Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs. Ram 1500

In a heavy-metal duel of two top pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado's excellent road-test score of 81 makes it the top-rated truck. But as one of our testers put it, "The second-place Ram 1500 is the better ‘car.' " Huh?

This showdown between the redesigned 2014 Silverado and the updated 2013 Ram was neck-and-neck throughout. Each model won skirmishes along the way. And in the end, they finished one-two in the category, separated by only 3 points.

The Silverado edged the Ram in several areas important to many pickup owners. When typically configured, it has a significantly larger bed and more payload capacity, and it can tow more weight. The Silverado also has a lower step-in height than the Ram, aiding access. It handles a bit better in everyday driving (though no big pickup is particularly agile). And it delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 16 mpg overall, which is 1 mpg better than the Ram. That could save you about 50 gallons of gas per year.

But if you use your truck more for day-to-day driving, the Ram is a nicer place to spend your time. It rides better and has more comfortable seats, a nicer rear seat, and a slightly friendlier control layout. It's also quicker than the Silverado, and it feels much brawnier in real-world driving. The Ram also brings its own impressive workhorse credentials.

The reality is that you can't go wrong with either truck. In the versions we tested—four-door crew cabs with V8 engines and four-wheel drive—both get decent gas mileage and are as quiet inside as a good luxury car.

With average reliability, we recommend the Ram, but the Silverado is too new for us to have reliability data. The redesigned GMC Sierra 1500 is a virtual twin of the Silverado.

The best-selling Ford F-150 is headed for its own redesign for 2015. So stay tuned; another battle is brewing.

For years the Silverado has scored well in our tests, and the redesigned 2014 model is the best yet. Handling is more carlike than in most trucks, the cabin is very quiet, and it provides impressive towing and payload capabilities. And at 16 mpg overall, our Silverado got the best fuel economy of any full-sized truck we've tested.

You can choose from three all-new engines, each mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. We opted for the widely sold 355-hp, 5.3-liter V8. The 285-hp, 4.3-liter V6 gets the job done, but towing and payload capacities are lower. Still to come is a 6.2-liter V8 with an estimated 420 hp.

Our 5.3 delivers ample power, but it lacks the thrust of the 5.7-liter V8s in the Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra. The transmission upshifts smoothly and quickly, but it's reluctant to downshift, making the truck feel underpowered. It also takes a prod on the throttle to get the truck going. The four-wheel-drive system includes a convenient full-time mode. Off-road performance was good but hampered by ground clearance.

Our truck hauled our 5,000-pound trailer to 60 mph in 14.8 seconds, which is good. It can be equipped to tow up to 11,200 pounds.

With well-contained body lean and linear, responsive steering, this truck feels eminently controllable. The steering has good heft yet feels light enough at low speeds for easy maneuvering. When pushed to its limits the Silverado proved stable and secure. It reached those limits rather early but remained predictable and forgiving.

A counter spring makes it easy to raise or lower the tailgate with one hand, a nice convenience when loading cargo.

Comfort considerations

Although the ride is tolerable, the suspension transmits some snappy motions on bumps and ruts and remains a little busy even on smooth roads. Its relatively low ride height eases access, and the cabin stays amazingly quiet inside, a quality shared with the Ram.

The spacious interior is nicely finished overall. Drivers will find ample room, and a telescoping steering wheel is available, which is rare in a pickup. Seat comfort, though, is mediocre. Our cloth seats fall short on support, with a tendency to give out on long trips. Raising the center bin opens up room for a third front passenger. The rear has plenty of room, but the seat shares the same lack of support.

The main gauges are large and easy to read, and the controls use big, well-labeled buttons and knobs. The automatic climate controls display the set temperature within their knobs, which is a nice, user-friendly touch.

Chevy's MyLink touch-screen radio system offers modern capabilities with simple controls for the basic functions. But it uses cumbersome swipe motions to scroll through station lists.

You can use voice commands to execute music, phone, and navigation functions. Pairing a phone is easy. An iPhone integrates with the system better than Android devices do, but it needs to be tethered to use Pandora or access its music files by voice.

With a number of improvements for 2013, the Ram is surprisingly refined and inviting for a pickup truck, yet it's fully capable of getting its hands dirty when duty calls. A coil-spring rear suspension—unique for full-sized pickups— gives it a smooth ride, the powertrain is a gem, and the whisper-quiet cabin makes the truck feel like a luxury vehicle.

We tested a four-wheel-drive Big Horn version with Chrysler's 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a new eight-speed automatic transmission that's smooth and efficient. That combination delivers seamless and effortless power while returning a relatively good 15 mpg overall.

An alternative is a 3.6-liter V6, which does an admirable job as long as your towing needs are modest. An underwhelming 4.7-liter V8 with a six-speed automatic is available only on base versions. Coming soon is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, which should be the most fuel-efficient engine available in a full-sized pickup.

The driver-selectable full-time four-wheel-drive system works well, and the truck scrambled up our rock hill with ease. It can tow up to 9,950 pounds when properly equipped. Our truck pulled our 5,000-pound trailer up to 60 mph in 14.9 seconds, a strong showing.

Sitting pretty

The Ram is arguably the most comfortable-riding pickup on the market. Ride motions are gradual and controlled, and bumps are well-muted. It's no ballet dancer, but the Ram handles fairly well and you have to corner pretty hard before excessive body lean sets in.

When pushed to its limits, the Ram proved clumsy, typical of a big truck, but ultimately secure and predictable.

With a very high step-up, the optional running boards are a must. Inside, you'll find a roomy driving position but no telescoping steering wheel, which some drivers might miss.

Interior fit and finish is competitive but definitely not plush. Our truck's cloth bucket seats are large and firmly padded, with a good range of power adjustments, and their support remains decent even on long trips. The optional leather seats are even better. The rear seats are perhaps the best in the class, with oodles of leg room and wide, well-shaped cushions. Three adults can fit with ease.

The comprehensive analog gauges are large and legible. A slick display screen in the gauge cluster lets you custom-select a wide array of vehicle information. Controls are simple, with some big knobs for basic functions and the optional Uconnect touch-screen system managing the more detailed audio, climate, and communications functions. Some buttons are a bit of a reach, and the onscreen temperature adjustment takes a lot of taps, but mostly we like the system very much.

It's easy to pair phones, and iPods and iPhones can stream music through Bluetooth or with a USB cable that enables using the truck's audio controls or voice commands. Android devices use Bluetooth only, so functions are more limited.

The tailgate is heavy to raise and lower; it's too bad it isn't damped, like the Silverado's. But we're told that Chrysler is working on that.