Two Truck Titans Go Head to Head: 2021 RAM 1500 vs. 2021 Chevy Silverado
Posted on August 12, 2021
Two more heavyweights up for the great debate! Here at CarHub, we love to pit vehicles against each other. Performance, appearance, and value are the types of things that our community is generally concerned with when they come into the store for a new vehicle.
This time the contenders for the crown are the 2021 RAM 1500 and the 2021 Chevy Silverado. Both of these beasts have the brawn to haul anything that needs hauling and both of them come ready-equipped with legions of devoted fans. Surely, they both have many fine attributes to offer but which is the best choice for your pickup truck needs? It’s a crowded field in the pickup truck market so which of these two contenders is bringing the most to the battle? Both RAM and Chevy work hard to ensure that their trucks remain showered with accolades year after year but which of the two can call itself the king of 2021?
It should be noted that CarHub is a licensed Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Fiat) dealer. That being said, we always ensure that we remain impartial and fair in our judgement when we compare vehicles.
Ok, now that that’s out of the way let’s get down to business. Let the battle begin!
RAM 1500 - What’s Under the Hood?
RAM is never one to hold back on the options front and the 1500 doesn’t disappoint in this arena. It offers no less than five different powertrain options so you can pick and choose which of these power pushers is right for you. The standard 1500 engine will get you a 3.6 litre V6 engine that comes linked to the RAM eTorque system, which is a mild hybrid system that will get you a few more miles to the tank to save on both fuel and emissions. The standard 1500 engine will zip you along at 305 horsepower and offer up 269 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get most jobs done!
The 2021 Chevy Silverado - What’s Under the Hood?
Chevy also makes sure to offer its fans five powertrain options, with its standard engine getting a 4.3 liter V6 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission which is capable of pumping out 305 hp and no less than 305 lb-ft of torque. The RAM 1500 is inched out slightly in the power department for the base model engines! Check one box for Chevy.
The RAM 1500 - Kicking It Up a Notch
The RAM 1500 is certainly no stranger to kicking it up a notch. Once you step up from the V6 you’re going to be looking at a 5.7 litre V8 engine that will put out 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, which is your heavy-hauling go-to for when the jobs get bigger. The V8 comes with eTorque available for added fuel savings.
As we said, the RAM 1500 is no stranger to kicking it up a notch. The top of the trim line will get you the 2021 RAM TRX, a supercharged beast with a 6.2 litre V8 that’s capable of pumping out 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. For the power-hungry, the TRX is a tough one to match.
Silverado - Kicking It Up a Notch
When you step up in the trim line for the Silverado you’ll find yourself with a turbocharged 4 cylinder in the 2.7 litre varietal. This is one area that Silverado will best as well: there is no equivalent 4 cylinder in the RAM 1500 lineup. Whether or not that’s a huge selling point for the Silverado is definitely subjective.
The Silverado can kick it up a V8 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, if power is more of your criteria that will be capable of kicking out 355 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque, that’ll push out the power for jobs that require some heavy hauling.
The Silverado features a 6.2 litre V8 at the top of the line that exists as an answer to RAM’s TRX - both are big, gnarly beasts that are meant for the biggest, toughest jobs and the heartiest hauling out there.
RAM 1500 - The Diesel Option
Diesel options are a necessity for truck people and both RAM and Chevy have created diesel offerings for their fans. The RAM 1500 features a diesel powertrain that will get you a 3.0 litre, turbocharged V6 that is capable of 260 horsepower with 480 lb-ft of torque.
The Chevy Silverado - The Diesel Option
Not to be outdone by RAM, the Chevy Silverado also offers a turbo-diesel powertrain option, which will give its driver a 3.0 litre, 5 cylinder, 10-speed automatic engine to work with.
RAM 1500 - On the Inside
The RAM 1500 provides the standard of excellence for pickup truck comfort and roominess. With luxury items that threaten to push it out of the realm of the working person’s vehicle, the RAM 1500 comes standard with two-row seating and a spacious cabin that will provide ample leg space for backseat passengers as well as for the one's upfront. A combination of cloth and synthetic will round out the interior aesthetics and the infotainment aspect of the truck is powered by the Stellantis stalwart, uConnect, which allows for connectivity from Apple Carplay or Android Auto systems and easy, hands-free access to maps, music, phones, and more.
Silverado - On the Inside
The 2021 Chevy Silverado has chosen not to put its energy into a flashy cabin, instead opting to win fans with performance. This one’s for the old school pickup truck types, the ones who see their truck as a work tool more than a luxury vehicle. In this sense, the bare-bones cabin of the Silverado would likely take a loss to the RAM 1500 until maybe the top-trim High Country, which ups the comfort ante to some degree. The Silverado also offers a technology package that will gain you access to Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit on a smallish seven-inch display screen which is a far cry from the RAM 1500’s mammoth 12-incher. The Silverado comes standard with a single-row cab and a three-seater bench so it’s notched out by the larger RAM 1500 in this department as well, although the winner in this respect will be dictated by your driving needs - do you need to carry many passengers? Or is this just a work truck? If the answer is ‘just a work truck’ the Silverado has you covered.
RAM 1500 - Cargo Space
The 2021 RAM 1500 comes with a 6’4’’ bed but you can actually step that down, if you prefer, to a 5’7’’ bed. The 1500 also has the RamBox system, which is an added storage compartment on the side of the pickup bed. They come on both sides of the bed and they are notable for being both lockable and drainable. The 1500 sports an ample bed, one that would be up to most industrial tasks with ease.
Silverado - Cargo Space
The Silverado will offer up to three bed sizes, so you can choose which one is most suited to your hauling needs. The largest of the three will see the truck pulling a whopping 8’2’’ bed which will be paired with a single cab. The Silverado is also available with a 5’10’’ option and a 6’7’’ option, all of which come with Chevy’s CornerStep, which allows for easy access to the pickup bed. As per usual, it’s dependent on your needs but if variety is your thing, the Silverado may take this round!
RAM 1500 - Handling
The Ram 1500 is arguably without equal when it comes to handling due to the multi-link rear suspension that gives it a butter-smooth feeling on the open road. Air suspension is an available feature and it will allow the truck to be lowered for improved long-distance driving and allows you to hop in and out easily when it’s lowered.
Silverado - Handling
While the Silverado scores adequately on handling tests, it doesn’t have any of the flashy features that the 1500 can boast about - like the multi-link suspension - that would kick it into the upper echelon of comfort. In this respect, the Silverado, which again scores adequately on comfort and maneuverability scores may fall victim to the added attention to on-the-road comfort and handling that RAM has been dedicated to.
Conclusion
The 2021 RAM 1500 sees the good people at RAM swinging for the fence with its latest truck offering. It’s big, it’s bold, it features the luxury items that wouldn’t normally be found on the likes of a pickup truck, like the huge, leather-trimmed, two-row cabin, the 12-inch touch screen, and uConnect infotainment system and the RamBox system for added storage space. With the supercharged TRX in the lineup, the 1500 brings style, brawn, and performance to the table for a tough-to-beat pickup truck experience.
In the Silverado, you’ll get a steady and capable workhorse. It’s less of a head-turner and less likely to wow your passengers than the 1500 but it sports a durable build and a powerful drivetrain that makes it up to any worksite task.
Interested in testing out a 2021 RAM 1500 or (when available) a 2021 Chevy Silverado? Stop in at either of the CarHub lots today for a test drive or an informative chat with a friendly and knowledgeable CarHub Product Advisor!