2024 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2024 Ram 1500
The Ford F-150 Lightning wins clearly, 81.1 to 51.2, on fuel & range, safety.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
The 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning is sold in the U.S. as an electric large pickup truck with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the F-150 Lightn…
2024 Ram 1500
The 2024 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 HFE 2WD, is …
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
Clear winThe Ford F-150 Lightning wins clearly, 81.1 to 51.2, on fuel & range, safety.
| Category · weight | 2024 Ford F-150 Lightningoverall 81.1 | 2024 Ram 1500overall 51.2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 36.2 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 67 | 62.4 | |||||||||
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 | 81.1 | 51.2 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford F-150 Lightning: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. 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 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (31 against 78 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 70 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,100 against $2,900).
Where the 2024 Ram 1500 answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 70 against 56).
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
37 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 3.6L V-6 Pentastar eTorque |
| Fuel injection system | — | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 305 hp |
| Torque | — | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission speeds | — | 8 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | — | 77.6 in |
| Overall length | — | 229 in |
| Overall width | — | 82.1 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 141 in |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 35.6 in |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | — | Five-link with track bar, progressive rate coil springs, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 46.2 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 20 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 66 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 65.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
35 features · differences first, then sharedSafety3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | opt |
| Lane Departure Warning-Plus (included in Advanced Safety Group) | — | opt |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
Infotainment2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Base – six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Uconnect 5.0 AM/FM/Bluetooth | — | std |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer Reverse Steering Control | — | opt |
Interior2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| In-floor storage | — | opt |
| Tradesman Level 1 Equipment Group | — | opt |
Exterior4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 Off-road Group (standard on all 4x2 and 4x4 Rebel models; not available with 4x2 non-Rebel models) | — | opt |
| Chrome Appearance Group (Tradesman) | — | opt |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) | — | opt |
| Snow Plow Prep Package (4x4 only; not available on 3.6-liter with eTorque) | — | opt |
Powertrain13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 26-gallon fuel tank | — | std |
| 3.21 axle ratio | — | std |
| 3.55 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar, eight-speed automatic transmission and eTorque | — | std |
| 3.92 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 33-gallon fuel tank | — | opt |
| 4x2 | — | std |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI, eight-speed automatic transmission and eTorque | — | opt |
| Anti-spin differential (electronic locking and anti-spin are mutually exclusive) | — | opt |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential (raised ride height available on all axle ratios; standard ride height available only on 3.92 axle ratio; included with 4x4 Off-road Group) | — | opt |
| Max towing 9.75-in. axle with 3.92 axle ratio (included in Max Towing Package) | — | opt |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Active-level four-corner air suspension system (Rebel: optional on 4x4 Crew Cabs with 5.7-liter only) | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 5-ft. 7-in. box — 144.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 153.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase (on Rebel models, only available as 4x4) | — | std |
Cargo6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Mirror and Brake Group) | — | opt |
| Max Towing Package (available on 5.7-liter eTorque 4x2 Quad Cab only) | — | opt |
| Spray-in bed liner (bed liner standard on Longhorn and Limited) | — | opt |
| Tradesman Group | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord F-150 Lightning
Top recalls
- critical Suspension 25V341000 · 29,501 vehicles
- critical Electrical System 25V131000 · 950 vehicles
- critical Suspension 24V949000 · 11,922 vehicles
- high Power Train 25V863000 · 272,645 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V298000 · 71 vehicles
- high Steering 24V199000 · 38,164 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V327000 · 16 vehicles
- moderate Steering 24V729000 · 129,313 vehicles
- moderate Service Brakes, Hydraulic 24V653000 · 1,025,432 vehicles · filed unfixed
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford F-150 Lightning | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | — 13 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | F-150 Lightning 4WD Extended Range | 1500 HFE 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 70 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,100 | $2,900 |
| EV range | 320 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning or the 2024 Ram 1500?
The Ford F-150 Lightning wins clearly, 81.1 to 51.2, on fuel & range, safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning scores 81.1 and the 2024 Ram 1500 51.2. 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 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning or the 2024 Ram 1500?
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning: no NHTSA rating yet, grade F, 4 recalls. 2024 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 6 recalls (1 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 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning and the 2024 Ram 1500?
Where the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (31 against 78 filed with NHTSA), is rated 70 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $1,800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,100 against $2,900). Where the 2024 Ram 1500 answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 70 against 56).