As your local Chevy dealership, we here at Bedard Brothers Chevrolet don't just keep track of the vehicles we offer in our new inventory — we also keep our finger on the pulse of the wider automotive industry. We want to know how Chevy's models stack up against the competition, and we want you to know too! The more information you have, the more you're able to make a well-informed choice that will keep you satisfied for miles and miles, which is what we're trying to help you do at the end of the day.
Today, we're going to see how the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 stacks up against an American icon: the Ford F-150. The F-150 is a great pickup that has a lot going for it, from its capability to its style. But, of course, the Silverado also has plenty of great qualities up its sleeve. Let's see how the two compare in a head-to-head look at several different categories important to truck drivers.
Powertrain Options
One of the best things about a truck is how much you can customize it to make it your own. Both the Ford and the Chevy give you this freedom, with multiple different cab styles, bed sizes, and trim levels to choose from, as well as a wide array of powertrains available. Leaving aside the two powertrains that are only available on the Raptor trim, the F-150 has four engine options for drivers to choose from: two traditional gas-powered V6s, a hybrid V6, and a traditional gas-powered V8. The Silverado 1500 has four engine options, too: a traditional gas-powered TurboMax I-4, two traditional gas-powered V8s, and a diesel-powered I-6.
Looking at the base engines, the Ford and Chevy are pretty close to a tie. The F-150 comes standard with a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 that delivers 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.7L TurboMax I-4 that comes standard on the Chevy Silverado 1500 delivers a little less horsepower at 310 hp but cranks the torque up to 430 lb-ft. If you want to upgrade to a powerful V8, you'll find a capable option from Ford in the 5.0L V8, which can produce up to 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 on the Silverado, by contrast, can produce up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
On the other hand, let's say you want a fuel-efficient option to keep your wallet happy at the gas station. With the F-150, you'll want to go for the 3.5L PowerBoost Turbo V6, a hybrid powertrain that's rated at 25 MPG for both city and highway driving. With the Silverado, you'll get the best fuel economy from the 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6 powertrain, which gets 23 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway for a combined rating of 26 MPG. Ford used to have a diesel option available on the F-150, but they dropped it for the 2024 model year, while Chevy continues to have this powerful and efficient option available.
Towing Capacity
When it comes to the maximum available towing capacity, we have to hand it to the F-150. It can tow up to 13,500 lbs when it's equipped with the 3.5L V6. But the Silverado isn't far behind, and its 13,300-lb maximum towing capacity can be obtained with either the 6.2L V8 or the 3.0L Turbo-Diesel. Ford's hybrid powertrain can only tow up to 12,700 lbs, so if you want to tow heavy loads with an efficient powertrain, the Chevy is better able to give you the best of both worlds.
Cargo Bed Options
After power, the most important aspect of a truck for most drivers is probably the cargo bed. Both the Chevy Silverado and the Ford F-150 have three different bed sizes available, and the Silverado offers more length and total cargo volume across the board. For the smallest option, Ford has a 5.5' long bed that offers 52.8 cu.ft. of space for your cargo, while Chevy has a 5.8' bed with 62.9 cu.ft of cargo volume. In the middle, there's Ford's 6.5' bed with 62.3 cu.ft. of cargo volume and Chevy's 6.6' bed with 71.7 cu.ft. of cargo space. At the top, the largest option from Ford is an 8.0' bed with 77.4 cu.ft. of volume, while the Chevy equivalent is an 8.2' bed with 89.1 cu.ft. to work with. Those extra inches add up to a lot more total space to work with, so you can load your truck up with everything you need.
Aside from the actual dimensions, there's also the tailgate. Both Ford and Chevy offer a traditional tailgate, a power-up and down tailgate for added convenience, and a more advanced tailgate option. For Ford, that third option is the Pro-Access Tailgate, which is new for the 2024 model year. This innovative design can function as a regular tailgate, but it also has a door cut into the middle that can swing open to the side instead of folding down. Built-in stops let you easily keep it open at either 37º, 70º, or 100º. The idea is to make access easier: the door can open more narrowly to let you get in without smacking the tailgate against a trailer jack when a trailer is hooked up and letting you reach further into the bed than you could with a traditional tailgate in your way.
That's a pretty clever feature, but it has a fairly narrow set of uses. Chevy's Multi-Flex Tailgate, on the other hand, has several different ways it can come in handy. This design puts a fold-down inner gate inside the larger tailgate. Because it can be folded down independently of the main gate, there are several possible configurations. The inner gate can act as a work surface that's more comfortable than the height of the cargo bed's floor, act as a load stop for longer cargo, let you load a second layer of cargo on top of the bottom layer, provide a full-width step for getting into the bed or a footrest for tailgate parties, and fold out of the way to give you easier access to the back of the bed.
Technology
Trucks may be popular for their brawn, but that doesn't mean they can't have brains too. Modern automotive tech can improve your driving life in all kinds of ways. Both the F-150 and the Silverado have an infotainment setup that includes a driver information display behind the wheel and a touchscreen display in the center of the dashboard. Ford has a 12-inch Digital Productivity Screen and a 12-inch Touchscreen, standard across the lineup.
While the Silverado has smaller screens on the lower trim levels, the LT and above have a 12.3-inch fully-digital, customizable driver information display and a 13.4-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability and Google Built-In, which gives you access to Google apps even without a phone hooked up and lets you use an advanced voice-activated digital assistant so you can keep your eyes on the road.
On the more advanced side, the F-150 and the Silverado 1500 offer a hands-free highway driving feature. While it's not quite "self-driving," this high-tech improvement on cruise control makes long-haul drives on highways less tiring, so you can enjoy the view and save your energy for the worksite. Both Ford's BlueCruise and Chevy's Super Cruise keep you centered in your lane on compatible roads, can change lanes on demand, and have a driver attention system to ensure you're ready to take over in an emergency. But only Super Cruise has Automatic Lane Change based on the traffic speed around you to help you make good time and only Super Cruise can be used while trailering. For a truck, that last one is obviously a big deal.
The Silverado Is a Well-Rounded and Reliable Truck
Ford is a fine American automaker, and the F-150 is popular for a reason: it has a lot to offer. But the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a well-rounded pickup that doesn't just focus on having a high maximum tow rating (though it has that, too) but makes sure to provide great features across the board, from the interior of the cab to the space in the cargo bed. With plenty of configurations to choose from, it's easy to get a Silverado that's perfect for your needs, so you don't need to compromise. Contact us to learn more today!