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.

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