keep that in mind. If you have a young driver that is about to learn to be safe on the road, then the teen driver system in the Silverado is incredibly helpful.
There is certainly a lot to like about both of these trucks, but ultimately the 2020 Chevy Silverado continues to prove why it is the best light-duty full-size pickup on the road. With more engines to choose from, including options for greater horsepower, the Silverado delivers a greater towing capacity and comparable payload at a lower starting price. Although the interior features and options on the 2020 Ram 1500 are fantastic, the Silverado keeps up with the industry leader and proves itself time and again.
You might think we favor the 2020 Chevy Silverado, and while we certainly have a horse in this race, we think the numbers speak for themselves. The Silverado delivers on everything we have come to expect and look for in a fantastic full-size truck. Of course, you do not have to take our word for it; you can see the 2020 Silverado right now to sit inside it and experience everything it has to offer. Come visit us at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, GA, today and we will help you find the perfect truck for your needs.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.