2021 Ford F-150 vs 2021 Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 edges it, 72.8 to 70.8, on safety, performance. The Ford F-150 is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.1 and it flips.
2021 Ford F-150
The 2021 Ford F-150 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid, gas and diesel large pickup truck with 22 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the F150 Pi…
2021 Ram 1500
The 2021 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid, gas and diesel large pickup truck with 15 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD,…
2021 Ram 1500
Slight edgeThe Ram 1500 edges it, 72.8 to 70.8, on safety, performance. The Ford F-150 is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.1 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2021 Ford F-150overall 70.8 | 2021 Ram 1500overall 72.8 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 98.7 | 82 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 37.8 | 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 | ||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 94.9 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 70.8 | 72.8 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 3 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Ford F-150 and Ram 1500
Ford F-150: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Ram 1500: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Ford F-150: 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.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.1 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2021 Ram 1500 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (683 against 1,299 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 47 against 29).
- It is rated 26 combined against 25 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2021 Ford F-150 answers
- It costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,700 against $3,700).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
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, NCAPFord F-150
Top recalls
- critical Power Train 23V896000 · 112,965 vehicles
- critical Parking Brake 23V509000 · 870,701 vehicles
- critical Steering 21V407000 · 223 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V402000 · 741,195 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Exterior Lighting 26V104000 · 4,381,878 vehicles
- high Visibility 25V729000 · 174,853 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- critical Service Brakes, Hydraulic 21V037000 · 683 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Air Bags 25V765000 · 532 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V298000 · 71 vehicles
- high Power Train 23V265000 · 131,700 vehicles
- high Structure 22V904000 · 1,224,078 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford F-150 | Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Price range across trims | — | — |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS, Diesel | HEV, GAS, Diesel |
| EPA configuration compared | F150 Pickup 2WD HEV | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 25 | 26 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,700 | $3,700 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2021 Ford F-150 or the 2021 Ram 1500?
The Ram 1500 edges it, 72.8 to 70.8, on safety, performance. The Ford F-150 is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.1 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2021 Ram 1500 scores 72.8 and the 2021 Ford F-150 70.8. 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 2021 Ford F-150 or the 2021 Ram 1500?
2021 Ford F-150: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 29 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2021 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (2 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 2021 Ford F-150 and the 2021 Ram 1500?
Where the 2021 Ram 1500 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (683 against 1,299 filed with NHTSA), has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 47 against 29), and is rated 26 combined against 25 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2021 Ford F-150 answers: it costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,700 against $3,700). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.