Thinking about buying a Ford F-150? Here are other top choices to consider

Ford is at the top in towing and payload, but competing full-size pickups beat the Blue Oval in other ways.

Feb 17, 2025 - 07:43

Thinking about buying a Ford F-150? Here are other top choices to consider

The Ford F-150 is America’s favorite truck, a title it’s held for 48 years, and its favorite vehicle overall for 43 years. That popularity comes from its ability to be many things to many buyers. The F-150 is currently offered in XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, Tremor, King Ranch, and Platinum trim with a Regular, Super, or Crew Cab and a 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot bed. From work truck to plaything, there’s an F-150 that’s right for you.

There’s also the battery-electric Lightning and high-performance Raptor, but those are different animals entirely and not addressed here.

Powertrain choices include a base 325-horsepower twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, a 400-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8, a 400-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, or a 430-horsepower hybrid that employs a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 and an electric motor. A ten-speed automatic transmission is standard for all.

When it comes time to yank something heavy, you’ll find the 400-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 tows up to 13,500 pounds, 500 more than the 5.0-liter V-8. Even the hybrid can haul 12,700 pounds, and the payload tops out at 2,455 pounds.

The cabin is filled with thoughtful touches, such as optional lie-flat front seats and a transmission lever that folds flat to create a workspace. There’s also an optional bed-mounted generator that provides 7.2 kW for powering tools or a flatscreen while tailgating. Changes for 2025 include a standard 12-inch infotainment display and two new options: Ford’s Blue Cruise semi-autonomous driving system and a head-up display.

Still, given that Ford’s reliability has slipped as of late, ranking in the bottom 10 of J.D. Power’s 2024 Reliability Index, you might want to consider some of these alternatives.

Ram 1500

With the top spot in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Survey under its belt, Ram added a new flagship Tungsten trim for 2025, with a power tailgate, quilted-leather upholstery, massaging seats, suede headliner, a 14.5-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch front passenger touchscreen, 12-inch instrument cluster, and a 23-speaker Klipsch stereo.

Available with either a Crew Cab and Quad Cab and a 5'7" and 6'4" bed, standard power comes from a 3.6-liter V-6 mated to a 48-volt hybrid system that generates 305 horsepower on the Tradesman, Tradesman HFE, and Big Horn/Lonestar trims.

Ram also offers a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine rated at 420 horsepower on the Tradesman, Warlock, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Rebel trims, and a High Out Hurricane with 540 horsepower on the RHO, Limited, Limited Longhorn and Tungsten models. The Hemi V-8 has been dropped for 2025.

The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten's lavish cabin.
Ram

Maximum towing falls short of the F-150 at 11,550 pounds as does payload at 2,370 pounds. Thankfully, it makes up for it in other respects. Consider its suspension, which uses coil springs rather than the leaf springs used by its competition. You can even opt for an air suspension and adjustable ride height. Either way, Ram delivers a smooth ride and powertrain refinement lacking elsewhere, while offering the plushest cab.

Ram also offers in-bed 110-volt outlets and an in-bed lockable toolbox. Uniquely, its 60/40 split-folding rear tailgate allows you to open one side or the other or fold it traditionally.

It all makes for quite an impressive rig and one that’s tough to beat.

GMC Sierra 1500

Just ask GMC. The Sierra 1500 is basically a Chevrolet Silverado with slightly nicer trim and a modestly differentiated exterior design. Prices are higher too. A 79.4-inch bed is standard with the Regular, Double, or Crew Cab. A 69.9-inch box is available for the Crew Cab, and a 98.2-inch bed can be fitted to the Regular Cab.

Engine choices start with a 310-horsepower 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V-8, a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8, or, uniquely, a 305-horsepower 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six turbocharged diesel engine that generates 495 pound-feet of torque, the most of any Sierra 1500. An eight-speed automatic is standard with the four, while the others get a 10-speed.

The towing capacity tops out at 13,300 pounds, although even the base model can yank 9,500 pounds. Payload maxes out at 2,280 pounds.

Only GM offers a diesel engine option in a light duty full-size pickup: the 3.0-liter Duramax Diesel.
GMC

Like the Ram, the GMC has a trick tailgate that's also offered on its Chevrolet sibling. Dubbed the MultiPro Tailgate, it has a secondary smaller panel within the tailgate that swings down fully to make reaching inside the bed easier. It also acts as a step into the bed or as a bed extender stop.

While nicer than a Silverado, the Sierra trails the Ram in the plushness department. Yet the Sierra’s advantage is that it feels smaller than its size suggests, with an agility and feel that make it a pleasure to drive. In this, it’s like a lot of GM vehicles: well-engineered with interior trim quality that trails the competition.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

If the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado has any advantage over its GMC twin, it’s the greater option flexibility. Its powertrains mimic those of its sibling, as do its cabs, beds, payload, and towing.

However, it has a lower price, and as a result, overall trim quality has slightly deteriorated. This is a Chevrolet, after all.

Yet its handling is not significantly different from the GMC, so it merely comes down to a preference in dealer, design, and price. That last part is where Chevrolet holds an advantage: It has the lowest base price of any full-size pickup, starting at $36,800.

Notably, while the Ford F-150 is the bestselling pickup truck by brand, GM’s Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra—basically identical trucks—together outsold the Ford in 2024 by 874,679 units to 765,649 units. Neither GM truck has a clear advantage over the Ford except for its diesel option.

Toyota Tundra

With the Tundra, Toyota has yet to significantly challenge Detroit-based automakers when it comes to full-size pickups, although every iteration gets closer. The Tundra isn’t offered in a Regular Cab. Instead, you get a Double Cab with a 6.5-foot bed or an 8.1-foot bed or a larger CrewMax cab with a 5.5-foot bed or 6.5-foot bed.

New for 2025 are massaging seats and a power tailgate on all but base SR models. A TRD Rally Package enhances its off-road chops. Similar to the other trucks here, the Toyota Tundra has a 120-volt AC power outlet in the bed.

Power comes from either the base 389-horsepower "I-Force" twin-turbocharged V-6 or a 437-horsepower I-Force Max" twin-turbocharged Hybrid V-6 with an impressive 583 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models.

The 2025 Toyota Tundra Capstone's interior reflects its top-of-the-line status.
Toyota

While its abilities trail its rivals, it should be satisfactory for most buyers, with a 12,000-pound maximum towing capacity and a 1,940-pound maximum payload. While the Hybrid returns 20-22 mpg in combined city/highway driving, that’s less than the Ford Hybrid’s 23 mpg, Ram HFE’s 23 mpg, and the GMC/Chevrolet diesel’s 23-26 mpg.

Where are they built?

The Ford F-150 is built in Michigan and Missouri, while the Ram 1500 is manufactured in Michigan. The GMC Sierra 1500 is made in Indiana, while its sibling, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, is fabricated in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Mexico. The Toyota Tundra is assembled in Texas.

Final thoughts

While the 2025 Ford F-150 wins in pure numbers, aka towing and payload, all full-size trucks offer enough capability for most buyers. So, in the end, aside from design, dealer, and price, the decision comes down to a truck’s other aspects to seal the deal. With Ram, it’s luxury and refinement, not to mention its in-bed toolbox. With GM, it’s the vehicle’s driving dynamics that prove superior. Finally, Toyota offers the promise of reliability for the Detroit-phobic.

But if we had to choose, the Ram 1500 would get our nod.

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