2018 GMC Sierra vs 2018 Ram 1500
The GMC Sierra wins clearly, 85 to 67.2, on safety, fuel & range.
2018 GMC Sierra
The 2018 GMC Sierra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 14 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sierra 15 Hybri…
2018 Ram 1500
The 2018 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large pickup truck with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD, is EPA-r…
2018 GMC Sierra
Clear winThe GMC Sierra wins clearly, 85 to 67.2, on safety, fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2018 GMC Sierraoverall 85 | 2018 Ram 1500overall 67.2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 95.7 | 87.1 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 76.9 | 52.3 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 85 | 67.2 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for GMC Sierra and Ram 1500
GMC Sierra: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Ram 1500: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2018 GMC Sierra wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (322 against 667 filed with NHTSA).
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 46 against 26).
Where the 2018 Ram 1500 answers
- It is rated 23 combined against 20 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
specs not availableSafety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPGMC Sierra
Top recalls
- critical Air Bags 26V325000 · 4,315 vehicles
- critical Air Bags 26V166000 · 2,819 vehicles
- critical Air Bags 24V756000 · 2,061 vehicles
- high Air Bags 25V432000 · 1,658 vehicles
- high Service Brakes, Hydraulic 20V603000 · 14,620 vehicles
- high Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 19V761000 · 652,967 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- critical Air Bags 25V592000 · 1,761 vehicles
- critical Air Bags 25V010000 · 6,066 vehicles
- critical Air Bags 21V632000 · 212,373 vehicles · filed unfixed
- critical Engine And Engine Cooling 19V757000 · 107,980 vehicles
- critical Electrical System 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 23V411000 · 80,629 vehicles · filed unfixed
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| GMC Sierra | Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Price range across trims | — | — |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS, Diesel |
| EPA configuration compared | Sierra 15 Hybrid 2WD | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 20 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,350 | $4,150 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2018 GMC Sierra or the 2018 Ram 1500?
The GMC Sierra wins clearly, 85 to 67.2, on safety, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2018 GMC Sierra scores 85 and the 2018 Ram 1500 67.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2018 GMC Sierra or the 2018 Ram 1500?
2018 GMC Sierra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 7 recalls. 2018 Ram 1500: 4 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2018 GMC Sierra and the 2018 Ram 1500?
Where the 2018 GMC Sierra wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (322 against 667 filed with NHTSA), carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4, and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 46 against 26). Where the 2018 Ram 1500 answers: it is rated 23 combined against 20 (EPA mpg or MPGe).